Translating from the German I first heard this in:
There were two blondes walking on opposite sides of a river when one yelled across
"How do I get to the other side?"
The second yelled back
"You ARE on the other side."
Is this political? I don’t know - POLL ADDED
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There were two blondes walking on opposite sides of a river when one yelled across
"How do I get to the other side?"
The second yelled back
"You ARE on the other side."
The count is running 2:1 to close it so will let folks vote for a few more days.
From my own perspective, we are being pulled apart by the media and the politicians. The media's bottom line is to sell advertising, so ANYTHING that gets attention is fair play, and going to extremes gets attention. It's the old 1930's bit that nobody will publish a story about a dog biting a man, but let a man bite a dog and THAT will sell a newspaper. As the following chart shows, this really took off after the internet became a big thing and people could shut out those pesky comments rom people with other views than "my" own. We used to be a lot closer with more moderates, but look how we are getting what we respond to. We're being trolled by ourselves and it's working.
Same with politicians. You get re-elected and stay in the money if people notice you. Obviously, being outrageous is the best way to be noticed. Unfortunately, this is going on in countries around the world (especially the EU), has been seen before, and hasn't ended well.
As mentioned before, I try really hard to understand both sides and am finding both sides pulling away. So my bigger question is:
What do I have to do for our society to get along better, because if I won't do something constructive then who will?
From my own perspective, we are being pulled apart by the media and the politicians. The media's bottom line is to sell advertising, so ANYTHING that gets attention is fair play, and going to extremes gets attention. It's the old 1930's bit that nobody will publish a story about a dog biting a man, but let a man bite a dog and THAT will sell a newspaper. As the following chart shows, this really took off after the internet became a big thing and people could shut out those pesky comments rom people with other views than "my" own. We used to be a lot closer with more moderates, but look how we are getting what we respond to. We're being trolled by ourselves and it's working.
Same with politicians. You get re-elected and stay in the money if people notice you. Obviously, being outrageous is the best way to be noticed. Unfortunately, this is going on in countries around the world (especially the EU), has been seen before, and hasn't ended well.
As mentioned before, I try really hard to understand both sides and am finding both sides pulling away. So my bigger question is:
What do I have to do for our society to get along better, because if I won't do something constructive then who will?
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
From my own perspective, we are being pulled apart by the media and the politicians. The media's bottom line is to sell advertising, so ANYTHING that gets attention is fair play, and going to extremes gets attention. It's the old 1930's bit that nobody will publish a story about a dog biting a man, but let a man bite a dog and THAT will sell a newspaper. As the following chart shows, this really took off after the internet became a big thing and people could shut out those pesky comments rom people with other views than "my" own. We used to be a lot closer with more moderates, but look how we are getting what we respond to. We're being trolled by ourselves and it's working. I was attempting to make the same point, but this states it more succinctly. Add to the media's clamour for sales, is the internet's feed into social media. One has to be extremely careful to cross reference anything that is "suggested reading/if you like that, you will like this" etc. Much of it fuels an agenda.
squarebore
Well-Known Member
That is a strange opinion. What happens in the USA affects everyone unfortunately. External media has influenced how Americans vote and I would then say that foreign opinion does matter. I'm sure Canadian and Mexican opinions matter more than mine but we all influence America and vice versa. Cheers
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Dont forget the Irish American influence.
Mad Earl
Member
I found this mostly civilized discussion very interesting.
MattR
Well-Known Member
The BBC are not funded by advertising and whilst not perfect (governments can select who the Directors are and have some influence) they are about the best unbiased media I’ve come across. They are not allowed to express opinion, just facts. They get the same number of complaints from the conservatives as they do from the Socialists so they must have it about right. They are the media I go to for facts. I go to others (like Sky news-Rupert Murdoch or even Aljazeer for opinions and alternative view points. But I seldom go to US news channels because of the constant adverts and the fact that they never challenge liesThe count is running 2:1 to close it so will let folks vote for a few more days.
From my own perspective, we are being pulled apart by the media and the politicians. The media's bottom line is to sell advertising, so ANYTHING that gets attention is fair play, and going to extremes gets attention. It's the old 1930's bit that nobody will publish a story about a dog biting a man, but let a man bite a dog and THAT will sell a newspaper. As the following chart shows, this really took off after the internet became a big thing and people could shut out those pesky comments rom people with other views than "my" own. We used to be a lot closer with more moderates, but look how we are getting what we respond to. We're being trolled by ourselves and it's working.
Same with politicians. You get re-elected and stay in the money if people notice you. Obviously, being outrageous is the best way to be noticed. Unfortunately, this is going on in countries around the world (especially the EU), has been seen before, and hasn't ended well.
