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talkpolitics5 Ways to Spot a B.S. Political Story in Under 10 Seconds
It appears that even some of our esteemed colleagues from this above-average forum have fallen prey to the tactics described in the linked article. I hope that you can look at yourselves honestly and analyze whether you have succumbed to the lure of popular media and team politics or not. No one can tell you whether you are in the pool with the rest of them, but take some time somewhere along the way and be a little introspective about why you think the way you do and where your opinions are coming from. And keep in mind that the media is not your friend.
Partisan politics is not just a function of certain groups. The media keeps the game going too, mainly to keep the feelings of anger and offense going so that they can make money. (There's some secondary reasons too, of course.) So, is the solution to fix the media or to fix the consumers? Fixing the media isn't likely to happen, as they are just responding to how people work. Fixing the consumers isn't likely to happen as people generally aren't introspective and aren't aware that they are being manipulated, but that is where I do try to put some effort into waking people up (even those who are aware that they aren't aware and don't care to change). Or do you have a third option?
It appears that even some of our esteemed colleagues from this above-average forum have fallen prey to the tactics described in the linked article. I hope that you can look at yourselves honestly and analyze whether you have succumbed to the lure of popular media and team politics or not. No one can tell you whether you are in the pool with the rest of them, but take some time somewhere along the way and be a little introspective about why you think the way you do and where your opinions are coming from. And keep in mind that the media is not your friend.
Partisan politics is not just a function of certain groups. The media keeps the game going too, mainly to keep the feelings of anger and offense going so that they can make money. (There's some secondary reasons too, of course.) So, is the solution to fix the media or to fix the consumers? Fixing the media isn't likely to happen, as they are just responding to how people work. Fixing the consumers isn't likely to happen as people generally aren't introspective and aren't aware that they are being manipulated, but that is where I do try to put some effort into waking people up (even those who are aware that they aren't aware and don't care to change). Or do you have a third option?
(no subject)
Date: 3/5/12 03:19 (UTC)So, it goes like this, we hear:
#1. The Headline Includes the Phrase "Blow To" and right away we're thinking of physical punches being thrown! Ooo - a fight!
#5. The Headline Contains the Word "Gaffe" and right away we want to learn of someone else's embarrasment - i think something in psycology explains that human tendency.
#4. The Headline Ends in a Question Mark this question-mark tempts us to give a reply! darn it - answer the question.
#3. The Headline Contains the Word "Blasts" c'mon really? it's a slang that everyone has learned by now and it condenses the point into a short title.
#2. The Headline Is About a "Lawmaker" Saying Something Stupid ha! it's so funny when they do that :D
So, bottom line all of these warnings include literary lures to get people to buy/read an article; it's more about sales than informing the reader. Okay, I get it, but sometimes....just sometimes....you can even walk away from one of these dressed-up articles and have just a little bit more insight on the types of quirky things a person is/isn't capable of doing/saying, am i right?
(no subject)
Date: 3/5/12 03:45 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 3/5/12 03:49 (UTC)