4 ms·

Is there a useful distinction between a viewpoint and a bias? It seems to be a matter of connotation management when choosing which to apply.

wpietri 10y ago
I obviously think there is, and I gave a bunch of examples. What more would you like? I'm glad to help. The idea that there's no difference is poisonous to dialog and, ultimately, democracy. If all statements due to differences in viewpoint can be invalidated as biased, then there's no reason to talk to or learn from people with different viewpoints. All verbal interaction in that view becomes rhetorical combat. If, on the other hand, we all come from different viewpoints but can overcome (or at least usefully manage) our biases, then dialog is how we work out a common understanding.
- oldmanjay 10y ago
  Well the reason I asked is because you did explain how you see it, but the only use I can see is the emotional manipulation of connotation management. I guess I just have this particular viewpoint.
  - wpietri 10y ago
    The biggest use for me is self-management of emotional reactions. When I differ with someone apparently reasonable, I wonder if it's a difference in viewpoint or a difference in bias. For example, as a youth I had no interest in team sports. American culture, though, crams team sports down your throats. It's just assumed that you'll be a partisan for some team, and you're treated as weird/defective if you don't. This was irritating to me, and eventually I developed a deep bias against all of it. Older, and having lived for years among nerds, I still maintain my viewpoint: I have no interest in team sports. I still agree with this: https://xkcd.com/904/ https://xkcd.com/904/ But because nobody's been a dick to me about this for years, and because I've become friends with people who do love sports, I've mostly lost my bias. I no longer bristle when the topic comes up. I can give a reasonable accounting of why sports fans love sports, and I can give a balanced list of the social costs and benefits. I still have a mild bias against the topic, but can recognize and override it. The next-biggest use for me is evaluating other people as sources. I'm more likely to trust somebody if they display awareness of their biases, and especially if they're able to say nuanced things that at times cut against those biases. Because if they aren't wrestling with their own biases, they've outsourced the job to me. Is that helpful? If not, try asking some sort of question, because you've left me just guessing at your objections here.
inimino 10y ago
A bias means you have twisted the facts, or presented an inaccurate picture of reality. A viewpoint means you have an opinion. The reason they have different connotations is because twisting the facts is considered bad and having an opinion is not.
- wpietri 10y ago
  I agree 100% on bias. But I think "viewpoint" is even broader/softer than "opinion". As somebody born and raised in America, I have an American viewpoint. As somebody who's been writing code for a long time, I'll always have the viewpoint of a programmer. You can't escape who you are. But as you say, that doesn't mean you have to twist the facts.

wpietri 10y ago

I obviously think there is, and I gave a bunch of examples. What more would you like? I'm glad to help. The idea that there's no difference is poisonous to dialog and, ultimately, democracy. If all statements due to differences in viewpoint can be invalidated as biased, then there's no reason to talk to or learn from people with different viewpoints. All verbal interaction in that view becomes rhetorical combat. If, on the other hand, we all come from different viewpoints but can overcome (or at least usefully manage) our biases, then dialog is how we work out a common understanding.

oldmanjay 10y ago
Well the reason I asked is because you did explain how you see it, but the only use I can see is the emotional manipulation of connotation management. I guess I just have this particular viewpoint.
- wpietri 10y ago
  The biggest use for me is self-management of emotional reactions. When I differ with someone apparently reasonable, I wonder if it's a difference in viewpoint or a difference in bias. For example, as a youth I had no interest in team sports. American culture, though, crams team sports down your throats. It's just assumed that you'll be a partisan for some team, and you're treated as weird/defective if you don't. This was irritating to me, and eventually I developed a deep bias against all of it. Older, and having lived for years among nerds, I still maintain my viewpoint: I have no interest in team sports. I still agree with this: https://xkcd.com/904/ https://xkcd.com/904/ But because nobody's been a dick to me about this for years, and because I've become friends with people who do love sports, I've mostly lost my bias. I no longer bristle when the topic comes up. I can give a reasonable accounting of why sports fans love sports, and I can give a balanced list of the social costs and benefits. I still have a mild bias against the topic, but can recognize and override it. The next-biggest use for me is evaluating other people as sources. I'm more likely to trust somebody if they display awareness of their biases, and especially if they're able to say nuanced things that at times cut against those biases. Because if they aren't wrestling with their own biases, they've outsourced the job to me. Is that helpful? If not, try asking some sort of question, because you've left me just guessing at your objections here.

inimino 10y ago

A bias means you have twisted the facts, or presented an inaccurate picture of reality. A viewpoint means you have an opinion. The reason they have different connotations is because twisting the facts is considered bad and having an opinion is not.

wpietri 10y ago
I agree 100% on bias. But I think "viewpoint" is even broader/softer than "opinion". As somebody born and raised in America, I have an American viewpoint. As somebody who's been writing code for a long time, I'll always have the viewpoint of a programmer. You can't escape who you are. But as you say, that doesn't mean you have to twist the facts.