anyone else stop watching/following the news?

[LiquidMidnight]

Fallacious correlation. This is not based on how much news you watch but how stupid you are. Dumber people who watch the news are affected like this. However, they'd be affected just the same if their work colleagues or friends gave them the stories secondhand. "Well, Rhonda was telling me there was a man in her yard last week..." Nobody mentioned it was the gardener. But now the recipient is paranoid - not because she watched the news (she didn't), but because she's a dolt.

Not necessarily. A number of cognitive heuristics and cognitive biases are at play here, and even intelligent people can fall victim to heuristics that lead to fallacious thinking. First, however, you need to define intelligence and stick with it; otherwise, you may end up with a tautology on your hands (e.g., "Intelligent people are those who think critically about the material with which they are presented."). I don't know which of the cited articles the quoted paragraph is referring to, but seeing whether or not intelligence has a relationship with things like perception of crime rates comes down to dumping it into a regression model and seeing what happens. If the R-square value doesn't change much, then intelligence is probably overcomplicating the model.

 

[Pilgrim]

Interesting as I see it that the dumber people are the ones who never even begin to recognize how this affects them. I would elaborate but im typing this on my phone.

I view this as extremely perceptive. When you ask the right questions - as Joe is - and are receptive to answers - that's a good place to be.

 

[Skitch it!]

+1

We aren't supposed to just read the news and be done with it. We're supposed to critically think. Do more research. Extrapolate. Ponder.

Does a government run by corporate market systems want a nation of critical thinkers who may question the bias/propaganda/corporate influenced media they are presented with? Or tailor an educational system to provide just enough education to perform?

I wouldn't say dumb, more misinformed.

 

[Pilgrim]

Does a government run by corporate market systems want a nation of critical thinkers who may question the bias/propaganda/corporate influenced media they are presented with? Or tailor an educational system to provide just enough education to perform?

I wouldn't say dumb, more misinformed.

Well, "government" isn't a person, it's a function with at least many thousands of people working in it. Different individuals have different ideas about what "governments" wants.

But that's not the point. The point is what's in the constitution and not only the rights it gives us, but also the RESPONSIBILITIES it assigns to us.

As citizens, we have responsibility to be informed. We have the responsibility to vote. We have the responsibility to participate in the processes which affect our lives through law and the actions of governmental entities.

Many people abdicate that responsibility. In Rome, that led to the phenomenon of "bread and circuses." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses

 

[michael_atw]

??? Please elaborate.

In post #110 you state that essentially you can't find anything in those articles worthwhile. In the post I quoted you say you believe 'dumb' people are IYO people who don't recognize how news affects them - in other words, that they find nothing worthwhile. From what I interpreted it was kind of humorously ironic.


I'm assuming post #110 was a rhetorical tool regardless as I doubt you believe there's nothing worthwhile to be found in any of those news stories.

 

[michael_atw]

I wouldn't say dumb, more misinformed.

I believe there are studies that show a strong correlation between "dumb" and misinformation - either that "dumber" people actively espouse misinformation and/or that they absorb it more readily. Of course, intelligent people can be misinformed but I'd venture to safely guess that "dumber" people more readily are fooled.

The former category - those who espouse misinformation - depends on the person though. As some intelligent people with a motive can intentionally espouse misinformation. I'm trying to avoid categorical statements.

 

[Joe Nerve]

In post #110 you state that essentially you can't find anything in those articles worthwhile. In the post I quoted you say you believe 'dumb' people are IYO people who don't recognize how news affects them - in other words, that they find nothing worthwhile. From what I interpreted it was kind of humorously ironic.


I'm assuming post #110 was a rhetorical tool regardless as I doubt you believe there's nothing worthwhile to be found in any of those news stories.

Not rhetorical. I just reread all those headlines and I really don't see how digesting the information from any one of them can have any positive effect on my life, or the live's of the people around me. What I do see are a lot of seeds to start people talking about how "bad" things are, and I believe with all my heart and soul that this kind of stuff permeates our consciousness in a way that people are so accustomed to, that the suggestion of it doing so makes people think I'm the crazy one. Not that I'm not crazy also, but I try to keep my eyes wide open. Sifting through all of that garbage for a morsel of something that might be beneficial or nutritious isn't what I want to do. I'd much rather just go to places that are full of healthy food.

 

[MJ5150]

I hear you Joe. I commented about the negativity in headlines like those in another thread, then promptly got a beat down for being insensitive and not giving others the freedom to talk about what they want.

Let's take as an example the story I thought would be interesting from your headlines. If I wanted to know more about that situation, where would you suggest I begin my search? Yes, I am honestly interested in that story.

-Mike

 

[Joe Nerve]

Let's take as an example the story I thought would be interesting from your headlines. If I wanted to know more about that situation, where would you suggest I begin my search? Yes, I am honestly interested in that story.

-Mike

If I were interested I'd just read it. If I wanted to know the truth about it I'd do a search and read as much as I could regarding it, but probably still wouldn't come up with the truth . I'm talking about looking at or doing altogether different stuff. Reading things that are inspirational, making music, exercising, anything other than getting caught up in the news and headlines. I'm not religious but I have an excellent daily word type magazine I read from (or try to) every day. It has practical inspiring quotes and writings that I can really relate to, and I'd much rather have my mind stuffed with that kind of thing than what guy John Travolta is having sex with. The JT stuff is inescapable.

 

[MJ5150]

Nice. I have a daily text I read from every day as well. It's just a couple paragraphs. I try and do it first thing in the morning to get my head straight, then look for ways to apply what I read as I move about my day.

Something else I think you may like is what my nutritionist calls the TKN challenge. Don't say something unless it is True, Kind, and Necessary. I fail more than I would like to admit, but I'm trying.

