Mahima wrote:halplm wrote:Mahima wrote:Is Fox a broadcast network?
that one.
You seem to be implying that there are different standards applied to broadcast and cable networks about what is "balanced."
I'm not sure why that would be.
No-no... I meant that Fox is a broadcast network - and the quote talked about "broadcast networks" and "Fox", as if Fox isn't. At least that's what I think Brian was pointing out (Where are you, Brian?)
No, the assertion that Fox is a broadcast network is a factual error, not a logical fallacy.
I was referring to the idea that there might be an objective standard, and that one or the other of the candidates might be better in some objective way, apart from ideology.
Halplm is correct, to an extent, in that an "objective standard" with regard to ideology is not as easy to pin down in some other areas, but the facile statement that "fair and balanced" means equal positive or negative statements about a candidate is nonsense.
The example of a flat earth society vs round is a good one, even if not entirely comparable.
Would we give equal weight to David Duke on positives and negative if he were running?
I don't think so, and that is due to ideology.
However, other objective standards apply.
For example, if I were to run for President, I would not expect to stand up to any of these candidates, even though I am thoroughly in agreement with my own ideology.
It would be rightfully pointed out that I have no experience in politics other than as a voter etc etc
If someone tried to balance that somehow, it would be absurd.
The most "fair and balanced" news source is likely to be the one that is closest to the statistical mean (with a Bayesian weighting, perhaps, like IMDB does for movie ratings) when all such sources are taken into consideration.
And purely going by positives and negatives without evaluating such assertions themselves against a standard is absurd. For example, a positive or negative evaluation that is based on objectively false information does nothing to contribute to this consideration. (e.g. claims that Obama is Muslim, and even
that claim, were it true, would have to be evaluated by an objective standard--why one ought to consider it positive or negative. My brother is a Muslim.)
BrianIs
AtYou