O/T:- Just Stop Boil

[laddo]

Definition: Opinion
a view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
"that, in my opinion, is right"

Opinions don't have to be factual or worthy though ill-informed opinions clearly reflect on the author of them.

I like this post/quote..... a lot.

[Magpies1959]

EP can we agree that we will for the vast majority of the time, have differing political opinions. I am not going change your views and doubtful you will change mine.
As I have said many times, I am not a Tory sympathiser, and just wish we could live in a more peaceful and stable country/world, where people could live in harmony, I hope some day you'll join me and the world will live as one. I should have been a f00king songwriter

[Newish Pie]

There's a good article (Australian context) on this, called "No, you're not entitled to your opinion". That's not quite what the author is arguing... more a worry that "I'm entitled to my opinion and to free speech" (true) becomes a claim for more. That they're entitled to their opinion to be taken seriously by others and regarded as of equal value (not true) or given airtime or a platform (also not true).

And that's what a lot of the GB 'news', various forms of denialism, and conspiracy theorists want... they talk about freedom of speech and the right to have an opinion (which is fine) but what they're actually demanding is equal status, respect, airtime and attention (which isn't).

https://theconversation.com/no-youre...r-opinion-9978

[Elite_Pie]

just wish we could live in a more peaceful and stable country/world, where people could live in harmony, I hope some day you'll join me and the world will live as one.

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us, only sky
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too

I'm well up for that, and you may be too.

I just can't see Jacob Rees-Mogg or Boris Johnson joining us.

[Magpies1959]

I don't agree with 'Imagine there's no countries' cos we wouldn't be able to have the World Cup, is this where the plan falls apart. Apart from that I would happily live in John Lennon's world with or without BJ or JRM.

[Elite_Pie]

I don't agree with 'Imagine there's no countries' cos we wouldn't be able to have the World Cup, is this where the plan falls apart. Apart from that I would happily live in John Lennon's world with or without BJ or JRM.

We could always have England United v Germany Rovers.

Although England Disunited seems more apt at the moment.

[ForeignLegion]

People actually manage to watch this channel? Good grief.

Could you advise which channel we should be watching then? If I do watch any news about the UK its on GB; I'm not far right at all. It's certainly a better watch than the mainstream wishy-washy pap that is put out by the likes of the ABC over here, more concerned with not actually saying anything that might offend someone. ABC radio is shedding a bucketload of listeners over here, sick and tired of their left agendas being rammed down the public's throats.

[BigFatPie]

If someone finds GB "news" a refreshing alternative and reflects a lot of how they feel, it's almost certainly because they're very right wing. And therefore it's not surprising that the rest of the media will appear left wing. Stands to reason.

I know we're talking mainly about TV here, but no-one can seriously argue that the print media isn't dominated by the right wing. It's been that way for ages, because... well, just look at who owns it and how it defends their interests. The BBC probably does look "lefter" than the print media, but that's not surprising given how "righter" the print media is, and always has been.

Left wing and right wing are - to some extent - relative terms as where the political centre is varies over time, and a lot of effort goes into trying to shift it one way or another. There's this useful concept called the "Overton Window"... what's inside the window is proposals that can legitimately be talked about and taken seriously... so, nationalising the trains or the utility companies is inside, nationalising the mobile phone companies is outside.

What GB "news" and Tufton Street Thinktankocracy and others are trying to do is shift the "Overton Window" as far to the right as possible. And I know people have problems with the BBC and with ITV and Sky and the rest, but they don't literally have news programme after news programme presented by hard right active political figures... this ought to be illegal under the broadcasting code, but for some reason it's not being enforced.

TV news should be politically neutral and impartial, and one of the reasons that the US is in a mess is because they've confused freedom of speech with freedom to have your own reality and to broadcast abject propaganda.

Very good post. Like.

[SwalePie]

Could you advise which channel we should be watching then? If I do watch any news about the UK its on GB; I'm not far right at all. It's certainly a better watch than the mainstream wishy-washy pap that is put out by the likes of the ABC over here, more concerned with not actually saying anything that might offend someone. ABC radio is shedding a bucketload of listeners over here, sick and tired of their left agendas being rammed down the public's throats.

No I can't advise anyone on which channel to watch, that's not something I would ever attempt. Personally I try to get my news from a variety of hopefully trustworthy sources across the political spectrum but I find GBN to be so blatantly right-biased as to be of little value. Just my opinion of course! The very reason we have such a diverse spectrum of 'news' providers is because everyone is seeking different things, not to mention the obvious comfort of a suitable echo chamber for confirmation bias. We're all human after all

[SwalePie]

If someone finds GB "news" a refreshing alternative and reflects a lot of how they feel, it's almost certainly because they're very right wing. And therefore it's not surprising that the rest of the media will appear left wing. Stands to reason.

I know we're talking mainly about TV here, but no-one can seriously argue that the print media isn't dominated by the right wing. It's been that way for ages, because... well, just look at who owns it and how it defends their interests. The BBC probably does look "lefter" than the print media, but that's not surprising given how "righter" the print media is, and always has been.

Left wing and right wing are - to some extent - relative terms as where the political centre is varies over time, and a lot of effort goes into trying to shift it one way or another. There's this useful concept called the "Overton Window"... what's inside the window is proposals that can legitimately be talked about and taken seriously... so, nationalising the trains or the utility companies is inside, nationalising the mobile phone companies is outside.

What GB "news" and Tufton Street Thinktankocracy and others are trying to do is shift the "Overton Window" as far to the right as possible. And I know people have problems with the BBC and with ITV and Sky and the rest, but they don't literally have news programme after news programme presented by hard right active political figures... this ought to be illegal under the broadcasting code, but for some reason it's not being enforced.

TV news should be politically neutral and impartial, and one of the reasons that the US is in a mess is because they've confused freedom of speech with freedom to have your own reality and to broadcast abject propaganda.

Great post IMO