# PBS, politics, current events ... potential for bias? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 7, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166 "2012-05-07T14:30:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/121 "2012-05-22T12:24:19Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > It’s just a gut feeling. Considering the quality of your content when it comes to supposed bias in the media in this thread(and others), you might want to consider [this.](http://ozbo.com/media/g/01624CL.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/122 "2012-05-22T13:02:26Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > It’s just a gut feeling. I wonder why some are so disinclined to tell us about their feelings in this instance. We already told you. You just don’t believe us. > [@](#): > > I picked the term up from **Brainy G** a few years ago. I know it when I see it…ex. if someone claims they have no idea who Bill Moyers voted for in 2008 that person is not intellectually honest. > > […] > > That’s because you aren’t being intellecthuyally honest about the way that hosts can steer the debate and you all fall back on intellectually dishonest arguments like biases don’t matter. My previously-mentioned definition of “intellectually honest” is looking pretty accurate now. And what we said was that voting preferences don’t matter. You keep conflating “voting preferences” and “bias”, which the rest of us think are different things. Your characterization of other people’s argument as “biases don’t matter” when no one has in fact said that is therefore looking pretty “intellectually dishonest” by any definition. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/123 "2012-05-22T14:35:11Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > I picked the term up from **Brainy G** a few years ago. I know it when I see it…ex. if someone claims they have no idea who Bill Moyers voted for in 2008 that person is not intellectually honest. > > That’s because you aren’t being intellecthuyally honest about the way that hosts can steer the debate and you all fall back on intellectually dishonest arguments like biases don’t matter. Time for you to pick up a new term. Intellectually Lazy. Suggesting that a show is biased because you _think_ the host votes a certain way is intellectually lazy. Identifying where the host steered the debate in a biased way takes work, and thought, and requires you to defend your belief, not lazy. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/124 "2012-05-23T00:18:39Z")
[Watching Fox News makes you stupider.](http://www.thenation.com/blog/167999/its-official-watching-fox-makes-you-stupider) (Actual study.) ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/125 "2012-05-23T04:23:43Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > It’s just a **gut** feeling. I understand when your brain is so underpowered, your other organs have to pitch in like that, but the rest of us don’t share your handicap. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/126 "2012-05-23T04:36:18Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > It’s just a gut feeling. Dulcolax might help. (Avoid senna, it’s harsh on the colon.) ---
**Author:** ![mister\_nyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@mister\_nyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_nyx)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/127 "2012-05-23T04:50:44Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > There are no facts available that could support my opinion… that doesn’t make it wrong does it? But you all keep wanting facts to support my opinion An opinion based on facts is relevant. An opinion based on shit that’s made up is stupid. > [@](#): > > Who is more intellectually honest… one who opines that Bill Moyers and Ray Suarez probably support Obama… or one who won’t hazard a guess? Obviously the people who aren’t making shit up are more honest. Only an imbecile or a liar would conclude that making things up is more valuable than citing actual facts. I guess perhaps the gut feelings are the problem here. I tend to focus on my brain feelings. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/128 "2012-05-23T06:36:46Z")
Well, yeah, unless you’re just asking questions! Or if you’re a conservative gadfly who mocks the pretension and hypocrisies of the left. Then you’re totally cool! ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166/129 "2012-05-23T08:57:53Z")
Whenever I see “Are you just asking questions?” I immediately anticipate that the person asking questions will respond with “Am I a complete fucking moron”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pbs-politics-current-events-potential-for-bias/621166.md?page=6)