People tend to think that reality is what they see/read in the news

[kaleidoscope]

Sometime ago I read about a cognitive bias by which people tend to think that reality is what they see/read in the news. I don't remember the name of this bias and was wondering if anyone could help find it or a similar one. Thanks.

 

[JaredJames]

Wouldn't this apply to any person with no other source of information (which I'd say applies to a lot of the westernised world - not because we have a lack of access to other sources, but because we just accept the news and don't bother checking it so it becomes our only source)? Not really a bias on the part of the person.

If people believed what they saw on TV in general - sci fi, soaps, sitcoms etc - then that's a different issue.

 

[CAllFlow]

Sometime ago I read about a cognitive bias by which people tend to think that reality is what they see/read in the news. I don't remember the name of this bias and was wondering if anyone could help find it or a similar one. Thanks.

This isn't an answer to your questing, just something this post made me think about. Who's to say that isn't "reality". Who knows what "reality" truly is. We see "reality" as what the world around us truly is, but we base this truth off what we see and hear. As far as anything we see in the news being "false" how do you know that. Because you check it? So you base the truth or reality of what is said in the news off of what?...something someone else says? The truth is no one knows the truth therefore no one understands reality. We base truth off the actions of another person (which can be misinterpreted or misleading) who bases their action off those of another and another and so on and so on.

Basically we base our interpretation of reality off what we think is reality...but that's just based of how someone or some peoples idea of what reality is.

For example the media "hypeing up the news". That's not what's actually going on right?... We'll the powers that be decide what the media sees, which based on what's being shown, the powers that be will either make it look more or less...(hyped i guess you could say?) Therefore when the media hypes it up is it closer or further from the truth?...who know's


If this just seems like a bunch of garbage that makes no sense I apologize, But if it does make sense then what do you think?

 

[JaredJames]

That post was borderline philosophical.

What you see on the news doesn't necessarily represent the reality of a situation. It doesn't necessarily present scientifically accurate information for one. You can check that.

Your whole paragraph revolving around "Because you check it? So you base the truth or reality of what is said in the news off of what?...something someone else says?" is complete non-sense. In so far as you can check a number of news events for yourself.

News reports a hike in petrol prices, you go and check and it hasn't happened. Now you know what the reality of the situation is. The news is wrong. At what point there is there any confusion / questions hanging over the reality here?

It's a simple example, but it holds true.

You check something against various internet sources, using reliable and verifiable sources and you can form a far more solid opinion on the situation. To ignore all other sources and go straight with the news isn't good practice and, thanks to potential bias, can prove to give false information.

Your whole "who knows what reality is" thing, in my opinion, is a load of rubbish. All you've said is that every source out there is unreliable and even if you see it yourself you can't be sure.

 

[CAllFlow]

Don't get me wrong I wasn't trying to make some radical, philosophical statement. It was merely food for thought. And yes your gas price example is something that can be proven. I was speaking from a more political viewpoint (my fault for not specifying) where lies and deceit skew the truth...Like sitting in your living room watching news coverage of a war. You can't exactly go there and see for yourself.

In terms of petrol prices yes it's very easy to understand the reality of the situation, but in political cases you can't exactly split a government officials head open to see if what he says is the truth.

I feel as though you saw me reply as an attack on your statement which was not my intention, but looking at it now I can see how one could come to that conclusion.

I also feel a little insulted...of course I wasn't talking about events that could be easily seen and known as the truth or a lie. Like the fact the sun is in space, or grass is green, or the sky is blue.

Also i would like to suggest you don't go around saying someones ideas are rubish because you don't agree...it's bloody rude.

 

[JaredJames]

I'll be blunt. The whole "Who knows what "reality" truly is." crops up a lot in the philosophy forum. I can assure you, it's not the last time you'll here "what a load of rubbish" and it's certainly not your idea. I've heard it come up far too much and just put a haze over the arguments for it to be worthwhile. Don't take it as personal, it's just my dislike for these types of philosophical arguments - particularly ones which spiral into "we don't exist".

Now, I agree. In so far as unless you properly investigate a news report you don't know the reality of the situation. A simple look on the internet will prove / disprove most stories. Yes, if a person lies it can cloud issues and mask the truth. But it doesn't last (heck, has wikileaks proved nothing?).
However, I disagree that no one knows what reality is.

 

[Txrose]

I have not heard this, but I know most times my Mom does believe everything she sees on tv, from news, what doctors say, and some tv shows.
She talks back to the tv, and it gets old when you are watching a sitcom and she starts saying things like> Because you are a stupid____, if you would have_____, why don't you_____.
Anything a news reporter reports is true to her, and she will call people to tell them what she heard.
The sad thing is she used to tell me don't believer everything you see, hear, or read.
If anyone knows why this is. please help!