The New Reality: Balloon Boy

The story seemed made for cable "news" -- and indeed it was. A Colorado family reported that an errant balloon with their small son aboard had disappeared into the vastness of the skies. CNN and its peers gave the incident coverage worthy not only of presidential inaugurations but of missing blonde syndrome.

The reports proved bogus, of course. The police had misgivings almost from the start, but played along until they could establish what was really going on. It now appears the family staged a stunt to win a coveted appearance on reality TV. Every philosopher laying claim to the mantle of Thales spoke of the ironic (or whatever) connection between the fake and the real. Once again distinctions were blurred, lines were breached.

This will happen again.

We always react with amazement, then with sorrow. Impoverished souls date to the Fall, yet each example invites renewed despair.