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I found this comic (on PHDComics.com) the other day and just had to post it because it really hits the nail on the head.  While this process is easiest to identify in science news, where original sources are relatively easily available, I think this fear amplification and exaggeration process applies to most things you see reported in the news.  Drill down to original sources and actual data, and everything is always far more nuanced, moderate, and sensible than the story that’s delivered to media consumers.  Of course these days many people don’t even read the news, they get their information through the filter of opinion commentators, radio pundits, or cult-like internet personalities.  So perhaps the cartoonist could have made the cycle more complete by adding an additional step before the paranoid granny where radio/tv/internet pundits tell you that the government/big business/unions are secretly trying to slip “A” into legislation/biased media/your water supply.

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The internet was full of jokes today in celebration of April 1st.  I thought one of the best was Yahoo’s new “Ideological search”, both because of its astute social commentary and its near-believability.  Their info page on the subject has this to say:

Tired of being inundated with the contradictory and offensive beliefs of others? Today, the scientists at Yahoo! are releasing a groundbreaking new search filter that keeps controversy out of your search experience. I’m extremely pleased to announce the immediate availability of Ideological Search, which allows you to control the ideology of your search results.

Our research found that web searchers are regularly affronted by articles, blogs, facts, and pages that contain perspectives directly contradicting their own personal beliefs and values –- whether political, religious, economic, scientific, philosophical, etc. If consumers have the freedom in whether they navigate to the HuffingtonPost.com or FOXNews.com, why not extend that same choice to search? Until today, no other search engine could provide this level of personalization –- ensuring that consumers can search with the utmost confidence, knowing that they won’t be antagonized by their results.

Its a sad fact that the news in our country is becoming increasingly politicized.  With both sides accusing the main stream media of liberal or conservative bias, people are now increasingly turning to blatantly partisan news sources.  Local newspapers and organizations like CNN are dying while FoxNews and MSNBC are thriving on the backs of their outspoken, partisan pundits.

Its just easier to bask in the warmth of your own viewpoint than to allow it to be challenged.  I’ve heard several people tell me recently that they don’t discuss politics because it just never goes well.  I say that’s because we’re out of practice.  We’ve lost the art of rational debate.  And the longer we sit in our own ideological corners the more difficult it will be to understand the other side.

Anyway, kudos to Yahoo for skewering this insidious tendency that’s dividing America.  And if you want to try it their ideological search actually works and can be found here.  I wonder how long it will be before a product like this is actually released?

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