4 ms·

What I find more troubling than this whole "fake news" scare is subtle, hard to detect bias that is quite common in the media. This can be done by omitting some

by zone411 10y ago

What I find more troubling than this whole "fake news" scare is subtle, hard to detect bias that is quite common in the media. This can be done by omitting some facts, through the use of words that bring up negative or positive emotions, or through the use of less than objective sources. It's harder to call out than obviously made up and unsupported stories, and even if somebody would read such criticism, it's easy to ignore because the story is not clearly wrong. There is also an obvious echo chamber in the media and this current focus on fake news is its perfect example.

taeric 10y ago
Bias I can put up with, so long as it is not supported by fabricated facts. That I have friends who are more conservative when presented with the same facts that I can see doesn't bother me. In particular, it is likely a place I should take notice and get a better understanding of the situation. When the beliefs are based on complete nonsense and they are not open to discussing how what they are pushing is just flat out false....
- zobzu 10y ago
  bias as long as it goes along my opinion and world view.. this is why it's dangerous. seem more like an attempt to control what news are okayd vs not. id rather fake news get lawsuits that have to prove it
  - taeric 10y ago
    That is the thing. I have and will continue to be wrong on things. This is why I genuinely believed that maybe Clinton had done something. There are absolutely zero facts there, though. Let me be clear. I do not get upset with people that voted independent. Or didn't vote. I'm as disenfranchised as you can get. The people that bother me are the ones that somehow genuinely believe trump. Or push anti-evolution education. Or refuse to acknowledge racism/bigotry.
- forgotpwtomain 10y ago
  > Bias I can put up with, so long as it is not supported by fabricated facts. I am inclined to say the 'effect of fake news' on the election is a fabricated fact. It's not like 4-chan and bad subreddits happened yesterday - they just needed some convenient strawman to attack after Hillary lost; I'm certainly no fan of trump but it's sad to see otherwise intelligent people gobbling this up..
  - taeric 10y ago
    I think I agree that most fake news had no effect. But I still view fake news as The Onion. Mostly a comedic effect. However, having seen that some folks actually trust brietbart (spelling?), I am left speechless. It is defended as being "like The Onion," yet also compared to serious news sources. Biased maybe, but also serious and holding themselves to facts. And I get the difficulty. Being wrong is not necessarily lying. However, lying should be discouraged. Heavily.
    - forgotpwtomain 10y ago
      > However, lying should be discouraged. Heavily. People are also into 'healing-crystals' and 'prayer' should we do something about those as well?
      - taeric 10y ago
        Do you actually have something actionable in this comment? I mean, at an actionable level, "healing-crystals" should be labeled factually as to their efficacy. And "prayer" should be encouraged as a way to keep you thinking about things you are not acting on. So, should we "do something about them?" I am not pushing for banning of any activities. I'm not even hiding behind "free speech" as a shield. I did misspeak, though. I do not necessarily want to discourage lying. What I do want to do is encourage truth. This is one of the reasons that "changed their minds" doesn't bother me. Everyone has likely been wrong about something in their life. Confronting that truth is not easy. And should be celebrated. Do I like being called out for having been wrong? No. Not even a little. It is a painful experience. Am I glad when it happens. Absolutely. I am a better person for it.

by zone411 10y ago

taeric 10y ago

Bias I can put up with, so long as it is not supported by fabricated facts. That I have friends who are more conservative when presented with the same facts that I can see doesn't bother me. In particular, it is likely a place I should take notice and get a better understanding of the situation. When the beliefs are based on complete nonsense and they are not open to discussing how what they are pushing is just flat out false....

zobzu 10y ago
bias as long as it goes along my opinion and world view.. this is why it's dangerous. seem more like an attempt to control what news are okayd vs not. id rather fake news get lawsuits that have to prove it
- taeric 10y ago
  That is the thing. I have and will continue to be wrong on things. This is why I genuinely believed that maybe Clinton had done something. There are absolutely zero facts there, though. Let me be clear. I do not get upset with people that voted independent. Or didn't vote. I'm as disenfranchised as you can get. The people that bother me are the ones that somehow genuinely believe trump. Or push anti-evolution education. Or refuse to acknowledge racism/bigotry.
forgotpwtomain 10y ago
> Bias I can put up with, so long as it is not supported by fabricated facts. I am inclined to say the 'effect of fake news' on the election is a fabricated fact. It's not like 4-chan and bad subreddits happened yesterday - they just needed some convenient strawman to attack after Hillary lost; I'm certainly no fan of trump but it's sad to see otherwise intelligent people gobbling this up..
- taeric 10y ago
  I think I agree that most fake news had no effect. But I still view fake news as The Onion. Mostly a comedic effect. However, having seen that some folks actually trust brietbart (spelling?), I am left speechless. It is defended as being "like The Onion," yet also compared to serious news sources. Biased maybe, but also serious and holding themselves to facts. And I get the difficulty. Being wrong is not necessarily lying. However, lying should be discouraged. Heavily.
  - forgotpwtomain 10y ago
    > However, lying should be discouraged. Heavily. People are also into 'healing-crystals' and 'prayer' should we do something about those as well?
    - taeric 10y ago
      Do you actually have something actionable in this comment? I mean, at an actionable level, "healing-crystals" should be labeled factually as to their efficacy. And "prayer" should be encouraged as a way to keep you thinking about things you are not acting on. So, should we "do something about them?" I am not pushing for banning of any activities. I'm not even hiding behind "free speech" as a shield. I did misspeak, though. I do not necessarily want to discourage lying. What I do want to do is encourage truth. This is one of the reasons that "changed their minds" doesn't bother me. Everyone has likely been wrong about something in their life. Confronting that truth is not easy. And should be celebrated. Do I like being called out for having been wrong? No. Not even a little. It is a painful experience. Am I glad when it happens. Absolutely. I am a better person for it.