4 ms·

It doesn't even matter. The facts of a news story aren't very relevant to the opinions people form. Instead, news largely leads people to get emotional hostile

It doesn't even matter. The facts of a news story aren't very relevant to the opinions people form. Instead, news largely leads people to get emotional hostile feelings about outgroups. It doesn't matter if mother Theresa saved a dying beggar or a terrorist bombed a hospital. Whatever the story, and whatever the facts, people will go away hating whoever the news hijacked their minds into hating. If you're concerned about facts being true, you're missing the real problem of divisive hate-inducing news.

jrochkind1 5y ago
You're suggesting the right way to deal with the "real problem" of hate-inducing news is... to be unconcerned with whether facts are true? Really? Like, being concerned about whether facts are true in an article about a software bug harms your ability to deal with this real problem? What's the way you recommend to handle this problem, that is based on being unconcerned with whether facts are true? I'm not totally sure it's relevant to this particular story, but now I'm curious, are you suggesting this story about a joke bug report is an example of that real problem of hate-inducing news? (I mean, it might be).
- sacrosancty 5y ago
  Yea, for the most part, it doesn't matter if news is false, I don't think. We don't do anything with that information, just experience feelings. You might say, what if it has real consequences like who gets elected, having a war, or making personal lifestyle choices? Yes, but true news already influences people to make bad decisions like that using its emotional tricks, so what's the difference? At least if it's all false, people won't take it so seriously. I think the truth in news is mostly there to enhance entertainment value, like a movie that's "based on a true story" is more satisfying than one that isn't. I wasn't thinking of this particular story. Doesn't seem vary hate-inducing to me, but the meta-story about how journalists aren't doing their job does!

jrochkind1 5y ago

You're suggesting the right way to deal with the "real problem" of hate-inducing news is... to be unconcerned with whether facts are true? Really? Like, being concerned about whether facts are true in an article about a software bug harms your ability to deal with this real problem? What's the way you recommend to handle this problem, that is based on being unconcerned with whether facts are true? I'm not totally sure it's relevant to this particular story, but now I'm curious, are you suggesting this story about a joke bug report is an example of that real problem of hate-inducing news? (I mean, it might be).

sacrosancty 5y ago
Yea, for the most part, it doesn't matter if news is false, I don't think. We don't do anything with that information, just experience feelings. You might say, what if it has real consequences like who gets elected, having a war, or making personal lifestyle choices? Yes, but true news already influences people to make bad decisions like that using its emotional tricks, so what's the difference? At least if it's all false, people won't take it so seriously. I think the truth in news is mostly there to enhance entertainment value, like a movie that's "based on a true story" is more satisfying than one that isn't. I wasn't thinking of this particular story. Doesn't seem vary hate-inducing to me, but the meta-story about how journalists aren't doing their job does!