Biased news

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Kriegsspiel
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Re: Biased news

Post by Kriegsspiel »

This debate is really showcasing how stupid the format is. Unless the candidates argue with each other on stage, they might as well just put out videos of their canned responses to the questions without getting cut off by the moderators. That way we could hear from everyone; despite the moderators repeated assurances we'll hear from everyone, we aren't. It seems like whenever the candidates do argue with each other, the moderators stifle it. And they keep talking about how little time they have... just make the fucking thing longer.

Also having this many people on stage is.... not great.

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Ego
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Re: Biased news

Post by Ego »

IlliniDave wrote:
Wed Jun 26, 2019 6:45 pm
Best thing to do maybe is not watch Youtube videos or spend time on Twitter.
I've recently come to realize that with extreme selectivity twitter is one of the best things about the internet. I get to peer into the minds of the leaders in most fields without intermediaries. Biased reporters are completely removed from the equation and replaced with steep original-source learning curves. The twitter algorithm, which many blame for creating the feeding frenzy of fury, is also pretty good at learning that some of us unfollow fury. I rarely see it when someone I follow posts political.

latearlyFI
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Re: Biased news

Post by latearlyFI »

Kriegsspiel wrote:
Wed Jun 26, 2019 9:16 pm
I agree. It was frustrating to watch. I erred watching it on Youtube. It also had a panel of unknown people holding up thumbs down or thumbs up cards and making comment, (who the heck are they to comment?) Anyway I'll try to watch tonights debate via another avenue, (I don't have cable). I'm looking forward to seeing Andrew Yang "debate". His Policies are nicely laid out on his website. I Iooked at the websites of other candidates and found them mostly lacking.

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Seppia
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Location: South Florida

Re: Biased news

Post by Seppia »

Until we will all agree to stop equating politics to a show, we will always get shit content.
Politics is not (supposed to be) a show, but it’s set up like one.
So obviously with this setup, only the most show worthy (which tend to be the politically shittiest candidates) will win.

WE WILL BUILD A WALL
WE WILL GET OUT OF EUROPE AND GAIN OUR INDEPENDENCE BACK

These work well in a TV show, but they’re terrible ideas.

Politics used to be serious stuff, if we don’t get back to treating it like so, we will continue to get soap opera like candidates.

Kriegsspiel
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Re: Biased news

Post by Kriegsspiel »

latearlyFI wrote:
Thu Jun 27, 2019 9:30 am
I agree. It was frustrating to watch. I erred watching it on Youtube. It also had a panel of unknown people holding up thumbs down or thumbs up cards and making comment, (who the heck are they to comment?) Anyway I'll try to watch tonights debate via another avenue, (I don't have cable). I'm looking forward to seeing Andrew Yang "debate". His Policies are nicely laid out on his website. I Iooked at the websites of other candidates and found them mostly lacking.
You can just watch the NBC News stream, commentary free (I think Youtube yanked the commentary streams and suspended at least spme of them).

CS
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Re: Biased news

Post by CS »

CNBC streams it here (click play on the right area)
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/27/what-to ... miami.html
Seppia wrote:
Thu Jun 27, 2019 10:34 am
Until we will all agree to stop equating politics to a show, we will always get shit content.
Politics is not (supposed to be) a show, but it’s set up like one.
So obviously with this setup, only the most show worthy (which tend to be the politically shittiest candidates) will win.
Isn't that the basis for bread and circuses, etc? I don't think this is a new thing, frankly. The medium has changed - the behavior has not.

IlliniDave
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Re: Biased news

Post by IlliniDave »

Seppia wrote:
Thu Jun 27, 2019 10:34 am

Politics used to be serious stuff, if we don’t get back to treating it like so, we will continue to get soap opera like candidates.
Yep.

It still is serious stuff for the players, if you allow politics to include how they package themselves for election. Overall it shares more with advertising than with debate class from high school. People in the aggregate are responding largely the way the candidates in the aggregate want them to (emotionally, mostly). So you are correct, and I would add that in order for that to happen voters need to realize that they are the ongoing target of manipulation, and have the gumption to resist it. A good dose of skepticism, especially regarding what is thrust in front of you, is a good start. Not an easy thing at all. That's nothing new, of course, it's just the palette of tools has expanded and the piping of content to people is virtually a 24/7 thing now.

It's early in the primary season so a lot is sensationalized. Candidates are performing for the primary-voting subset. Seems they feel the winning path this year is to be the leftmost of all. Not sure how the media and commentators are responding at this stage. Typically I don't pay a lot of attention until it is down to one candidate on both sides.

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Seppia
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Re: Biased news

Post by Seppia »

CS wrote:
Thu Jun 27, 2019 9:01 pm
Isn't that the basis for bread and circuses, etc? I don't think this is a new thing, frankly. The medium has changed - the behavior has not.
No, sorry to behave like the annoying Latin-speaking know-it-all-asshole, but “panem et circenses” was what the romans used to distract common people from politics or anything important.
Politics was treated as very serious stuff, and those who were interested in it got access to serious discussione.

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Seppia
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Re: Biased news

Post by Seppia »

IlliniDave wrote:
Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:36 am
Overall it shares more with advertising than with debate class from high school.
This sounds both extremely true and infinitely sad.

latearlyFI
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Re: Biased news

Post by latearlyFI »

Seppia wrote:
Thu Jun 27, 2019 10:34 am
Totally agree. We'd vote better if everyone went and read the Policies of the candidates directly from the candidates themselves. I feel like I've had a real lesson in Propaganda and media bias this last week watching what they've done to Andrew Yang. I've read his book, his website Policies and watched his videos' and the twist on them is outrageous.

CS
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Re: Biased news

Post by CS »

@Seppia

As American, I wonder though if we see the 'real politics' - the deals that happen behind the scenes, the company bribes, how the sausage is really made. What is on display is a circus meant to rile people up. The answer depends on is this still a democracy or an oligarchy and at least one president (Jimmy Carter) has already answered the question as oligarchy.

So while I might I have the latin wrong, I think do have some* of the meaning right. *Edit "some of the meaning right."

But I see your point, thanks.

Kriegsspiel
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Re: Biased news

Post by Kriegsspiel »

The circus is the thing you give people to entertain them and distract them from what's going on in politics. Maybe the word you're looking for is demagoguery*. Circus was meant to distract people, demagoguery is meant to rile them up.

* Or Idiocracization

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