How facts backfire

[SeanF]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Mmm...popcorn! Cute pic! (Right-click, save as...)

I've been thinking about the democratization of media. In the past, there was public access television and pirate radio, and anyone could print up a bunch of flyers and post them around the 'hood. People could write books, but the cost-of-entry was steep, and it actually takes skill to write well. Mass media was the playground of the rich.

But the web is an interesting critter. It's reach is global and immediate, and information can be reproduced & redistributed with 100% accuracy. (That's not to say that the information itself is necessarily accurate!) The "viral" nature of it means that ideas and memes spread quickly across all segments of society.

I suppose the good of it is that everyday folks can post up their bus conversions (for example) and potentially inspire others to do something similar. On the other hand, everyday folks can post up complete nonsense on a very well-made website, complete with fictitious citations and stats. At least when we deal face-to-face with a person, we have a built-in BS meter that IMO has been honed to some accuracy over eons of evolution. Calibrating the BS meter for web-based info is a much harder nut to crack.

Anyway, just rambling.

[Griff]

The Illuminati are playing both sides against the middle.

(Smitty, ya owe me a keyboard & monitor! I snorked my coffee out my nose when I saw yer post! )

[crazycal]

I, unlike you, don't have any problem admitting when I'm wrong. I'm wrong all the time. That don't mean you're right.

[lornaschinske]

Facts! Facts! Who needs stinkin' facts! They aren't real anyway! I'm right, I'm always right, I will always be right and nothing you can tell me will convince me otherwise! What were we talking about?

Hey I'm living in a state that actually has wishy-washy signs out on the interstate that say "DUST STORMS MAY EXIST". I'm pretty sure they do exist since I have now been in a few of them.

[lornaschinske]

Originally Posted by SeanF

Mmm...popcorn! .......

Mmm... venison!

[granolaeeter]

Hey Smitty, How did you get my dog to eat popcorn?

[granolaeeter]

Pinky's pic is over on the 'Mildred' thread. She looks like Bambi who drank Alice in Wonderlands shrinking potion and then got an overdose of radiation. Ugliest dog I've ever had and the best dog I've ever had.