How do you avoid b*ll**** these days?

Freddiestar · 08-02-2020 11:22PM #1

So years ago I read a Jeremy Clarkson book and he's talking about holidaying in San Sebastian in Basque Country and how cops there looked terrified and there was a tension in the air like Belfast during the troubles. I was in San Sebastian soon after and sensed none of that, this was before ETA ceasefire. So what, he's exaggerating to make his chapter sound a bit better and so sell more books.
Fast forward to Netflix days where The Game Changers has a lot of people talking and going vegan, it's a convincing show but dig a bit deeper and you find out that the shows director James Cameron has vested interests in a large plant based food company in Canada, hmmm the cracks start to appear in the shows 'science'. I find a lot of Netflix documentaries biased to say the least.
What's my point? Is a lot of what we read in papers/books or watch on TV utter bull****?
If not then exaggerated, or underwritten with an agenda to sway the reader to some conclusion to suit the writer.
Other examples include Trump and Brexit vote being manipulated by FB ads, current election promises, autobiographies, tabloids and probably most newspapers. What do you think and have you any examples of believing something because you read about it then finding out it was wrong?

Potential-Monke · 08-02-2020 11:28PM

I agree. Anything that's advertised is done is such a way to get people thinking and to get them to watch. I don't believe there are very many 'independent' sources out there these days, the whole Netflix Vegan thing pointed that out imo. Suppose the only way to avoid it is to research it yourself, and that's more than reading a few internet articles.

Alternatively, just live your life the way you want and ignore anything that does interest you. Working ok for me now, but I was the opposite years ago and would likely believe most things. The internet is both brilliant and terrible.

Ubbquittious · 09-02-2020 12:09AM

Everything has an ugly side. If there is money to be made from something you can bet your 'bottom dolla' there is someone trying to promote it through unethical means or 'astroturfing'

Ficheall · 09-02-2020 12:16AM

Ubbquittious wrote: »

Everything has an ugly side. If there is money to be made from something you can bet your 'bottom dolla' there is someone trying to promote it through unethical means or 'astroturfing'

100%. There is a great thread on this in the subscribers' forum.

Fr_Dougal · 09-02-2020 12:17AM

Freddiestar wrote: »

What do you think and have you any examples of believing something because you read about it then finding out it was wrong?

We all know the hamster story is true, Freddie.

Andrewf20 · 09-02-2020 12:38AM

Life experience definitely helps, especially when it comes to film trailers. If a trailer focuses on good looking men & women, car chases, muscles, explosions and guns it will probably be another tedious and unimaginative 1.5hrs of a film.

coastwatch · 09-02-2020 12:52AM

These days, you need to turn on your B*ll**** Filter, and set it to 10.
Unfortunately, even that wont stop a Donal Trump or Brexit event, so you need to get a good Ignore Switch too.

How do you avoid b*ll**** these days?

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