The Mandarin Class - The Sheldon Coopers of the world without the IQ

A couple of days ago in They report on a different world because they inhabit a different world. I commented negatively on the incapacity of mainstream media to understand the Christian worldview, or even basic principles of Christianity even though 70% or more of Americans identify as practicing Christians (number varies based on what constitutes "practicing".)

Seems like kind of a fundamental gap. It is easy to take cheap shots at mainstream media who are struggling with their business model, having a surfeit of low quality education (but high quality credentialed) young journalists and a deep deficit in fact-checkers and editors. But once you focus on the issue, it seems to compound itself. The phenomenon is known as the Baader-Minehof Effect or the Frequency Illusion.

I posted on Saturday, noting the errors about confusing "body of Christ" as a statue, deeming Notre Dame primarily a tourist Mecca and only secondarily a Catholic Cathedral. On Sunday, we had the horrific attacks in Sri Lanka which can be summarized as "Islamic Terrorists Kill 300 in Attacks on Christians During Easter Celebrations."

And today we have our establishment politicians beclowning themselves.

On this holy weekend for many faiths, we must stand united against hatred and violence. I'm praying for everyone affected by today's horrific attacks on Easter worshippers and travelers in Sri Lanka.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 21, 2019

The attacks on tourists and Easter worshippers in Sri Lanka are an attack on humanity. On a day devoted to love, redemption, and renewal, we pray for the victims and stand with the people of Sri Lanka.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 21, 2019

"Easter worshippers"? They are Christians. They don't worship Easter. They worship Christ. They are Christians.

I know establishment politicians are trying to get to the idea of Christians worshipping on Easter Sunday, but Easter Worshippers? Why don't they just say Christians?

OK. Maybe I am working myself into an absurd tizzy. Maybe people use this term and I am just unfamiliar with it.

Google Trends? GT tracks what people are searching so new phrases pop up there early.

Well, no.

Click to enlarge.

What about Google's Ngram viewer. It tracks terms and phrases across millions of books over decades and centuries. Easter worshippers?

Nope.

Click to enlarge.

At least we know it is not only the mainstream media which has a problem. It is our establishment politicians as well. The Mandarin Class really don't understand their fellow citizens. The MC are sort of like Sheldon Cooper, constantly insulting people and never knowing why.