Comments on: The Golden Mean http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:09:52 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: lpetrich http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-58270 lpetrich Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:26:51 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-58270 Doug Purdie, can you dig up the bill number? I don't want to go on a wild bill chase in thomas.loc.gov It looks as if Rep. Kucinich wants to restore the Fairness Doctrine, some regulation that had existed before 1982 or thereabouts. Right-wingers used to support it as a counterbalance to the "liberal media", but when they started getting lots of talk shows, they started to feel wronged by it. I sometimes marvel at how right-wingers follow twisting and turning party lines as loyally as Communists. Doug Purdie, can you dig up the bill number? I don't want to go on a wild bill chase in thomas.loc.gov

It looks as if Rep. Kucinich wants to restore the Fairness Doctrine, some regulation that had existed before 1982 or thereabouts. Right-wingers used to support it as a counterbalance to the "liberal media", but when they started getting lots of talk shows, they started to feel wronged by it. I sometimes marvel at how right-wingers follow twisting and turning party lines as loyally as Communists.

]]> By: addicted http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-58228 addicted Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:23:56 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-58228 The idea of using Gandhi as an example of a "moderate" is laughable, at best. He invented the idea of civil-disobedience which MLK used. In fact, the Indian National Congress, before Gandhi was a prime example of moderates, who resisted Gandhi's civil disobedience methods. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Indian_National_Congress#The_Battle_for_the_soul Gandhi's one major compromise was when he agreed to Partition (which he was adamantly against). He thought of it as the lesser evil that had to be accepted to achieve the greater good (Independence). 60+ years, many wars, and terrorists later, we can see the effects of going with the "moderate". The idea of using Gandhi as an example of a "moderate" is laughable, at best. He invented the idea of civil-disobedience which MLK used. In fact, the Indian National Congress, before Gandhi was a prime example of moderates, who resisted Gandhi's civil disobedience methods.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Indian_National_Congress#The_Battle_for_the_soul

Gandhi's one major compromise was when he agreed to Partition (which he was adamantly against). He thought of it as the lesser evil that had to be accepted to achieve the greater good (Independence). 60+ years, many wars, and terrorists later, we can see the effects of going with the "moderate".

]]> By: A. Smith http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-56585 A. Smith Wed, 05 May 2010 18:51:27 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-56585 I must admit I don't think the last point about the Iraq war fits in the topic: after all, the opposition to the Iraq war was expressing caution and the advocates expressing action. It doesn't detract from the argument, because it is a case of absent evidence rather than a moral revolution, but it does seem out of place compared to the rest of the evidence. I must admit I don't think the last point about the Iraq war fits in the topic: after all, the opposition to the Iraq war was expressing caution and the advocates expressing action. It doesn't detract from the argument, because it is a case of absent evidence rather than a moral revolution, but it does seem out of place compared to the rest of the evidence.

]]> By: Timothy (TRiG) http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-49477 Timothy (TRiG) Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:28:28 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-49477 Here's an excellent and funny video on <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/07/in_the_name_of_balance.php" rel="nofollow">spurious balance (the "Golden Mean") and Homoeopathy</a>, from the Irish comedian Dara O'Brian. TRiG. Here's an excellent and funny video on spurious balance (the "Golden Mean") and Homoeopathy, from the Irish comedian Dara O'Brian.

TRiG.

]]> By: jemand http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-43087 jemand Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:34:59 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-43087 Love the examples and quotes! One I use is fictional, but suppose two children are hungry and there's a banana. One kid is selfish and insists on it all, the other says, "no, it's fair to give us both half." What would you think of a parent who gave the selfish kid 3 quarters? Love the examples and quotes!

One I use is fictional, but suppose two children are hungry and there's a banana. One kid is selfish and insists on it all, the other says, "no, it's fair to give us both half." What would you think of a parent who gave the selfish kid 3 quarters?

]]> By: Sir-Think-A-Lot http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-38768 Sir-Think-A-Lot Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:39:20 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-38768 I think that a lot of the problem isnt with the media per se, but with the way that we as a society have polarized the political systems. We call people 'extremists' who actually hold nuinced beliefs simply because part of that nuince is in disagreement with us. I'v been called 'pro-life' because I want to overturn Roe V. Wade. Actually I'm pro-choice, but I also dont think a Federal stance on abortion is necessary or desireable. One major concept of the Constitution that we in modern America seem to have forgotton is Federalism, that the states have certain powers granted to them, including the power to make and enforce their own laws. I think Roe V. Wade should be overturned and indvidual states allowed to decide how they will handle the issue of abortion. If my state choose to ban abortion, I will fight to change it in my state. But theres no need for an issue like that to go to the federal level. We also tend to put lables like 'liberal' or 'conservitive' based on one aspect of their beliefs. I'v known people who think it's odd that I support the death penelty and oppose affermitive action, but support socalized medicine and the legalization of marajuana. Maybe a large part of this problem will go away when we stop making every debate black-or white. But I suppose that probably wont be until we get a media that doesnt report in 'sound bytes' but thats a whole nother rant. I think that a lot of the problem isnt with the media per se, but with the way that we as a society have polarized the political systems. We call people 'extremists' who actually hold nuinced beliefs simply because part of that nuince is in disagreement with us. I'v been called 'pro-life' because I want to overturn Roe V. Wade. Actually I'm pro-choice, but I also dont think a Federal stance on abortion is necessary or desireable. One major concept of the Constitution that we in modern America seem to have forgotton is Federalism, that the states have certain powers granted to them, including the power to make and enforce their own laws. I think Roe V. Wade should be overturned and indvidual states allowed to decide how they will handle the issue of abortion. If my state choose to ban abortion, I will fight to change it in my state. But theres no need for an issue like that to go to the federal level.