-Mike

 

[Joe Nerve]

Something else I think you may like is what my nutritionist calls the TKN challenge. Don't say something unless it is True, Kind, and Necessary. I fail more than I would like to admit, but I'm trying.

-Mike

I like that. Thanks. Something i really need to practice here. My sarcasm i feel is often uneccessary.

 

[Pilgrim]

Mike and Joe, I hear what you're saying. I'm just asserting that some of the news stories on that list have enough impact on the society in general that they're worth reading.

 

[Old Fart]

Since last Fall, I have no cable TV or converter box. I have ZERO TV, except for watching DVD films.

I think not watching TV makes you smarter. I really do.

 

[Bard2dbone]

I believe there are studies that show a strong correlation between "dumb" and misinformation - either that "dumber" people actively espouse misinformation and/or that they absorb it more readily. Of course, intelligent people can be misinformed but I'd venture to safely guess that "dumber" people more readily are fooled.

The former category - those who espouse misinformation - depends on the person though. As some intelligent people with a motive can intentionally espouse misinformation. I'm trying to avoid categorical statements.

I believe that if you are honestly mistaken about something and are shown the actual truth, you must either cease to be mistaken, or you are no longer being honest.

A recent study of a particularly large fringe group that I won't name because it will instantly make this seem political, surprised me because as a group the people in that fringe group seemed to truly believe the gibberish they were recycling from their single fountain of information/preferred news network.

I hear nearly anything from that network and I roll my eyes so hard that it's a wonder they don't fall out of my head and I think "Could anyone take any of this **** seriously?" Then I find out that the majority of that group I mentioned above don't just repeat the gibberish, they take the gibberish as holy writ.

So if you tell, for example, a 'birther' that it doesn't matter whether the President was born in Hawaii or not, because his mother was still an American citizen and children of citizens are natural born citizen as specified in the Constitution, generally they will continue to bleat about birth certificates because Fox News still tells them to do so.

I don't think it's because they are that much dumber than the average American. I do think that they don't exercise their critical thinking skills.

Those skills are important and necessary. And unfortunately that fringe group is not the only one I see where the members are forgetting to exercise that skill. They are just the most egregious.

 

[MJ5150]

Mike and Joe, I hear what you're saying. I'm just asserting that some of the news stories on that list have enough impact on the society in general that they're worth reading.

I agree. I don't avoid the news, but I try to be selective in what I watch/read/hear. The terrible news sells and is easy to report on, so it does take some effort to filter that out.

-Mike

 

[MIJ-VI]

TEDxRainier - Dimitri Christakis - Media and Children
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BoT7qH_uVNo

 

[Lonesomedave]

....So if you tell, for example, a 'birther' that it doesn't matter whether the President was born in Hawaii or not, because his mother was still an American citizen and children of citizens are natural born citizen as specified in the Constitution, generally they will continue to bleat about birth certificates because Fox News still tells them to do so....

so now we can put your theory to the test...on YOU.

I watch Fox news; have done so for years. it's obvious that you don't.

i say "obvious" because they have never (ever) espoused any such theory. neither Birther, nor Birth Certificates, nor any such. they do not "bleat" about anything. oh, well, I guess you could say Sean Hannity does...you say tomato, i say tomahto...but even he does not devote any time or energy to the Birther thing nor to Birth Certificates. have not heard one word on Fox for years about Birthers or Birth Certificates or any such. they have told NO ONE to bleat about those things, never, not even once. they cover news with their reporters and offer opinions on a number of subjects with their commentators (of all sides of the political spectrum)...but not about this. you are simply misinformed.

and your misinformation is probably by MSNBC or its equivalent.

Now, according to your theory, you must either cease to be mistaken or you are no longer being honest....

don't believe me, well try actually watching Fox news and don't listen to the haters...most of whom are less successful competitors or their apologists.

 

[canopener]

Yeah, I pay attention to things that I think are important, but I generally don't read or watch the news anymore. What frustrates me is that the news always has to be politicized, and that's just not how I am. I can tell how an article will read by the headline. Generally speaking, it seems as if journalists these days have the grammar of a 14 year old girl. That doesn't make it easier to want to pick up a paper, either.

 

[Bard2dbone]

so now we can put your theory to the test...on YOU.

I watch Fox news; have done so for years. it's obvious that you don't.

i say "obvious" because they have never (ever) espoused any such theory. neither Birther, nor Birth Certificates, nor any such. they do not "bleat" about anything. oh, well, I guess you could say Sean Hannity does...you say tomato, i say tomahto...but even he does not devote any time or energy to the Birther thing nor to Birth Certificates. have not heard one word on Fox for years about Birthers or Birth Certificates or any such. they have told NO ONE to bleat about those things, never, not even once. they cover news with their reporters and offer opinions on a number of subjects with their commentators (of all sides of the political spectrum)...but not about this. you are simply misinformed.

and your misinformation is probably by MSNBC or its equivalent.

Now, according to your theory, you must either cease to be mistaken or you are no longer being honest....

don't believe me, well try actually watching Fox news and don't listen to the haters...most of whom are less successful competitors or their apologists.

Granted, I have learned to avoid Fox for all but local news content, and some of that is spun. But the 'bleaters' I was talking about are Fox people. Hannity, Beck, et al. are the responsibility of their network.


And if they've STOPPED beating that particular dead horse, why are so many idiots still pushing it like it's real? Don't believe me? Check on the reason why the marine was dishonorably discharged a few weeks ago. I believe his name is (former)Sergeant Gary Stein.

 

[JacoLesFlea]

I watch the 10 pm local news once a week on Sat, right after that SNL comes on and I get my national news from Seth Meyers on Weekend Update.