As mentioned before, I try really hard to understand both sides and am finding both sides pulling away. So my bigger question is:
What do I have to do for our society to get along better, because if I won't do something constructive then who will?
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PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
The push back against them and the baying for the BBC to become just like any other news outlet speaks volumes to me. So much of the media is manipulated and, although the BBC is influenced, that influence is marginal.
The same happened with Corbyn. He was considered too popular, influential and likely to move politics marginally left IMHO. So, his tepid response to accusations was sufficiently damaging enough to manufacture an anti-semitism smear campaign by the Murdochs that was sufficient, sustained and vocal enough in its clamouring to get him ousted. Meanwhile, whilst they were being righteously indignant to one instance of inaction, on the other side of the house.....
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Boris
Well-Known Member
Late 2019 would suggest otherwise.
pooh and xtine
Well-Known Member
In my opinion the BBC is one of the most biased news services. Not quite as bad as Channel 4, but almost. Journalists are inherently liberal left leaning (it attracts people that way inclined) and their coverage reflects this. The BBC coverage of Brexit over the past 4 years has been unequivocably EU Remain biased; their dissmissive and rude attitude towards Government ministers contrasts with the non-challenging approach to opposition parties and devolved government politicians. Part of the enjoyment in watching BBC News coverage is spotting the endless bias via the clever use of language (“there is mounting criticism of …”) and by omission, lack of analysis, misuse of statistics (covid deaths have imperceptibly jumped to “excess deaths” recently) etc. etc.
What fascinates me is the huge shift we have experienced so that the socialist political parties are supported by a strange mix of wealthy individuals and certain professions whose socialist views have no personal impact on them (celebs, sports stars, doctors, journalists, teachers etc) and at the other end of the social scale, those who live off the state as a lifestyle choice. More right wing parties are now supported by the working class (as in really working!) and the other better off groups unhappy at supporting every bleeding heart pressure group demanding more of that magical, ephemeral “government support”.
What fascinates me is the huge shift we have experienced so that the socialist political parties are supported by a strange mix of wealthy individuals and certain professions whose socialist views have no personal impact on them (celebs, sports stars, doctors, journalists, teachers etc) and at the other end of the social scale, those who live off the state as a lifestyle choice. More right wing parties are now supported by the working class (as in really working!) and the other better off groups unhappy at supporting every bleeding heart pressure group demanding more of that magical, ephemeral “government support”.
MattR
Well-Known Member
By the time I was knocking on doors canvassing, the media had damaged Corbyn so much that I was met with anger by Labour voters who told me that they could not vote for Corbyn. But they liked his policies. Nationalisation of our railways from being Dutch owned (who use the profit to subsidise dutch rail tickets) does not make sense and is a downside of the free market economy.
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MattR
Well-Known Member
Actually the BBC handled Brexit the only way they could. The problem with Brexit was and is that no one can tell you how it will be better than what we had in the EU. Plenty of people were pointing out the problems of Brexit (quickly labelled as project fear but now acknowledged as project fact)
So it was impossible for the BBC to present a balanced viewpoint on Brexit when one side was talking about sunny uplands and freedom etc and the other side was talking hard facts about tariffs and border controls etc
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Tenman
Well-Known Member
When you guys are talking about your problems in your countries. I listen and have an opinion. I don't chime in because it's really none of my business. I don't vote there.
Exactly !
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
Much of what fascinates you is IMO a natural reaction to politricks moving further right. Maggie moved it right (initially correctly, if a little ham-fistedly), but then so did Blair somewhat strangely (but then money talks). A mixture of people from various backgrounds bear witness to their concerns about what direction society is moving towards. Diversity is generally positive.
If you look at how media influences popular opinion, you could not have been more on point than to indicate Brexit. All the stirringly rousing articles about taking back control, the easiest deal ever, closing the borders, so much overseas investment, etc... The majority of that argument has now been exposed as vapid conjecture.
Exactly, and you likely wouldn't have a clue what your talking about because all your knowledge was acquired through biased news services. Our American news services straight out lie to our face when we can clearly see with our own eyes that the opposite is true. If you don't live there, your going to have to believe the biased media to form an opinion.
Philb714
Active Member
Now I know everyone's political leaning... Can we get back to the bikes, beer & wotever else we enjoy shooting the shit about...
I'm the one in the crash helmet waiting to crack on...
My slightly in focus photo.... Le Mans 1984
I'm the one in the crash helmet waiting to crack on...
My slightly in focus photo.... Le Mans 1984
MattR
Well-Known Member
But we would value the opinion of an outsider. It can help us see things in a different light. By not chiming in you deprive us of that diversity
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Boris
Well-Known Member
Well said!
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