In this week's Sunday NYTimes Book Review is an article about the news media. (You can avoid the time-consuming and objectionable NYTime registration by getting an ID and password from Bug Me Not, to which I have a link at right.) It says a lot of things I agree with. Here's one:
"left and right agree - that people consume news and opinion in order to become well informed about public issues. Were this true, liberals would read conservative newspapers, and conservatives liberal newspapers, just as scientists test their hypotheses by confronting them with data that may refute them. But that is not how ordinary people (or, for that matter, scientists) approach political and social issues. The issues are too numerous, uncertain and complex, and the benefit to an individual of becoming well informed about them too slight, to invite sustained, disinterested attention. Moreover, people don't like being in a state of doubt, so they look for information that will support rather than undermine their existing beliefs. They're also uncomfortable seeing their beliefs challenged on issues that are bound up with their economic welfare, physical safety or religious and moral views."The uncertainty and complexity of issues, combined with our desire to have our own beliefs about (and our actions in) the world confirmed, means we too easily dismiss media products that might change our opinions.
Comments
Post a Comment