Do you believe everything you are told...

@Erilyn (3020)
United States
June 8, 2007 1:21pm CST
When it comes to the news rather it be newspaper or television? OR do you do your own "reaserch" and look for the truth? I think a good exapmle of this would be global warming. We are hearing on the news all the time about how bad it is getting etc. I can remember when I was a kid they were worried about global cooling for the same reasons they give for global warming. After doing my own research I found the the planets goes through periods of warming and cooling. Another example would be them saying that we HAVE to get our oil from overseas, and yet there are enough oil deposits here in the states to handle double the normal comsumption for 100 years. The problem is refinaries closing, not where we get our oil from.
8 people like this
26 responses
• Singapore
11 Jun 07
The news in Singapore be quite neat. Neat as in the papers do not bloat up the news and distort the facts. I quite trust what they report in the papers. But nevertheless, I like to take it with a pinch of salt too, especially for certain issues that the paper might likely have bias.
2 people like this
• Singapore
11 Jun 07
The papers here are quite... regulated.
2 people like this
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
Hmmmm....the way you say that Lordwarwizard makes me wonder. Do you think that it is too regulated? Do you think that there are things left out that shouldn't be?
1 person likes this
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
I guess for me it has just become with all of the reporters that have come forward and said they made up stories or fabircated facts to make them show the view point of the reporter, and the media saying one thing one day and changing it completely the next week I have an issue with that. I wish that I could read news and not have to worry about biasness.
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
17 Jun 07
If it is news, I believe what was broadcast on television or in the national papers. There is no reason for me to doubt. However, if it is informal news, I may not believe it unless I have read or heard it before. I will do my own research if I am interested in it.
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@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
19 Jun 07
Good thought! I did wonder, and often I have a ready excuse for them if the turnaround is from the mass media. If it is informal means, then it speaks of the person's character.
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@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
18 Jun 07
Does it make you wonder sometimes when they say one thing and turn around and change their view completely another? I don't mean to offend you please don't take it that way I am only asking if that makes you stop and wonder at all.
1 person likes this
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
20 Jun 07
Well I can certaintly undertand that. And thank you for sharng your views with me. Do you usually have a "normal" excuse that you use? Or does it change depending on what the subject matter is?
1 person likes this
@stacyv81 (5903)
• United States
13 Jun 07
I do not believe anything I hear right off, as I always say there are three sides to every story, one persons side, the other person's side and then the truth. This is the same with everything in the news, it is all told by people who have used there logic and understanding of the truth, while not necessarily wrong, it isnt necessarily right either, did that make sense? I hope so =)
1 person likes this
@stacyv81 (5903)
• United States
16 Jun 07
yes, you always have to be skeptical and consider the source, always look into it, before believing naively. I have come to realize this.=)
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
14 Jun 07
It makes perfect sense Stacy. And I love that saying! I think we shouldn't take everything at face value, We should do a bit of reasearch into somethings if we don't understand them, and go from there. that way we can make our own informed decisions about things.
• Austria
16 Jun 07
I feel it's all propaganda and I've come to the point where I don't believe most of it. I end up reading several different articles trying to gather information, and even then I don't believe most of it. Newspapers, TV, media they're in it for the money, they want to shock us into buying, watching and there's a lot of fear mongering involved as well.
1 person likes this
• Austria
18 Jun 07
I used to live in the U.S. and every day I'd hear talk of freedom. The message was always the same. The freedom of the U.S. citizens was in danger. The fear spread through the community, everyone supported the war. My friend was ready to by plastic and ducktape in case of a dirty bomb or North Korea nukes. I'm in Europe now. Most neighbors here think that Americans are nuts. Nobody ever talks about freedom. Nobody worries about losing it. We just have it. And our government doesn't use threats of losing our freedom to get us to support a war based on ficticious threats.
1 person likes this
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
20 Jun 07
That is something to think about isn't it? unfortunitly, I think thats how things are sometimes. One thing to keep in mind is that looking at a countries age I think plays a part in its culture and beliefs. You have to remember that in realtive terms, USA is still a kid. We are only as a country 231 years old.
