[The network] is often dissed for going after older, less demographically desirable viewers

Question

HiPlease help me to understand the sentence in red below. Thank you.dissTo show disrespect to, often by insult or criticism: "[The network] is often dissed for going after older, less demographically desirable viewers" (Michael McWilliams).[Am. Heritage Dic.]Best wishesJackson

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

The network is often criticized for targetting older (and? poorer/minority/etc) viewers.

(It is not possible to judge from the given context whether older = less demographically desirable or less demographically desirable = other unsavory human groups.)

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you, Mr Micawber.

Mister MicawberThe network is often criticized for targetting older (and? poorer/minority/etc) viewers.

(It is not possible to judge from the given context whether older = less demographically desirable or less demographically desirable = other unsavory human groups.)

[The network] is often dissed for going after older, less demographically desirable viewers.

If you were asked to choose from the two alternatives, would it be "older = less demographically desirable" or otherwise?

If you asked me, then I would choose "older = less demographically desirable" because I think if the author were talking about some other human group, then he/she would have used "and" instead of a comma after the "older". Though I understand, as you say, it's ambiguous.

Thank you.

Regards

Jackson

Mister Micawber · Answer

From what is given, it is impossible to choose - as I have already said.  I agree that 'and' would have disambiguated it.

Jackson6612 · Answer

Okay, then. Thanks a lot.

Regards

Jackson

[The network] is often dissed for going after older, less demographically desirable viewers

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