We all need to differentiate between fact and opinion
By Lethbridge Herald on August 18, 2023.
Editor:
At first, I thought this was a good topic to send to the new editor when he was asking for suggestions.
And yes, I realize this is an opinion piece, but I have felt this way for a long time, and it needs to be said.
One of the reasons newspapers and mainstream newscasts have been suffering revenue wise is due to the drop in circulation and the lack of recognition when it comes to what is opinion and what is fac. Actual reporting a fact versus opinions expressed.
And of course there is the generational shift at recognizing factual information. A couple of generations that preferred to get their news and information from the Internet and social media sites because they were raised with them.
These are known facts. And some are using these to benefit themselves or their networks, and of course, influencing others to have the same opinions. I’ve heard many a person say they don’t like to watch the news or read the paper because it’s all bad news.
That may be their opinion, but they’re admitting to it based on facts. Turning a blind eye to what’s going on around you is wrong in my opinion.
See the difference? A fact is what you see with your own eyes, or having it actually reported to you, using true facts.
As people we use our senses, whether it be taste, feel, smell, or touch. That feeling of experiencing weather events whether it be flooding or fires.
Actually seeing real events as they’re happening. Noticing the extreme heat or cold in the winter. That feeling you get when something is not right for you or just wrong. Actually noticing what’s going on around you. Actual proof.
Opinions are just that. Some politicians may get the facts, but they spew opinions because it’s accepted and garner more votes for them.
We’re being heavily influenced by opinions. Social media is rife with opinions and influencers. Are we to trust someone who gets their news from an opinion-based source?
Is it just a way to generate more revenue or benefit them in some way? Did you see it, experience it yourself or are you just being influenced, forming an opinion, based on an opinion?
I am always surprised at some of the advice given – mainly to trust your own gut feelings – does that make sense or is it just aligning with your opinion? Is this a reliable source? Is this person qualified to make these decisions or statements? Ask yourself who’s benefitting? Have you seen it it with your own eyes or have you experienced it?
Is it true? Does it make sense? Is this accurate, acceptable? And of course not to continue spreading the mis/disinformation.
We seem to be in a war amongst ourselves, yet it boils down to fact versus opinion!
C. Rollack
Lethbridge
19-18
Facts , opinion , propaganda . Facts are news. That is if you rely on news sources for truth .Opinion and propaganda are not. Several years ago I cancelled my Lethbridge Herald subscription because I was fed up with the propaganda, the agenda the editorial staff was pushing.
I cancelled my Lethbridge Herald subscription when the bird died…..
I would suggest you have missed the most important variant. You suggest fact or opinion are the two categories, I suggest there is a third. “Contrived Facts”. The Drug Industry whether Dealers, Users, supporters, or Doctors have contrived facts out of sympathy. So you get statements like “SCSs save lives” which I compare to my suggested Monkeys Save Lives.
You can create “facts” by creating the need for a government subsidized job. To say SCSs save lives can be broken down to “any supervision” of an addict save lives, period. So the contrived fact that SCSs saves lives created 177 Jobs for Arches saw the owner pulling in more than $300K a year and this was entirely based on a “contrived set of data, creating a fact!
If we train a dog to detect cancer in a human, then we can say Dogs Save Lives. If we train a monkey to follow a drug addict 24/7/365 we can say Monkeys Save lives. So saying a building saves lives is equally correct, assigning a name like SCS to it is a contrived piece of nonprofit bullsh*t.
So to put it in simpler terms because SCS supporters need the simplest possible breakdown. If, you are with an addict, for 4 minutes a day, everyday and once during that 4 minute period an addict overdoses, and you inject naloxone and save that person. Then here is a fact “spending 4 minutes a day with an addict saves lives”. Now its a contrived fact, but nonetheless its a fact.
Millenials and the younger Generations are great at generating “contrived fact”. What amazes me is the rest of us are allowing it happen and repeating it as it is fact, its not, its fairytales and unicorns.
I think where the media fails is they do not challenge “contrived facts”. The media used to challenge people but like the millenials they no longer want to hurt some peoples feelings.
So you watch the media daily repeat and not challenge contrived fact and you get tired of reading it. We hear of gang wars on our streets but the media will not report because they are afraid they will offend the politicians in this city. Why? The City is trying to create another “contrived fact”. There contrived fact is, if it is never mentioned then it did not happen.
An example- The majority of deaths of addicts occurs in Galt Gardens, is that true false, or a contrived fact? Media seems to think we do not need to know anything about the going on’s of downtown. When you see pictures of people stabbed lying in the street you would expect it to make the local news, would you not? Not in Lethbridge, because we are a safe place to live, and violate that contrived fact and you will be on someone’s chit list for sure!
So selective reporting becomes contrived facts. So why subscribe?
Good lord, you need a hobby. Writing barely coherent rants in the comments doesn’t count.