We also tend to put lables like 'liberal' or 'conservitive' based on one aspect of their beliefs. I'v known people who think it's odd that I support the death penelty and oppose affermitive action, but support socalized medicine and the legalization of marajuana.

Maybe a large part of this problem will go away when we stop making every debate black-or white. But I suppose that probably wont be until we get a media that doesnt report in 'sound bytes' but thats a whole nother rant.

]]> By: shifty http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-30406 shifty Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:45:12 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-30406 <blockquote> In a perfect world, there would be no reporters just cameras and televisions allowing anyone to freely express themselves without others creating bias.</blockquote> There is always personal bias, whether written or photographed. There is just as much editorializing in deciding what is and what is not shot, and which shots make it to air/published as there is in the written word. It would be far more effective to educate people so as to become sensitive to where they obtain their information, how it is gathered, who gathers it and how it is distributed. And to check as many sources as possible.

In a perfect world, there would be no reporters just cameras and televisions allowing anyone to freely express themselves without others creating bias.

There is always personal bias, whether written or photographed. There is just as much editorializing in deciding what is and what is not shot, and which shots make it to air/published as there is in the written word. It would be far more effective to educate people so as to become sensitive to where they obtain their information, how it is gathered, who gathers it and how it is distributed. And to check as many sources as possible.

]]> By: 2-D Man http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-30402 2-D Man Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:22:09 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-30402 Interestingly enough, there's an experiment running at the University of British Columbia called <a href="http://www.votermedia.org" rel="nofollow">Voter Funded Media</a>. Which will, hopefully, reduce this corruption of the media (and corporations in general) without resorting to the chaos of pamphleteering.To weigh in on the American & Canadian independence, I don't think it's as simple as to say that the Americans could have had a revolution without violence. In the case of Canada, the British were willing to make concessions because they didn't want to fight another revolutionary war, particularly because the Americans would have "liberated" Canada or Canada would have joined the United States. But in the case of the American revolution, there was no such option and Britain couldn't conceive of anyone defeating their military, so they stonewalled the requests for justice. Interestingly enough, there's an experiment running at the University of British Columbia called Voter Funded Media. Which will, hopefully, reduce this corruption of the media (and corporations in general) without resorting to the chaos of pamphleteering.To weigh in on the American & Canadian independence, I don't think it's as simple as to say that the Americans could have had a revolution without violence. In the case of Canada, the British were willing to make concessions because they didn't want to fight another revolutionary war, particularly because the Americans would have "liberated" Canada or Canada would have joined the United States. But in the case of the American revolution, there was no such option and Britain couldn't conceive of anyone defeating their military, so they stonewalled the requests for justice.

]]> By: theistscientist http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-29855 theistscientist Fri, 04 Jan 2008 04:22:38 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-29855 call me polyanna, but relatively speaking, i think western civilization has been relatively well served by its political,religious,economic, cultural, and yes, even its free thinking institutions. To quote "Cold Mountain"'everyone has their job to do' call me polyanna, but relatively speaking, i think western civilization has been relatively well served by its political,religious,economic, cultural, and yes, even its free thinking institutions. To quote "Cold Mountain"'everyone has their job to do'

]]> By: Patrick Craig http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-29099 Patrick Craig Sun, 09 Dec 2007 21:45:17 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-29099 If an 'extreme' position is one that, without exception, accepts the moral nonbeliever equally with the believer, then I am an extremist. If an 'extreme' position is one that challenges attempts to re-impose religious control in the public schools thruogh the dishonest warping of science, then I am most certainly an extremist. But please don't ever ask me to join in a call for the complete downfall of religion in society. So long as any single individual desires to express a belief in the supernatural influence of their choice, they should have that right. Irrational beliefs do not <i>always</i> lead people to act stupidly. If an 'extreme' position is one that, without exception, accepts the moral nonbeliever equally with the believer, then I am an extremist. If an 'extreme' position is one that challenges attempts to re-impose religious control in the public schools thruogh the dishonest warping of science, then I am most certainly an extremist. But please don't ever ask me to join in a call for the complete downfall of religion in society. So long as any single individual desires to express a belief in the supernatural influence of their choice, they should have that right. Irrational beliefs do not always lead people to act stupidly.

]]> By: Barius http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-27788 Barius Thu, 18 Oct 2007 01:09:12 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-27788 While I agree that the truth is rarely 'between two extremes', I don't think you're assertion that the media is 'too balanced' is necessarily correct. It is not the responsibility of the media to determine the truth of anything. The purpose of the media is simply to put a light to controversy. Regardless of whether a controversy is inherently wise or ridiculous doesn't matter. The media should treat all controversy with reserved non-judgement. In a perfect world, there would be no reporters just cameras and televisions allowing anyone to freely express themselves without others creating bias. While I agree that the truth is rarely 'between two extremes', I don't think you're assertion that the media is 'too balanced' is necessarily correct. It is not the responsibility of the media to determine the truth of anything. The purpose of the media is simply to put a light to controversy. Regardless of whether a controversy is inherently wise or ridiculous doesn't matter. The media should treat all controversy with reserved non-judgement. In a perfect world, there would be no reporters just cameras and televisions allowing anyone to freely express themselves without others creating bias.

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-27768 Ebonmuse Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:58:01 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/05/the-golden-mean.html#comment-27768 Two excellent quotes, Jerry. Thanks! Two excellent quotes, Jerry. Thanks!

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