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
18 Jun 07
I would have to agree with you there. It does seem sometimes that they want to keep people afraid doesn't it?
• United States
8 Jun 07
There was a line in the movie, "The Player's Club", that said, "NEVER trust anyone ELSE's information over your OWN"! 2 ME, words 2 live by! I NEVER take ANYTHING at "face value"! EVERYONE is BIASED, so u always have 2 take THAT into consideration! What are a person's REAL MOTIVATIONS 4 saying what they're saying? U have 2 "weigh" that 4 YOURSELF! I once heard the legendary rapper KRS-1 say that he'd stopped reading books 4 a time, because he didn't know enough about the authors! Good point! I concur! My mom always tells me (since I read ALOT), "If those authors walked up 2 u on the STREET, and gave u their SAME opinions from their books, would u receive it the same way"? I pondered that, and the answer is, most likely, NO! I think that there's something in our brains that tells us that things are more "official", more LEGITIMATE, when we read them in print, or hear someone on the news, or a so-called "expert" of something, tell us. Maybe the words in PRINT thing goes back 2 our school days, 'cuz that's how we learned ALOT of what we did in school. Just a theory. I know u've heard that OTHER old saying, that goes something like "An intelligent person only believes HALF of what they hear, but WISDOM is knowing WHICH HALF 2 believe"! I'm probably not quoting this correctly, but u get the point! As far as the media goes, they NEVER give us the FULL STORY! And, what they DO give us, they give us THEIR "slant", their ANGLE, on it! And, the way they edit , "cut and slice" material, they CAN (and quite often DO) create a "picture" that never really took place! They'll take people's words OUT of context, and make it look like they answered a certain question, when they NEVER answered that at all! The media is the KING of MANIPULATION! So, 2 get back 2 your original question, Erilyn, hell NO! LOL!!!!! ALWAYS investigate FURTHER, things, 4 yourself!
1 person likes this
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
8 Jun 07
I have heard all of those saying also Creative, which is why I brought up this topic to start with. I think too often people get wrapped up in things that they have heard from the media, and forget that just a yeazr before the media's stance was something else entirely. The only thing I really read or pay attention to in the media are who's been arrested for what, and disasters that have happened. Anything else i will take with a grain of salt and do my own research on it. too many scare tactics anymore if you ask me.
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
Everything is getting so slanted its not even funny. And I do not think that what celebraty is sleeping with who is news. Mush of it doens't make any sense to me at all. I watch financial news more then anything because I trade forex so I have to keep on top of that stuff.
• United States
9 Jun 07
I agree. That's why I try 2 really monitor my news watching. I'm really ONLY interested in the weather, entertainment and sports reports. The REST is just filled up with the latest TRAGEDIES, like who got shot, a flood, a brush fire, more soldiers killed in Iraq, etc. I really don't need 2 be filling my head with all of that, ALL THE TIME! I think alot of us are "numb" 2 it, from being exposed our whole lives. I probably am 2! It doesn't really help my life 2 constantly hear all of that negativity. It doesn't make me feel any better. It just makes me say, "What is this world coming 2?" Plus, like I said, there's 2 much manipulation of information 4 MY tastes! But, if there IS an issue that I REALLY wanna know the WHOLE STORY about, I WILL investigate, on my OWN, and NOT just take the MEDIA's "word" 4 it!
1 person likes this
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
9 Jun 07
Generally, I have faith in what our news stations and newspapers report. That's because integrity and accuracy of reporting are hallmarks of the reporting system in my country. However, when it comes to debatable issues, I am reminded that what's reported sometimes only express one side of the story. There may be another side to the story, or perhaps views that have been omitted to slant the story a certain way. So it is good to look for other sources of information on the subject.
1 person likes this
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
If you don't mind me asking where are you from? We have had a lot of reporters here saying later that they have either made up stories, or fabricated them. It's really hard for me to believe everything that I see or hear anymore at face value.
