Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The fake news problem

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  • Farmer Green, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I agree that it ought to be about empirical facts, but that appears not to be the case, and not just in politics.
    Empirical facts are inadmissible in religious arguments.
    And perspective frequently determines what is admitted as fact.
    In regard to the popular ( but irrelevant) vote , I read somewhere that Trump narrowly won the popular vote in 44 states, and that Clinton won it , overwhelmingly in 6 states. I hope that I have that right.
    All the sites that I was reading prior, and the polls that I took notice of , had Trump as a shoo- in..
    My perspective was that the polls showing Clinton to win were either rigged or blatant propaganda designed to discourage Trump voters from even bothering to vote.
    Addendum: and then of course there is cognitive dissonance to muddy the waters.
    :-)

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report

  • Simon Sjorn,

    Yes I get this - my question is - is it only those on the left who care about verifiable facts and if so then does that effect finding a solution to this mess.

    New Zealand • Since Sep 2013 • 39 posts Report

  • simon g,

    Trump narrowly won the popular vote in 44 states, and that Clinton won it , overwhelmingly in 6 states.

    There is no excuse for swallowing this kind of nonsense. Results are easily available and easily verifiable, regardless of our political/media preferences.

    The question is simply: do we want to know, or just believe?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Simon Sjorn,

    My response would be of course it is not just any persuasion who care about facts, and the fact that you ask the question is very interesting.
    The solution can only lie in agreement on what is admissible as fact.
    So far we all seem to agree that Trump won overwhelmingly under the system that the Founding Fathers instigated.
    Edit: some may say that the election was rigged, but I have not seen that contention put forward here.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report

  • Farmer Green, in reply to simon g,

    If you show me that what I read was nonsense then I will believe you. You did not do that.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell,

    You read it somewhere? Its so obviously wrong to anyone who has followed the *actual* news or has a clue about how the electoral college works and the final vote there came out or paid any attention at all to how the states were voting or has any ability to tell a fake "news" site from one whose agenda includes actual reporting ... it's not worth starting on the process of getting you informed until you've shown some iniative of your own. Try Wikipedia :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    Why don't you just call me names?

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report

  • simon g, in reply to Farmer Green,

    FG, this is Public Address, and I'm sure nobody wants flame wars here. There are enough other places for that.

    But you are commenting on the American election without even knowing - or wanting to know - the results in the American election. And I don't know how to engage with that, I'm afraid.

    Take some responsibility for informing yourself. Over and out.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Farmer Green, in reply to simon g,

    Thanks for that Simon. I did know that Trump won the only vote that mattered, and I have followed the process closely for many decades.
    Don't pull your punches: just say what you really think. If it is too uncomfortable, then just disengage.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report

  • Trevor Nicholls,

    Trump narrowly won the popular vote in 44 states, and that Clinton won it , overwhelmingly in 6 states.

    If this is true, then if Clinton won the six most valuable states the electoral college standings would be Clinton 176, Trump 362.
    But among these 6 top states we have Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania, all of which were won by Trump.
    The provisional EC result at the moment is Clinton 232, Trump 306.
    So on the face of it your second hand speculation is completely incorrect, easily refuted, and to repeat it here without bothering to do the most basic fact-checking yourself just exemplifies the problem Russell was posting about.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 325 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell,

    Yeah sorry. Or worse, suggest you become a case study ;) Easy to forget how information and information skills are a luxury.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Neil,

    I don't know what to think about why so many people believe things that are untrue. Cretainly what the untruth actually is they believe in is of crucial mportance to their perceived self-protection of what they fear. But that's nothing new.

    What seems to be new is this relatively small percentage of the population is now - via the internet - capable of forming extened communities and having an effect far beyond their actual numbers.

    We need to talk about the online radicalisation of young, white men

    It is to do with race as well as gender but I think there's something more significant going on with gender. Afterall it is mostly males.

    Since Nov 2016 • 382 posts Report

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Trevor Nicholls,

    I did say that it was irrelevant. I did say that I read it. That was all that I said.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell,

    Irrelevant to who is legally president. But very relevant to the stories that we tell about this election. Which is why it’s being peddled.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Trevor Nicholls,

    O.K I found it.
    The conclusions are quite different from yours.https://www.theburningplatform.com/2016/11/13/popular-vote-reality-check/

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report

  • Trevor Nicholls, in reply to Farmer Green,

    The conclusions are quite different from yours.

    Well let's apply his logic to the question. His conclusions are different to mine, but he's an asshole so his opinion doesn't count as much as mine.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 325 posts Report

  • mark taslov, in reply to Neil,

    Well it’s not altogether surprising that when we cut the population in half and divisively socialise each half in different ways – primarily according to their genitals – that some people then perpetuate and aggravate this division.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Trevor Nicholls,

    Yeah but were the numbers the same as yours?And go back and see what you said about it initially.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report

  • Farmer Green, in reply to mark taslov,

    Ya reckon? :-)How have you been anyway bro? It' s been a while.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Trevor Nicholls,

    It’s not so much that he is an arsehole, he’ s not a lefty , so he must be wrong , and he should just shut up.
    Which is what a lot of the discussion has been about.
    Just call him some nasty names and tell him to far cough.Don’ t waste your time talking to people with whom you disagree right.?
    If they had half a brain , they would see things your way.
    But seriously, were the facts being misrepresented? Was what I said that I read somewhere a blatant lie about the facts, or not?

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report

  • Trevor Nicholls, in reply to Farmer Green,

    At this point I don't know if you're trolling or if you really don't understand the difference between real facts, selective presentation of facts with biased commentary, and fake facts. So as I have better things to do with my time than use it trying to explain to somebody who doesn't want an explanation, I won't waste it.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 325 posts Report

  • mark taslov, in reply to Farmer Green,

    Despite the endless barrage of gender assumption things are going ok FG, how are you?

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Farmer Green, in reply to Trevor Nicholls,

    Show me the correct numbers then.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report

  • Farmer Green, in reply to mark taslov,

    I think I'm O.K., but that is not a popular view in some quarters.
    The season is proving to be very challenging, and I am being very careful when I talk to other dairy farmers, most of whom are hard up against the wall in several ways , with no end in sight.
    I am so out of step with most of the agriculture in Godzone, that I might be better to say nothing. That seems to apply here to.
    But I was interested in this idea that it might be time to start talking to each other, and I thought that it might be possible without the usual logical fallacies ad nauseum.
    Too soon to say really. But I seem to be wrong on all counts so far.

    Lower North Island • Since Nov 2012 • 778 posts Report

  • mark taslov, in reply to Farmer Green,

    I’m glad to hear you’re managing. Groupthink being one of the more dangerous and pervasive threats to humanity, I can appreciate and respect the course of action you are choosing. Obviously being labelled a troll comes with the territory.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

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