We all have one. Some of us keep it front and center, others let it sit subtly in the background. Some of us know what ours is, others aren’t sure. It affects how we perceive information. It affects how we share information. We easily justify our own, but often struggle when others have one that’s different from us.
What am I talking about?
Bias. The way we lean on specific issues.
Most people (I wish I could say all, but unfortunately, I can’t) would agree extreme bias-prejudice-is wrong and sinful. That’s not what I’m talking about here. Many of us may want to be objective in situations, but if we’re honest, we have a bent. A leaning that affects how we approach the myriad of political issues.
Now first off, I don’t think it’s wrong to have a bias- a leaning to one side or another, but I do think it’s important to be aware of what ours is if we want to have any influence in political conversations or contribute to political change.
Our bias comes from our upbringing- what our parents believe and how they vote, our socio-economic background and the different successes or challenges of our childhood has affected our lives. If you never grew up feeling victimized or scrutinized you will have very different political ideas than those who have.
Without the awareness of our own bias, we will naively assume that everyone should just think and act like us. And no matter how much we’re convinced our way is the best way, we could all stand to be challenged in our own thinking as to how society operates best. When we plow into political conversations with no regard for collaboration or cooperation, we become a silo of our own ideas. We may stand tall, but we have no influence.
Understanding our own leanings helps us recognize when someone else’s leaning is influencing us. Many are so heavily influenced and affected by the bias of others that we are unable to see an issue or read a story at face value. Often without realizing it we allow someone else’s bias to become ours and we begin to follow them wherever they lead. Some of us don’t realize we are being led in a direction we never intended to go. Slippery slopes are, well, slippery.
Why do I talk about this? Because I experienced this first hand.
Throughout my twenties I allowed several political pundits to influence my thinking and beliefs about politics. I wanted to be informed, and how better to be informed than watching cable news commentary? These guys (they were all men) were charming, charismatic, and persuasive. I was the ideal “target audience” and earnestly desired to be involved and informed. The channel I watched diligently fed my biases which kept me from having to do the hard work of thinking for myself. They spoon fed me the research; I ate it up.
When I lived in Charleston, SC, I attended an event of one particular popular pundit, and I was captivated. I allowed myself to get swept up in the frenzy of excitement around me. This guy was funny and boasted of his faith. The crowd gave a rousing standing ovation; I happily joined in cheering my approval.
Over the next couple years I continued watching this guy’s news show, but over time I felt increasingly uncomfortable with what he was saying, and particularly- how he was saying it. The way he talked about people gave me the same feeling I got in high school when I was participating in or around gossip. Is this even true? I wondered. How could he know that if he doesn’t know him? He clearly doesn’t have his best interest in mind. He just wants more people to be against him.
Over time I began to see through the fog. I saw how many commentators and pundits were purely speaking out of their own bias. They were loyal to their parent company or political party, and would say anything- even lie- to keep people watching. I also realized that by only listening to people who say what I wanted to hear, I’m not really informed, just a puppet of someone else’s bias. I was a pretty good puppet.
It took a while, but I was finally able to see how I was being influenced, and eventually I changed some things. The two biggest changes I made were:
- I stopped watching cable news every night. (It really is unhealthy.) I started reading more (and a wider variety).
- On the rare occasion I watched the news, I watched a different channel than what I was used to. Doing this challenged my thinking. Their bias was different from mine. It forced me to focus on the facts, seek the truth, engage with people around me, and come to my own conclusions.
When you stop and really think about the business side of the media- especially cable news, it’s no wonder they do what they do. They need ratings to stay on the air, and they need hype and stories to get those ratings. What better way to keep viewers from turning the channel than feed us a bunch of “what ifs” and “you won’t believe!” every single night.
By changing who I allowed to influence my thinking, I saw politics and people differently. I noticed how certain commentators’ opinions had shaped my own politics. I noticed how much more hope there is than the news cycles want me to believe. I noticed that the conspiracies I was told to fear never came true.
By seeking truth for myself and asking more questions, some of my biases have changed, others have become more clear. When politics bring us together and help us solve problems they can really be a good thing. When they divide us and keep us from each other they hurt us.
If the news you consume influences you to help those around you and reach out to your neighbors, you may be a good consumer of news. But, if you notice you are persistently worried, anxious, or skeptical of those around you and you’re not motivated to connect with those who are different for you, then you may want to take a break from the news. Let the news inform you, but be careful it doesn’t lead you.