Political Experiment

Okay, I'm going to try something rather interesting with myself. I'm known to be pretty conservative, but I'm wonder, exactly how much of that is the fault of the media? Well, there is one way to find out.

For the next 2 weeks to a month I will do this:

1. Stop reading newspapers.
2. Stop listening to any type of political radio.
3. Stop reading any internet sources that have any type of slant.
4. Not read any political threads on these boards.

I will basically put myself in a media vacuum.

I will do this to keep myself up to date on topics by word of mouth. State budget is off? I'll research it myself and not rely on a news media to do it for me. Something like say.. stem-cell research? I'll look into it myself on my own means.

I'm just curious where this will leave me.

- Arkans

[Apotheosis]

cool experiment, my prediction is as follows:

you will end up not seeing any crisis about anything IRL whatsoever.
Unless you witness accidents, etc.

All the shiat both sides of the media hype are essentially emotional ploys to gain audience, etc.. when you really look at things, the sky really isn't falling.

[Back]

Yeah, not quite sure what its meant to accomplish other than forcing you to actually talk to people to find out whats going on. What exactly inspired this?

You will probably be a lot happier

[Sean]

My prediction is he retains the exact same political views but has a better sense of how to find information to back those views.

What I'm hoping this will accomplish is multi-fold.

1. To get rid of knee jerk reactions of mine in my different political views

2. To actually make me get information as unfilitered as possible and removing as much bias as I can.

3. To try to refine to see my actual political views and not just repeat what I read or watch.

Now, what inspiried this was, well, the political threads. I noticed myself seeing certain views as automatically wrong and that was just pretty stupid of me.

- Arkans

[Asha]

I've been doing it since 1979.
:smilegrin:

biasness is awesome

[ElanthianSiren]

So, in effect, you're questioning your moral code or forcing yourself to justify it?

That seems like it might be an exercise in frustration. Good luck though.

-Melissa

Questioning by seeing if I can justify :P

- Arkans

[Keebler]

Originally posted by Stanley Burrell
You will probably be a lot happier

I very much agree here. I try to keep myself more or less in the dark when it comes to political issues. Most people have enough stress in their lives already.

[Warriorbird]

Kind've solid. I might go for similar.

[DeV]

I remember doing something like this for a mass communication course a couple years back. No mass media for a whole week and short of going crazy I realized I didn't really miss much toward the end. I did discover that my car needed a tune-up since I didn't have the radio on while driving during that time. Good luck with it, sounds interesting enough.

[CrystalTears]

I think keeping yourself away from all news events will just keep you ignorant of the world around you, regardless of whether it's good or bad news. The good experiment would be to try and stay away from political banter which includes opinion, since that's what stirs up the emotions and cross-examinations.

Reading the regular local newspaper should be plenty to keep you informed yet not exposed to the criticisms and critiques of the news themselves.

[xtc]

I think this will be an interesting experiment.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Arkans
I will do this to keep myself up to date on topics by word of mouth.
- Arkans

I think your news will still be slanted because of the company you keep:

http://www.american-pictures.com/gallery/ku-klux-klan/Kkk.dinner.birdview-a.jpg

[Sean of the Thread]

I predict that all of the information you receive from whatever source you seek will still be bias.

[Parkbandit]

Originally posted by Arkans


For the next 2 weeks to a month I will do this:

1. Stop reading newspapers.
2. Stop listening to any type of political radio.
3. Stop reading any internet sources that have any type of slant.
4. Not read any political threads on these boards.

I will basically put myself in a media vacuum.

I will do this to keep myself up to date on topics by word of mouth. State budget is off? I'll research it myself and not rely on a news media to do it for me. Something like say.. stem-cell research? I'll look into it myself on my own means.

I'm just curious where this will leave me.

- Arkans

I think this is a great idea. First of all George Bush is a good President. it will allow you to George Bush does no wrong form your own opinions about national I wish George Bush was my father politics as well as world events without I am glad Kerry lost, because liberals suck worrying about the media or author bias.

[Parker]

LoL Park.

[Warriorbird]

"Reading the regular local newspaper"

All of those are usually biased towards liberal or conservative views. If I do this, no newspaper.

[DeV]

Originally posted by Parkbandit
I wish George Bush was my father That makes me worry.

:rofl: PB

- Arkans

Hey Wezas, where did you get that picture, I didn't know you joined us for dinner!

- Arkans

[CrystalTears]

Originally posted by Warriorbird
"Reading the regular local newspaper"

All of those are usually biased towards liberal or conservative views. If I do this, no newspaper.


I predict that all of the information you receive from whatever source you seek will still be bias.

[HarmNone]

Interesting idea, Arkans. I wish you luck. :)

Something like this is very difficult to do. In order for it to be a real success, one must open one's mind to concepts that have, thus far, been counter to one's recognized beliefs. Not an easy task, that. I'll be interested to hear how it goes for you, and what difficulties you find yourself facing.

[Parkbandit]

Originally posted by DeV

Originally posted by Parkbandit
I wish George Bush was my father That makes me worry.

Well all this blog talk about how Revenge of the Sith is really about the Bush administration.. I thought it was funny.

[DeV]

Originally posted by Parkbandit
I thought it was funny. It was...

How's the experiment going so far?

[Back]

Originally posted by DeV

Originally posted by Parkbandit
I thought it was funny. It was...

It is. Never heard the word “Democracy” in any Star Wars movie until this one. The choice line is when the Senator declares himself Emperor and Padme says something to the effect of “There goes Liberty and everyone’s applauding”.

:banghead::hang: