This is a particularly pertinent question in the current political climate when our society is strongly polarized toward the extremes.
Why is Modern Society so Polarized?
Polarization has been fostered by the media’s use of analytics to determine their demographic and distort information to please that select group. For example, FOX news caters to those on the political Right, CNN to those on the political Left and MSNBC to those on the extreme political Left. People access their news from a source that supports their viewpoint and become reinforced in their opinions. They share their opinions on social media with other members of their “tribe” and soon their opinions become immutable “truths.” At this point they cannot understand how anyone with a brain could possibly disagree with them, and they may attribute nefarious motives to those of different opinion on an issue.
How to Detect whether you are a Victim of Misinformation
Most issues in life are complex, involving pros and cons. For example, we might ask whether it should be mandated that everyone be vaccinated during a pandemic, like the one we had during COVID. Some will argue that it’s in the best interest of everyone to prevent widespread illness. Others may argue that it’s a violation of personal freedom, and that some people might have an allergic reaction to the vaccine and die. Should we mandate universal vaccination, should we allow for special exemptions, or should we allow individual choice? The people who are absolutely certain of their opinion on this matter, are usually the ones who are least informed. Those who have the broadest knowledge about vaccines and their effects are usually more open to opinions that differ from their own. They may have an opinion, but they also understand the reasoning behind those who hold a different view.
To identify your own degree of polarization ask yourself a variety of questions and then check your basis of certainty. What research have you done to reach that opinion? Why do other rational people reach a different opinion? Do you watch the same news network exclusively or do you check into several different sources to get a different perspective? If all of your opinions fall on the same side of the political spectrum, you might be immersed in an echo chamber of misinformation that continues to intensify your level of certainty. If, on the other hand, your opinions on some issues fall on the political Left and on other issues, the political Right, then you are most likely an independent thinker and somewhat immune to the biases of the media.
How to Escape the Media Biases
One way to rise above media bias is through a process called “triangulation.” This means simply, tune into three distinctly different sources of information. Observe the differences in how what they choose to report and on how they present information. Years ago, the Soviet newspaper Pravda reported that in an international ranking of automobiles, the Russian cars were rated second and the American cars were rated second to the last. The report did not reveal that there were only two countries in the international comparison.
Suppose you were presented with this question: Do you think we should increase the tax on the wealthy? How would you answer this? Are you convinced that your opinion is correct? What is your basis of certainty? If you submit to ChatGPT the question “Should the US legislators increase the tax rates on the top 1% of US income earners?” you will get a list of pros and cons that acknowledge the multi-faceted nature of the answer. Even ChatGTP “recognizes” that the question is complex and every answer involves trade-offs.
To obtain an informed opinion consult reliable sources such as a recent US Census Bureau accessible at Census.gov | U.S. Census Bureau Homepage Look at the tables and graphs to determine what percent of all U.S. tax is paid by the 99th percentile by income? Examine past policies to see how the economy was affected in the past by an increase of tax on the wealthy. If you don’t have the time or inclination to investigate these issues, then use triangulation to filter out the biases and form your own opinion. In all cases, keep an open mind and talk to friends–especially those who have an opposite point of view and are rational enough to discuss issues without excess emotion.
I have a highly intelligent religious friend who believes in an afterlife, and I taunt him by saying, “How can you believe in that silly myth of eternal life?” He laughs and responds, “It’s worth getting on my knees every Sunday, knowing that I will spend eternal life laughing at you suffering in Hell.” We both laugh, hit our golf shots and continue our conversation on various issues all the way to the clubhouse. We’re both humble enough to know that it’s hard to be certain about anything, and we have to keep open to opposite points of view through various types of unbiased information gathering.