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
11 Jun 07
I am from Singapore. The news reporting is quite credible here. What I am not so sure though is whether news stations suppress news they do not want you to hear. This may be politically motivated. What you know from the news channels may be influenced by what you get to see and hear.
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@Sir_bobby88 (8231)
• Singapore
11 Jun 07
Well i don't believe what is being told to me unless there are edvience yea .... there is always sentence to see to believe and i like the phrase yea
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@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
That is a good saying. I think it is important for everyone to make their own educated opinion about things.
@gloria777 (1674)
• India
14 Jun 07
Earlier I used to believe whatever I have been told, later I realised I am being fooled & misused.So now I can't even believe the truth.
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
14 Jun 07
Do you look for information to find out for yourself what to believe?
@Script (592)
• Australia
11 Jun 07
I find it quite hard to solely believe anything the newspapers or televisions have to say at face value. The truth is that the worlds richest people own the media that we watch and the government owns what is left over. Both parties have very different reasons for trying to influence our options about many varied issues. So I think it is a good idea to educate yourself on the issues that concern you or you wish to learn more about. There is a lot of information about most things that appears as news. All it takes is a little free thinking and reading!
1 person likes this
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
Exactly! I enjoy doing research and things like that. I think it is too easy also to swing data one way or another. And you are right different people have different reasons for telling people only what they want them to hear.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
8 Jun 07
I certainly do not believe everything I'm and your example about global warming is a good reason not to. I do my own research, but it is hard to do as any scientist who does not support global warming is booted out, just as those who did not believe in evolution were given the short shift in the Universities. However I read Christan magazines who have a different perspective and are not influenced by leftist media. I also heard from a different source other than the regular media, that we do have oil in the United States, but the environmentalists believe in protecting wild life and saving natural inhabitants cannot be done if they pump for oil. Another is stem cell research, the media is so eager to kill unborns for the stem cells yet there is nary a word about adult stem cells which are very successful. But then the media is mostly left leaning, pro abortion, etc. so what do you expect?
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
8 Jun 07
I learned a long time ago not to believe everything I am told. I do think that there are a lot of times that the media is slanted. As far as the oil goes, I think (and of course this is my opinion) that what is comes to to more is why use up what we have if we can use up other resources first. Which does make sense in a way.
@Tarrish (562)
• United States
8 Jun 07
The media is more left? Yea right! Fox news is owned by the conservatives, and goes toward their agenda two fold. Why are you so worried about unborn stem cells when our own president is killing living breathing boys for a war that we should even be in? I think your different source is the religious right, which really isn't a great source either. Out source your information from lands that aren't ours, and people not influenced by a book. Nothing against the Bible, but it shouldn't be used in our government policies. Separation of state and church you know. :)
1 person likes this
@Buchi_bulla (8298)
• India
18 Jun 07
I do not believe every thing that is told. For example once they say coffee not good for health, other time they say limited cups good, some times egg is healthy, some times not. Like that always ambiguous statements appear in the news papers and magazines. Hence I will gather news from all sources and arrive at my own judgement.
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
18 Jun 07
You have a very good point there. I had forgotten to add how they say somethig is good for you one day and change their minds the next lol.
@babostwick (2036)
• United States
20 Jun 07
I don't believe everything I hear. I tend to look up the facts for myself to see if it's true or not. Good example bringing up the global warming and cooling debate. I believe we have enough oil but I agree with you on that.
1 person likes this
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
20 Jun 07
I believe we do as well. There is a lot of things that don't make much sense when taken in peresective. but then anything can be twisted to say what people want it to say.
@nejnej (148)
• United States
9 Jun 07
i was once tolds by my older brother that i am gullible. and that i easily believe everything im told. my bad. coz i thought they are telling somethign factful.
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@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
That's not neccessarly a bad thing. I haven't meant to sound that I looked down on people for doing that. I hope that you didn't take it in that context. I posted this more to find out how people felt more than anything. I am not trying to pass judgement on anyone one way or the other, just trying to see what different people thought about how they precieve the media.
