3 Ideas in 2 Minutes on Forming Your Opinions
Gurwinder's Theory of Bespoke Bullshit, Four Information Biases & Wilful Ignorance
I. Gurwinder's Theory of Bespoke Bullshit
With so much happening in the world, we can’t opine on everything. Needless to say, we do it anyway. Writer Gurwinder Bhogal calls this the Theory of Bespoke Bullshit.
Many don’t have an opinion until they’re asked for it, at which point they cobble together a viewpoint from whim & half-remembered hearsay, before deciding that this 2-minute-old makeshift opinion will be their new hill to die on.
The concept is reminiscent of Motivated Reasoning, the idea that we rarely form an opinion based on careful analysis. Instead, we start with a gut feeling and then go on a search to find justification for it. One place to look for justification is of course the media.
II. Four Information Biases
One of the problems with information in the media is that it’s subjective in and of itself. Political scientist Lance Bennett has identified four corresponding Information Biases.
Personalization: Journalists prefer personal stories of triumphs and tragedies while downplaying the vastly more complex social, economic and political context.
Dramatization: News is dominated by dramatized stories and narratives rather than carefully considered factual and analytical essays.
Fragmentation: Yet, media stories and their protagonists remain isolated from each other. This makes it difficult to grasp the larger context actors operate in.
Authority-Disorder Bias: The tendency to be preoccupied with stories of disorder (such as crime) and the emotional question of who’s responsible for restoring the peace (rather than a factual analysis of the problem and potential solutions).
It’s important to note that Bennett’s biases aren’t concerned with ideological or political partisanship. They highlight the reduction of complexity in favour of the more personal and relatable.
Source: Bennett, W. L. (2003). News: The politics of illusion, 5th ed. New York: Longman, pp. 41–50 and 75–76.
III. Wilful Ignorance
Sometimes, the issue is not a lack of a considered opinion. It’s willful ignorance. This is beautifully illustrated by journalist Upton Sinclair’s famous line from his book I, Candidate for Governor: And How I Got Licked:
It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.
―Upton Sinclair
If your salary depends on thinking critically regardless of the outcome, check out my popular essay about the 5 Habits of the Master Thinker. 🐘
Have a great week,
Chris
themindcollection.com
