BS: Politically Correct II

Subject: Politically Correct II
From: mousethief
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 12:25 PM

Continuation of THIS thread.

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: Politically Correct II
From: Pseudolus
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 12:44 PM

alex,
I think we actually agree, I may have misunderstood what you said. Is it safe to say that we agree that there is media bias but the first comparison in the article was not a good example of said bias?? Because I believe that there is some validity to the article even though the example might be a bad one.....

Frank

Subject: RE: BS: Politically Correct II
From: mousethief
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 12:55 PM

I think the media is treating homosexuality with kid gloves right now, so yes there is some bias there. Whether it can be described as a "liberal" bias is a matter of semantics. Supporting the rights of homosexuals to live at peace and not be beaten up or murdered oughtn't be a "liberal" or "conservative" agenda, but a human one.

On the other hand, conservatives should be ashamed to side with vicious criminals, no matter the "sexual orientation" of their victims.

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: Politically Correct II
From: Skeptic
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 01:25 PM

I'd also suggest profit as a strong motive in what does and does not get printed.

Regards

John

Subject: RE: BS: Politically Correct II
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 01:38 PM

Susan - Not to worry. You don't need to call out the cavalry on anyone. I have gotten a few cheap shots, but they were usually from "guests", whom I suspect were one or two mudcatters hiding behind that term...or maybe not...who knows? I was just feeling kind of jaundiced with some of the extreme reactions around here from time to time, that's all. It also troubles me that many people are just not prepared to be rational on certain subjects...their pet hates...but I guess that's life.

Troll, Mousethief, and all - YES, there is a shockingly blatant bias in current news reporting, what is considered newsworthy and what isn't, what gets played up and what doesn't. There always was, too, but the focus has changed over the years. When I was a kid it was standard to portray WWII Germans and Japanese (virtually all of them) as absolute subhumans...and it was standard to portray Russians and members of communist nations pretty much the same way...except it was an ever-present fear of nuclear way that lay behind that.

It is now standard to over-emphasize racial aspects, and gender-based aspects in various situations. Consider the O.J. Simpson trial as a spectacular example of "playing the race card" in a very predictable way. They sure didn't want another L.A. riot, did they?

I find that both liberals and conservatives are stunningly biased, and their biases will conquer their reason more often than not. Nothing new about that. I'm sure I am biased too. It's just getting quite out of hand lately with the news and entertainment media, and people are noticing.

I've noticed it all my life. The favorite styles and prejudices change, but the hypocrisy goes on and on. That doesn't make it any easier to put up with.

One other thing there's been a mania for in the 80's and 90's: rediscovered memories of childhood sexual abuse. Now, I don't doubt that a good many of those are for real. On the other hand, a good many, I believe are not. A dear friend of mine, who is convinced that she NEVER suffered any sexual abuse as a child (she carries no bad feelings about such matters), was repeatedly harassed and told she was in "denial" by a so-called "therapist", whose apparent mission is to prove that EVERYONE has experienced sexual abuse as a child at some time or another. Believing this is what makes this therapist's world go around, it seems. It's her holy grail of therapy. I believe she is more disturbed than most of the people she is treating.

And such an attitude is an insult to people who really have been abused in that fashion too. It turns an important human issue into a sort of mindless propaganda weapon, devoid of understanding or meaning.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Politically Correct II
From: mousethief
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 01:40 PM

LH, nothing in what you have said to disagree with. Maybe we created this new thread just in time for us all to come to consensus?

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: Politically Correct II
From: Skeptic
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 01:51 PM

LH,

Well said. The need to divide the world into black and white (for whatever motive - noble or not) makes resolution of the conflict harder and harder. When the media defines the issue as an "either/or" proposition, few take the time to argue that there are valid "on the other hands" to be be considered.

Clearly we all have our "bottom lines" but there is a lot of room to negotiate just how strongly we feel about something. Or argue whether it's a real issue at all. Or accept the possibiliyy that all our points of view may be wrong.

Almost total agreement except that best evidence is that "recovered memories" seem to fall into the realm of pseudoscience.

Regards

John

Subject: RE: BS: Politically Correct II
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 01:53 PM

LOL! Wow, Alex, that is an almost scary thought at this point...what will they have to talk about on the 6:00 News? :-D (Which I never listen to anyway...)

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Politically Correct II
From: Troll
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 08:38 PM

Consensus? With YOU lot?
EGAD!!

troll