kissy
OG
I want a new drug...
Posts: 855 
|
Post by kissy on Dec 9, 2015 7:31:59 GMT -7
|
|
|
|
Post by smokinghorse on Dec 9, 2015 11:22:42 GMT -7
Hot button!! This is a huge issue for me. Please prepare for much blathering on. There are about 5000 articles that make similar points. I've been reading them voraciously, partly out of deep personal interest, and partly with the idea of an eventual thesis in mind.
It's awful. And it makes me so batshit crazy that people either can't recognize, or don't care that they're being manipulated. By politicians, by businesses, and by the media.
I believe, and this article seems to support this idea, that this is purposefully done by the media. They know exactly the topic type, sub-set, and specificity that turns an "unfortunate tragic incident" into "Terror in America - the hidden loophole that could kill us all". Forget for a moment the complete lack of journalistic integrity this proves, and focus solely on the resulting, predictable response of their audience. How else are we being manipulated? In what other areas of our lives are we grossly misinformed and misled? Common sense and skeptism are helpful, but not foolproof.
My "thesis" then, is this: When we read or hear something that affirms one of our pre-existing beliefs or attitudes, how much less likely are we to question, doubt, reasearch, and fact-check that assertion? In other words, how many of our beliefs are based on factual and verifiable information, and how many are a function of what we WANT to believe?
Pick a topic. Anything. Then perform a google search on that topic using language like, "Dangers of______", or can "_______" kill you?" or "Is _______" bad for you?".
Prepare to be scared.
|
|
kissy
OG
I want a new drug...
Posts: 855
|
Post by kissy on Dec 9, 2015 11:34:14 GMT -7
You. Are. Awesome.
Personal bias, political party bias, religious bias, ugh! If people could leave their bias at the door we might be more willing to actually listen and hear and consider what others have to say.
|
|
|
|
Post by nomorewirehanger on Dec 9, 2015 12:47:33 GMT -7
I'll read in the school line but I'm interested in this as well. Very angry with the crap my kids are learning from friends and teachers even at school. Very. Local Muslims here are being terrorized with homes and cars being vandalized and the general attitude is well "that's what they get for being Muslim"
Are you fucking kidding me?
|
|
|
|
Post by nomorewirehanger on Dec 9, 2015 12:48:30 GMT -7
I went as far to tell my children that if "America" gets their way their brown daddy and sister and our Hispanic last name will be a huge problem too. No one is immune from this type of manic behavior.
|
|
|
|
Post by ronin on Dec 9, 2015 13:01:39 GMT -7
Wow. I like that you're comparing the treatment of your Muslim neighbors with something that hits closer to home for them. Hate and racism are too prevalent right now.  Kids' opinions are shaped by their parents, so there's not much that could be done there, but I wouldn't accept that from a teacher. Good luck with that, kiddo. |
|
|
|
Post by smokinghorse on Dec 9, 2015 13:25:46 GMT -7
Absolutely. The interesting thing, to me, is that even when it's a benign, uncontroversial subject, people can be influenced by little, no, or disproven evidence. Green beans can kill you. Look it up. Tea bags cause cancer. Look it up. There are 5 hidden dangers in toothpaste. Lying to our kids about Santa will erode the trust they have in their parents, and ruin their chances for a normal life as an adult. You can find this shit on any topic, and people, even if they stumble on this information by accident while surfing for information on the Kardashians, they believe the lie with no further evidence needed. Fear sells ideas. I'm not much better. I'm far more likely to believe something if Jon Stewart says it than if it comes from Hannity. Because Jon is already credible to me. But he could be totally wrong, and I likely would not know, because I likely would not check. Bad on me. And THAT phenomenon is precisely why the human carrot is still leading in the polls.  |
|
kissy
OG
I want a new drug...
Posts: 855
|
Post by kissy on Dec 9, 2015 13:39:18 GMT -7
He is so fucking disgusting I just want to throw up.
|
|
Kids' opinions are shaped by their parents, so there's not much that could be done there, but I wouldn't accept that from a teacher.