@murciaman (441)
9 Jun 07
Yes I agree with you..spin doctors are not just confined to politics....the news from tv and the news from the press often come from the same source so if the source is wrong or inaccurate then tv and newspapers will be also..as far as global warming goes this is far too complicated an issue ..what is worrying is thea the general public all now seem to believe the spin..ie that man made pollution and industry has accelerated global warming...comparing Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere to increases in temperature shows a time lag of 800 years.therefore the current warming over the last 40 years is as a result of things that happened 800 years ago.So global warming is not a result of human activity but some other source.This other source could have been increased volcanic activity 800 years ago... we dont have accurate historical data to prove this one way or the other, another theory is increased thermal activity in the Sun 800 years ago. Just becasue the sun appears in the sky as a giant glowing orb does not mean the light, heat and energy from the sun are constant.Another reason could be our position in the universe relative to all the amounts of radiation that hit our planet all the time. Did you know that the earth is never in the same position in space? Our solar system is roughly two thirds from the centre of our galaxy.Our earth goes round the sun in 365 days .Our solar system is orbitting round the universe It takes 200 million years to get back to the same space but seeing as scientists have proved that the universe is expanding it means the Earth has never ever orbitted to the same place EVER!!Yet our children in school are taught the earth orbits the sun in 365 days and that is all they are taught.Most children wouldnt know that the sun also spins onan axis. Sorry to go on but you see the point is entirely in keeping with your opinion.How on earth do we know information given us is correct?
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
This is true. an earlier poster said that warming is the highest it has been and is just getting higher. I don't think we know enough to really say one way or the other you know? Temps have dropped lower then normal before that's what created an ice age lol. It really was just an example of how the media tends to hype something up without giving all of the facts.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
9 Jun 07
Nah... not anymore:) Specially from the news. I don't mind hearing what they have to say, but prefer to take my own conclusions most of the time. Usually nothing is what it appears and with so many different interpretations filtering each news I find it safer to do my own research and reach my own understanding of the facts.
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
I can certiantly understand that. I like doing research so it isn't hard for me lol. Anything can be turned around to say anything you want it to.
@lillake (1630)
• United States
9 Jun 07
I do prefer to do my own research on subjects that interset me. Like your global warming example. Yes, the earth goes through natural highs and lows. However we are already far above the average "high" range and still going up.
1 person likes this
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
I can understand that. I don't think we know really enough to say what the natural highs and lows are. After all when it got lower than average, we had an ice age lol.
@ibsnet (1268)
• India
9 Jun 07
I don't. We should not believe everything what particularly media says. It is better to have some search on the matter in Internet also if some matter really is concerned. There are many reliable sources available free in Internet to verify the actuality of the media news.
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
This is true. I do a lot of searching sometimes to find the "meat" of the matter so to speak. I tend to look at all the facts and go from there.
• India
9 Jun 07
no u dont beleive everything and everyone...depends on whos telling and what..u always hav the option to cross mcheck if the other person is right or not...
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@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
I always cross reference everything, I think that's why I did so well in debate class lol. Plus I think it is alwasy a great idea to learn something new everyday :).
• India
9 Jun 07
I certainly do not believe everything I'm told. Because news these days is made too sensational to believe. But that does'nt mean I would be doing my research for every thing I hear or see. Thats a waste of time. As far as the debate about global warming is concerned I think we are just being reckless. Whether Global warming is real or is just a political hoax I don't care. The point is we should not hurt our environment and its as simple as that.
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
I agree with you on the last part. I will do research on something if it is something that I am concerned about. I really don't care about who's doing who in hollywood, but on more important matters I do like to do my own research, after all learn something new every day.
• India
9 Jun 07
Now a days people are so busy that they even don't have any time or botheration to look in the truthfulness of a fact or a news that they hear. they just belive what is being seen in the television, radio, or the media.
@Erilyn (3020)
• United States
11 Jun 07
That is a good point. For a long time I wouldn't watch the news at all. Even now I don't watch very much of it, I tend to read it more than anything else. Then when i come across something that makes me say huh? I will do my own research on it.