

#1
Posted 23 October 2012 - 10:57 PM
In any event, last night I decided to tune into the two "spin" channels, Fox and MSNBC, I watched, and I have to admit, the one thing I saw is that MSNBC has better opposition analysts than Fox does. I have a mad crush on Steve Schmidt [Senior analyst for the McCain/Palin campaign]. He made one really good point about Romney and his political calculation. It made sense to me.
In any event, [yes, I'm meandering a bit] it occurred to me somewhere between Fox and MSNBC that it might not be conscious spin at all. It might not even be spinning something said into something more palatable to their respective bases. It might be that they see in the debates exactly what they believe and anything else is irrelevant.
I've always assumed that such spin was calculated. That people knew they were in fact lying and making lemonade out of lemons. But, what I saw was people who believed what they were saying.
If you were a Democrat/Liberal you saw a Romney that was failing to engage, agreeing with Obama's Foreign Policy [much to everyone's surprise] and a candidate that was just trying to get through the night. They saw an Obama that was in command, and full on Commander-in-Chief.
If you were a Republican, you saw a cool and calm Romney showing how calm and reasonable he was. What a good Commander-in-Chief he could be. You saw an argumentative and petulant Obama.
Apparently both sides think the other side is full of liars.
It finally occurred to me that we see what we believe, not the other way around. If you believe Democrats are bad. You see badness. If you believe Republicans are bad. You see badness. The degree of your belief will determine the degree of badness. I know that sounds simplistic, and I also know no one is going to agree with me--at least not personally. Many will probably agree about "other" Republicans and Democrats, but this thought made me question my own "reality". Do I see what is really there? Or only what I believe is there?
If you stop and think about it, you can apply the standard to any belief If you are a Christian, you believe Islam is wrong and bad. If you are a Muslim, you believe Christians are bad and wrong.
If you are a woman, you think.. see my point? Do we actually only see what we already believe is true. And if that is true, even marginally, how can any of us judge reality?
Rules for surviving an Autocracy:
Rule#1: Believe the Autocrat.
Rule#2: Do not be taken in by small signs of normality.
Rule#3: Institutions will not save you.
Rule#4: Be outraged.
Rule#5: Don't make compromises.
Rule#6: Remember the future.
Source: http://www2.nybooks....r-survival.html
#2
Posted 24 October 2012 - 12:46 AM

#3
Posted 26 October 2012 - 10:57 AM
No two people are going to watch the exact same thing at the exact same time and see exactly the same thing.
I hope I haven't just confused myself

#4
Posted 03 November 2012 - 03:45 PM
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1250008808
or
http://books.google....id=i_ihCeNpcaQC
We seem to be wired to fill in the blanks. From seeing apparitions of religious icons in burnt toast, to the confirming bias of reading only things you are likely to already agree with, it is a human phenomena.
#5
Posted 03 November 2012 - 04:49 PM
DarthMarley, on 03 November 2012 - 03:45 PM, said:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1250008808
or
http://books.google....id=i_ihCeNpcaQC
We seem to be wired to fill in the blanks. From seeing apparitions of religious icons in burnt toast, to the confirming bias of reading only things you are likely to already agree with, it is a human phenomena.
Hey, thanks a lot. I believe we are wired to fill in the blanks. A void seeks to be filled.
You can actually do a small experiment at home. Clear off a shelf in your home. Empty it. If you do not consciously avoid putting anything down, it will fill up in a very short time. Even if you consciously avoid setting anything down because you know you are doing the experiment you can't keep it up forever, As soon as the conscious avoidance lapses, the space will will up. A void seeks to be filled.
Questions in the human mind seek answers, Where there are none, the brain set to default [one's beliefs about truth] and fills in the answer--true or not. Once the brain has an answer, and a comfortable one, then the mind realizes its search for an answer. It's really interesting to watch in people, and to catch yourself doing upon occasion.
Rules for surviving an Autocracy:
Rule#1: Believe the Autocrat.
Rule#2: Do not be taken in by small signs of normality.
Rule#3: Institutions will not save you.
Rule#4: Be outraged.
Rule#5: Don't make compromises.
Rule#6: Remember the future.
Source: http://www2.nybooks....r-survival.html
#6
Posted 03 November 2012 - 07:31 PM
Like for example believingthe earth is flat, or 6,000 years old.
#7
Posted 04 November 2012 - 07:08 PM
Like, for example, believing the earth is flat, or 6,000 years old.


Oooh, thanks Darth. I'll have to read Shermer. Sounds like big fun.
Edited by Rhea, 04 November 2012 - 07:09 PM.
- Robert A. Heinlein
When I don’t understand, I have an unbearable itch to know why. - RAH
Everything is theoretically impossible, until it is done. One could write a history of science in reverse by assembling the solemn pronouncements of highest authority about what could not be done and could never happen. - RAH
Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: Philosophy, Beliefs, Culture
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