The bias against fact checking websites.

Discussion in 'Media & Commentators' started by robini123, Apr 4, 2019.

  1. robini123

    robini123 Well-Known Member

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    The bias against fact checking websites.

    I question the motive of powerful people or institutions that tell those under their influence to not trust fact checking websites because of an alleged systematic bias within those sites. I further question the motive of the aforementioned people and institutions when they say trust only sources that align with the powerful persons or institutions ideology. This is how Group think happens, an echo-chamber riddled with confirmation bias.

    Tactics used to discredit fact checking websites.

    1) The posting of opinion pieces that make claims of bias in a website without offering any supporting evidence. The claim of bias is argued as a fact but the alleged fact is not backed by any objective source citation.

    If we allow this type of claim then all claims become true just because we say they are. Example: Claiming to have an infinite IQ is not proof of an infinite IQ. Claims do not automatically = fact. Many claims are baseless thus the need to practice due diligence when vetting a claim.

    2) Selecting a small number of contested fact checks and using them as evidence of a systematic bias.

    Pointing out where one thinks the fact check sites got it wrong to the exclusion of where they get it right is called cherry picking. Cherry picking is a form of confirmation bias where we shine a light upon only that which supports a predetermined conclusion. We do not point out where they got it right because that would work against our claim.

    3) Judging a fact checking website based upon who owns it and the political views of the contributors.

    It is possible to hold certain ideological views yet suspend them when fact checking. To argue that a website owned by a person who holds different ideological views is biased but then trust a website owned by a person that espouses ideological views that you adhere to is not only biased, but hypocritical too.

    We are all a slave to our bias to varying degrees. While it is difficult, it is possible to set aside ones bias when reviewing data that does not bode well for ones preconceived conclusions. Sadly it is also human nature for us to think that we are being objective when in reality we are blinded by our bias. Because of this we tend to see our bias in retrospect rather than in real time.

    Thoughts?
     
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  2. Andrew Jackson

    Andrew Jackson Well-Known Member

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    Bias?

    Over 90% of "Fake News" spread on social media is invented by RW and geared to the RW.

    ^That is simply a FACT.

    So, I can see how certain people (who like to spread "Fake News") would not be happy with fact-checking sites.
     
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  3. perdidochas

    perdidochas Well-Known Member

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    The fact checking sites aren't completely objective. On non-political subjects (like the latest scam or fake email going around) they are pretty good. On political subjects, they aren't so reliable. (similar to wikipedia)
     
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2019
  4. robini123

    robini123 Well-Known Member

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    I agree but I know of no better sources. I certainly do not see the liberal and conservative media as being more objective. Because of that I see fact checking sites as the best bad option, unless you know of a 100% objective fact checking source? I am not so quick to throw the baby out with the bathwater just because a fact checking site gets it wrong sometimes. I also understand that it is human nature to reject that which goes against our own deeply held beliefs, even if the data rejected is objectively correct. When something negative is said about someone we like we tend to dismiss it. When something negative is said about those we dislike we tend to believe it. Human bias is predictable.
     
  5. perdidochas

    perdidochas Well-Known Member

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    I pretty much agree. As long as the fact checking sites "show their work" they are useful.
     
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  6. robini123

    robini123 Well-Known Member

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    I absolutely agree.
     
  7. Aleksander Ulyanov

    Aleksander Ulyanov Well-Known Member

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    67% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

    There are 3 types of lies, Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics Mark Twain
     
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  8. alexa

    alexa Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    About the first thing I learned when studying statistics decades ago was that you can make statistics show anything you want.
     
  9. hudson1955

    hudson1955 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I would not say it is bias. It is that they are not very accurate and seem to be increasingly political. I investigate myself. I don't believe anything anything anyone says anymore.
     
  10. Aleksander Ulyanov

    Aleksander Ulyanov Well-Known Member

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    Twain had another I like particularly, "Figures don't lie but liars figure." I like that because it's not trying to say that statistics have no use or validity at all but that you have to be careful how you use them and very mindful to avoid having them use you, thus permitting people to fool you with them.
     

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