Nov

Don’t believe everything you see on TV

Since television is in everyone’s homes, it’s a great medium to deliver the news. The news are generally bad news, but unfortunately, they are sometimes bogus! I’m not going to bash a specific news agency, or a specific representative delivering the news. If I feel compelled by a story, I have to research it more, know it from all sides – not just from one point of view. Everyone has an opinion. Individual opinion can be harmless, but if that opinion has been repeated many times, promoted in a big way, and broadcast on TV by celebrities, then people will consider it a fact! It is worse (and downright dangerous) when the opinion is supported by thugs who threaten others who don’t agree. A worthwile read is Michael Chricton’s excellent essay on why politicized science is dangerous.

Nowadays, a good example is the “global warming” supporters. The video below is a report by John Stossel on the global warming opinion. You’ll note the opponents of global warming theory had death threats sent to them.

On a lighter side, the following animations tells us why we shouldn’t trust what’s reported on TV. Click here for the full animations and description (even though it’s self explanatory).