The problem with the press

[e1618978]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/18/helmet.law.ap/index.html

The problem with the press is that they write articles to reinforce public opinions regardless of the facts. Public opinions are formed by way of propaganda, and then the press steps in and runs with the ball.

If you look at that article above, it reinforces the following points:

"The helmet repeal law is bad, and kills people"
"Jeb Bush is bad for signing the law"

But it actually provides no information at all:

- Florida motorcycle registrations are up 87%, and the death rate is only up 67%. Not only does this totally contradict the point of the article, we don't even really know if the death rate is better or worse, because we don't know if the newly registered motorcycles are used as often as the old ones.

- The death rate for unhelmeted riders is up 10x - of course it is, because undoubtedly a greater percentage of riders is going helmetless now that it is legal.

I can see how helmets would both increase and decrease the motorcycle death rate - you have better vision without a helmet, so you are less likely to have a crash, but also less likely to survive one. Also, getting a bug in the eye could make you crash. We really don't know, and the writer of this CNN article is too lasy to find out for us, he/she just wrote it up based on the script of public opinion.

I think that most of the news we get is written by interns that are good writers but poor thinkers. This kind of bad thinking by the press applies in all kinds of areas, gun laws for example.

[Chucker]

The problem with journalists is that they are lazy. They often can't be bothered to check facts, so they just rehash what seems to be common consensus. This frequently causes urban myths to spread further and further.

[Northgate]

Al Gore is a serial liar.

[rufusswan]

I think the article supports the following quote:

There are lies, damn lies, and statistics. Twain

It's all too easy in this day of the 'information age' to conjure articles of "fact" supported by "statistics" to prove most any point.

As a biker myself, I hold both opinions on helmet laws. If I choose to ride without one, I KNOW what the result may be. If I choose to ride with one, I KNOW what the result may be. In either case, at some point in time, the frickin govt has got to stop intruding on my personal, private life and let me make the decisions. {thinning of the gene pool regardless}

One of the many glorious moments spent on my bike (1971 BMW R75/5, German police frame/tank) was coming down outa uppper US into the slate and billiard flat of central Florida with the sun rising. Right time of year to enjoy a lovely sail, with the orange groves exploding with smell. Intoxicating.

Paz

[Frank777]

Originally posted by Northgate
Al Gore is a serial liar.

Well yes, but that's not the point. :D

e#'s point was well taken and non-partisan. If there was a good reason to bring partisan politics into it, you could at least try to share it with the rest of us.

[Northgate]

The press doesn't give a wits ass about accuracy and fact checking. They're also derelect in their duties during the runup to the War. They also suffer from pack mentality.

Which is why I find them very very dangerous.

[e1618978]

Originally posted by Northgate
Al Gore is a serial liar.

What does Al Gore have to do with the price of tea in China?

This article is very much like other articles about gun control. It seems to me that the facts on gun control get all twisted around:

- permits to own handguns and carry concealed weapons reduce crime, particularly rape, muggings, and criminals entering homes that have people in them.

- "But kids get killed with guns", but in statistically insignificant numbers

- "But lots of crimes are committed with guns", but gun laws do not affect criminal gun ownership, because they don't get permits anyway

- "But our murder rate is 10x Canada's" - Both Michael Moore and I think it is due to some other flaw in our society other than gun ownership, because there are tons of guns in Canada.

I still see tons of articles where the person writing has no facts, and just makes out that anti-gun control people are idiots. I don't own a gun, but it seems to me that I benefit from the gun ownership of others - a burgler does not know if I have a gun inside or not.

[Aurora]

Originally posted by Northgate
Al Gore is a serial liar. Maybe,Maybe not but he cant hold a candle to the master of lies and Spin Our president. I like the year of WMDS talk we were bombarded with,now 4 years into Iraq and what do you mean no WMDs? so no WMDS but now we have to stay? Or how about Cheneys spin on the insurgents are in their last death throws, hey Dick you can come out from under your desk now.:lol: Our Administration of Lie and Die.

[Northgate]

Ahem. E1618978 wrote:

Originally posted by e1618978
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/18/helmet.law.ap/index.html

The problem with the press is that they write articles to reinforce public opinions regardless of the facts. Public opinions are formed by way of propaganda, and then the press steps in and runs with the ball.


My first example of the press reinforcing public opinion regardless of facts was the sliming of Al Gore during the 2000 presidential campaign.

Al Gore is a serial liar.

It was a popular topic for discussion within the media. Particularly cable news.

[DanMacMan]

Originally posted by Chucker
The problem with journalists is that they are lazy. They often can't be bothered to check facts, so they just rehash what seems to be common consensus. This frequently causes urban myths to spread further and further.

Having worked with reporters, I'd say this is the most accurate explanation yet.