Overcomming Bias

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Overcomming Bias

Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 3:24pm.

Bias has been a hot topic on a number of threads lately. Personally, I am ready to move beyond the argument about whether or not it exists or if it matters. For those of us who believe bias is a salient issue, is there anything to be done about it? What can be done on a personal level and in terms of public policy? If it matters, surely there must be a variety of possible responses.

Guglielmo's blog
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its not about being bias'ed or not

Submitted by eregular on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 3:32pm.

its just which bias is the best bias to be biased by :P

You certainly have a point there

Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 3:37pm.

but I'm biased.

Why worry?

Submitted by security_six on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 4:53pm.

Everyone has bias of one form or another for whatever reason. To me any bias is acceptable so long as it does not deprive others of their civil rights.

But does it?

Submitted by Phil Owen on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:01pm.

The Canaanite's Call

I'm hoping to move beyojd the debate on

Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:02pm.

whether or not we should worry about bias. There are some obvious ideological lines across which we seem unwilling to cross. So let's move on. I'd like to hear what people think can or should be done, assuming bias matters.

What should be done

Submitted by security_six on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:05pm.

Drink beer smoke sticky green stuff, eat donuts and cheetos, bbq steaks, and enjoy quality rum. Seems like a solution to me.

Well then

Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:09pm.

I'll make sure to add your recommendations to the briefing paper.

Drink Rum

Submitted by JstPlnOnry on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:37pm.

Only if it's Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum!

Ewww....

Submitted by security_six on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:45pm.

Gosling's Black Seal or Pusser's Navy Rum!! Oh no! I better overcome my rum brand bias! :-p

Assuming that bias matters

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:09pm.

Brainwashing, electro-shock therapy, lots of mental conditioning. Really, what can we do? Is it something that we have learned because of society? History? Is it physicological?

Hmm....

Submitted by security_six on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:15pm.

"Over the last several decades, new research has changed science's picture of how we succeed or fail to seek the truth."

First define truth for me. And how can science define truth? What is truth for me, may not be truth for others. I accept it as a truth that lawfully armed citizens benefit society. There are others who accept an opposite truth. Who is correct? This is an example of two distinct "truths" I'm not actually looking to debate this (again)

There are so many valid and invalid reasons for bias. I may avoid a black man because he is smoking a cigarette, not because he is black. I may prefer the company of a white woman over an asian due to common social ground. Biased? Sure. Is it a bad thing? I doubt it.

Again,

Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:34pm.

I think we are clear that some folks just don't think bias matters. Let's agree to disagree and move on to the original intent of this thread. Pretend it's thread about how cops treat OCers and that you don't want people arguing about whether or not OC is a good idea.

Sorry

Submitted by security_six on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:39pm.

The statement about truth got me wondering, because this seems to be a foundation for a lot of the website. I just kept going... A person who recognizes their bias' should also be able to determine if those bias' are a detriment to those they are biased against or not. I try very hard to make sure my bias' will not negativly impact people.

Spectacular!

Submitted by Phil Owen on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:45pm.

I try very hard to make sure my bias' will not negativly impact people.

That's exactly why I posted the test. This is just the attitude that I try to emulate.

The Canaanite's Call

The Website

Submitted by Ehver Green on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:32pm.

Overcoming Bias. Lots of good dialog over there when on topic. Check out the Welcome link in the upper right corner.

Also, a great thread about comments on blogs.

I find it a very difficult thing to discuss

Submitted by jlw on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:36pm.

Some people will pounce all over you if you admit to having bias at all... How do you overcome it if it can't even be discussed?

This world's crazy, give me the gun. -- P.J. Harvey

Shock collars!

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:42pm.

What's with people pouncing on you all the time? Major behavior problems going on. :)

Seriously, I think it's all about approach. When folks approach it maturely everyone else should follow suit. You can't control everyones actions though, but you already knew that I bet.

Paulo Freire

Submitted by Phil Owen on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 5:43pm.

Freire's methods for popular education fascinate me. The premise of the work seems to be that if environment, conditioning, economic forces and relationships contribute to determining behavior, then examining the behavioral affects of these influences (by the person being affected) will liberate the affected person.

Has there been any good research on Freire's method? (I should imagine that such research would be difficult, given the context in which Freire's work is usually applied.)

The Canaanite's Call

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