OT: Repeating Pattern of Bullying & Locked Threads

[Goofproof]

Sometimes I think everyone should be forced to watch an equal amount of Fox and MSNBC so they appreciate how the "other half" views the world.

Truer words never spoken...

I don't watch any network news, it will rot your brain. I prefer news without the talking heads interpreting it for me.

Same Here, Trust No one, the News or the Government, they all have one Goal, Suppression and Control, All applied while they are reaching into your Billfold. Jim

[jimbud]

Sometimes I think everyone should be forced to watch an equal amount of Fox and MSNBC so they appreciate how the "other half" views the world.

Truer words never spoken...

I don't watch any network news, it will rot your brain. I prefer news without the talking heads interpreting it for me.

Another 10-4 on that.
JPB

[jimbud]

Hate and bullying are not exclusive to liberals.
Conservatives are very good at it, too.
Even Christians . . .

Yes, but liberals use it to shut down debate and any contrary view more often than the others combined.
One man's opinion based only on 69 years of observation.
No idea what my error % might be.
JPB

hmmmm... it's hard to argue with you on this point!

Damnit, KnightSleeper are you trying to get me kicked out of JNK's posse.
Your deceptiveness has no bounds.
Do not listen to him guys!

JPB

[palerider]

Sometimes I think everyone should be forced to watch an equal amount of Fox and MSNBC so they appreciate how the "other half" views the world.

Truer words never spoken...

I don't watch any network news, it will rot your brain. I prefer news without the talking heads interpreting it for me.

Another 10-4 on that.
JPB

Indeed, very wise. I like BBC and Al Jazira.. they're not partisan.

[Lucyhere]

KnightSleeper -- as much as I intensely disliked and disagree with Palrider's signature, even though he recently changed the word, "Things" to "Accounts" -- I have to say that what's good for the goose...

[jimbud]

I'm right down the middle with moderate Rush Limbaugh.
JPB

[jnk...]

I do not suggest putting any accounts on a foe list. Instead, in this day and age, take the time to learn the necessary skill to spot inaccurate posts and inaccurate posters in order to find your way through any forum.

In much the same way that talking heads should not presume to tell the public what to think, I would not presume to tell the forum in a signature who can or cannot be trusted, other than making my thoughts clear in the context of a statement made that I disagree with. Alphabet boy was an exception.

It is better for inaccurate statements to be addressed in real time in close proximity within a thread, IMO, whenever possible. And as respectfully as possible is the way to make the counter-point heard. That way everyone learns on a deep level without being distracted by tone.

Similarly, why would anyone presume to label another poster's overall behavior? Do we think people are incapable of judging for themselves in real time how someone else is behaving?

Less commentary on fellow posters, please. More commentary on ideas and skills related to sleep and breathing, instead. That would be my personal preference.

But 'I'll always be a dreamin' man, I don't have to understand.' Nod to Mr. Young.

[zoocrewphoto]

Hate and bullying are not exclusive to liberals.
Conservatives are very good at it, too.
Even Christians . . .

Perspective is fascinating. Here in New England no one would associate "hate" and "bullying" with liberals - that's what conservatives do! I remember visiting my 96 year old father in Florida and out of the blue he asked me "why do you liberals always hate so much?" I was totally perplexed until I realized he was watching Fox News sunup to sunset and this was the only perspective he saw. Sometimes I think everyone should be forced to watch an equal amount of Fox and MSNBC so they appreciate how the "other half" views the world.

I get the opposite. I am told that because I am Christian and conservative, I am a hater. I must hate gay people because I am Christian. I don't. I believe that gay couples should be able to marry and have the same legal rights as other couples. Honestly, I think they cause less damage than some straight people who produce kids and then separate. But people assume I must be against gay people simple because I am Christian and/or conservative. I have had people swear at me, call me all sorts of things, because they think I must be a hater, yet what they are doing to me sure seems to be hateful. I live in a big democrat area, so I usually keep quiet and don't bring up politics. I don't want to get into arguments with my coworkers who seem to assume that everybody agrees with them. I have also had people unfriend me on facebook because they can't have friends who are conservative. Strange, since they liked me for years before finding out that we disagree on some issues. I have many friends who are democrats, and I still like them very much. I can accept that we disagree on things. We were certainly raised in different areas, different times, etc. Of course, we will have a different viewpoint.

As for the news. I have found it beneficial to watch a variety of sources. Local news of course (and different channels depending on what time it is). I tend to watch more Headline News than others. I do not like NBC, MSNBC, or CBS. As a severe night owl, their national news comes on at 3am after Forensic Files. I do watch some Fox News, but limited to a few programs that I like.

Every category of people (religion, race, political view, etc) has good people and bad people. I prefer to assume good things about a person until proven otherwise.

[CapnLoki]

I don't watch any network news, it will rot your brain. I prefer news without the talking heads interpreting it for me.

I'm curious what that means - what is considered "network news"? Where do you get your news?

[jnk...]

I don't watch any network news, it will rot your brain. I prefer news without the talking heads interpreting it for me.

I'm curious what that means - what is considered "network news"? Where do you get your news?

https://www.adfontesmedia.com/

[jnk...]

Well Sheriff jnk,

Goodmans are the sheriff. Pugsy is deputized. I, at best, aspire to the rank of wandering songster in this town, something like the Grant-Lee Phillips character on Gilmore Girls.

https://youtu.be/fZRKTvpJmmo

After all, historically speaking, what's an Old West medicine show without a songster or two?

[CapnLoki]

I don't watch any network news, it will rot your brain. I prefer news without the talking heads interpreting it for me.

I'm curious what that means - what is considered "network news"? Where do you get your news?

https://www.adfontesmedia.com/

Thanks for that link - I've seen it before and it was helpful in weaning myself of the the more biased, fact-free sources on both sides. But it focuses in on my point: if ABC,CBS, and NBC are in the "sweet spot" of unbiased, fact-based reporting, why do so many claim to never watch them? Is Fox (or MSNBC) considered "network" or is "never watch network" code for "always watch fox (or msnbc)"?

BTW, although I think the big three networks are committed to unbiased, fact-based reporting, they do seem to present a line favored by the "establishment" and ignore issues that are important to the left/right.

[jnk...]

I don't watch any network news, it will rot your brain. I prefer news without the talking heads interpreting it for me.

I'm curious what that means - what is considered "network news"? Where do you get your news?

https://www.adfontesmedia.com/

Thanks for that link - I've seen it before and it was helpful in weaning myself of the the more biased, fact-free sources on both sides. But it focuses in on my point: if ABC,CBS, and NBC are in the "sweet spot" of unbiased, fact-based reporting, why do so many claim to never watch them? Is Fox (or MSNBC) considered "network" or is "never watch network" code for "always watch fox (or msnbc)"?

BTW, although I think the big three networks are committed to unbiased, fact-based reporting, they do seem to present a line favored by the "establishment" and ignore issues that are important to the left/right.

All profit-based outlets are a form of entertainment, which means they are in the business of telling people what they want to hear.

As Mr. Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls put it so eloquently in a song years ago, "flip the dial and that's whose side you're on." -- https://youtu.be/o_N101xGnhc

I believe that modern journalism courses generally teach that there is no such thing as truly unbiased reporting. So the trick is simply to attempt to know the bias in order to do one's best to filter it out.

The line between information and propaganda is not really a line. It is more of a principle to factor in. It's kind of a signal-to-noise-ratio sort of a thing, most of the time. So, from where I sit, outlets toward the middle may need less filtering in some respects, but they still need substantial mental filtering to find meaningful signal if I don't want others controlling what I believe.

Which gets to the heart of this entire thread. I realize I don't have the authority to tell people what channels to boycott. That is much the same as my not considering it prudent for me to tell people which posters to foe. That would be asserting my own opinions more than I feel comfortable with. By the same token, who am I to tell someone else what is appropriate in his sig?

Cuts all ways.

[Midwest_non_sleeper]

Sometimes I think everyone should be forced to watch an equal amount of Fox and MSNBC so they appreciate how the "other half" views the world.

Truer words never spoken...

I don't watch any network news, it will rot your brain. I prefer news without the talking heads interpreting it for me.

I know I popped smoke on this thread awhile back, but this point deserves some expansion.

jnk is correct, in that any form of news for profit has a distinct goal of keeping eyes glues to the screen, because that's how they profit. They do so by editorializing everything into their own bias and then projecting that out onto the eyeballs. This serves two purposes, to reinforce already established echochambers, and to inflame, cause tension, and ultimately fear. The best way to keep sheep confined is through fear. If they fear that the wolf is out there and it might just eat them, then they have no desire to go out, and thus they self-regulate to stay in the safety of the pen. The difference is, humans have the excellent ability to think past our bias and actually change positions, but we have to move away from our position and become vulnerable first. Most are unwilling or incapable of doing that. It also makes it difficult when the lines between fact and fiction are blurred. As long as that blur exists, we stay fearful.

This occurs on both sides, and it's getting worse. The middle, or centrists, are shrinking, because we draw lines in the sand as our own subjective and arbitrary limit. Once that threshold is met, we pick a "side" that we best identify with. This is obviously divisive, and further causes fractious behaviors. It is difficult to run from our own biases, as many are products of our individual upbringings, and it becomes extraordinarily difficult when we watch paid partisans on TV tell us what to think because of negative reinforcement.

A perfect example of this is my in-laws, God love them. They watch a certain news program 24/7. Every single TV in their home is tuned to that station and it does not waver. If, at some point, my brother-in-law and I engage in a light political discussion, as we are wont to do (We do not share opinions, but it's nice to debate a rational person), it's not long before one or both of my in-laws are screaming about devils and the fall of civilization or some other such business because of this person or that person. They have been effectively demoralized to stay in the pen and are extremely fearful of any idea or information that contradicts what they've been told. This story can be overlaid on many such incidents nationwide.

Brainwashing 101. Make your target feel fear. It's why torture techniques are/were used, because it makes that person feel pain and fear death. Now, to wrap that all up, all we need to do is understand that "news networks" are peddling fear and pain, and their programs, via mental torture, is their version of the knee-splitter.

[babydinosnoreless]

I don't watch any network news, it will rot your brain. I prefer news without the talking heads interpreting it for me.

I'm curious what that means - what is considered "network news"? Where do you get your news?

By network news I mean any news that is on the Television/ Radio. I probably should have used a better term.

I prefer to read the news and filter out the noise without some talking head putting their spin on material written by someone else. I don't need 5 takeaways we got from the debate or some
darn expert they found in a box of cracker jacks telling me that when so and so said this they must really mean ..... heck no! If they are talking about this poll or that study or debate I want to read the poll or study or transcript and not have it summarized for me. I am perfectly capable of reading Muellers report without both sides screaming what this means is.... ugh I hate todays media!