Can you be unbiased without being biased towards being unbiased?

2006-12-27 12:04:37

#1

Fancy_Pollux: Connoisseur of Fine Wine; +1,306|7072

There are two sides of the bias spectrum: biased and unbiased. However, you need to be biased towards a particular side of the spectrum to be considered biased or unbiased. If you are biased towards being biased, does that cancel it out and make you unbiased? Likewise, if you are biased towards being unbiased, are you still biased since you had to be biased in the first place to get to that side of the spectrum? This means that you would have to be half biased and half unbiased to be considered fully unbiased on the spectrum. But, how can you be fully unbiased if you're half biased? It's like two wrongs make a right, two rights make a wrong, and a wrong and a right make a wrong. I guess that means we're all two-thirds biased.

Discuss.

2006-12-27 12:05:43

#2

Cybargs: Moderated; +2,285|7142

Everything has to have a bias, it's like ying and yang.

https://cache.www.gametracker.com/server_info/203.46.105.23:21300/b_350_20_692108_381007_FFFFFF_000000.png

2006-12-27 12:06:35

#3

ATG: Banned; +5,233|6955|Global Command

cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:
Everything has to have a bias, it's like ying and yang.

word

2006-12-27 12:07:46

#4

King_County_Downy: shitfaced; +2,791|7023|Seattle

Yes, and when I say yes, I mean no. Does that make sense?

Sober enough to know what I'm doing, drunk enough to really enjoy doing it

2006-12-27 12:07:55

#5

Superior Mind: (not macbeth); +1,755|7119

wtf's ur problem Fancy? Stop thinking on vaccation.

x

2006-12-27 12:09:09

#6

Cybargs: Moderated; +2,285|7142

Well for journalism, you have to have a bias, if theres no bias where the hell is the authors opinion on the subject?

2006-12-27 12:09:09

#7

FlamingPhenix: I'm in ya base, drinking ya booze; +44|6982|Behind you, with a knife

Yeah just like I think.... or no...... WTF???

2006-12-27 12:09:20

#8

samfink: Member; +31|6981

I hate philosophersfor exactly this reason.ok, it can be amusing sometimes, but wheh they get to this.................

2006-12-27 12:10:07

#9

Fancy_Pollux: Connoisseur of Fine Wine; +1,306|7072

samfink wrote:
I hate philosophersfor exactly this reason.ok, it can be amusing sometimes, but wheh they get to this.................

I guess you hate English professors too.

2006-12-27 12:10:38

#10

Pug: UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate; +652|6968|Texas - Bigger than France

Actually you aren't biased until you've made a decision.

I take it Santa left you crack in your stocking this year, BTW

2006-12-27 12:11:03

#11

Penetrator: Certified Twat; +296|6934|Bournemouth, South England

Fancy_Pollux wrote:
There are two sides of the bias spectrum: biased and unbiased. However, you need to be biased towards a particular side of the spectrum to be considered biased or unbiased. If you are biased towards being biased, does that cancel it out and make you unbiased? Likewise, if you are biased towards being unbiased, are you still biased since you had to be biased in the first place to get to that side of the spectrum? This means that you would have to be half biased and half unbiased to be considered fully unbiased on the spectrum. But, how can you be fully unbiased if you're half biased? It's like two wrongs make a right, two rights make a wrong, and a wrong and a right make a wrong. I guess that means we're all two-thirds biased.

Discuss.

I prefer the blue ones, they hurt less. Ask Dave.

2006-12-27 12:21:08

#12

Paco_the_Insane: Phorum Phantom; +244|7071|Ohio

im at least 67.43% biased.

2006-12-27 12:22:19

#13

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,072|7198|PNW

"Can you be unbiased without being biased against bias?" would've probably made more sense to most people.

2006-12-27 13:04:09

#14

Stingray24: Proud member of the vast right-wing conspiracy; +1,060|6871|The Land of Scott Walker

No, I cannot be unbiased without being biased towards being unbiased.

EDIT: missed a word

Last edited by Stingray24 (2006-12-27 13:04:43)

2006-12-27 15:31:59

#15

[F7F7]KiNG_KaDaFFHi: Why walk when you can dance?; +77|7013|sWEEDen

Cocaine is a hell of a drug. - Rick James..... Bitch.

2006-12-27 15:48:25

#16

usmarine2007: Banned; +374|6793|Columbus, Ohio

Why do I drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?

2006-12-27 15:49:45

#17

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|7007|SE London

This isn't debate. This is just literary rhetoric.

To be unbiased means to be fair and impartial. It is perfectly possible to be fair and impartial without displaying bias against being unbiased.

2006-12-27 15:52:56

#18

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|7007|SE London

cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:
Everything has to have a bias, it's like ying and yang.

No it doesn't.

It is possible to be completely fair and totally impartial. It's not common, but can happen. Finding a person with no prejudices whatsoever would be nigh on impossible, but finding someone who is totally unbiased on a particular issue is perfectly reasonable.

2006-12-27 16:08:39

#19

Fancy_Pollux: Connoisseur of Fine Wine; +1,306|7072

Bertster7 wrote:
cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:
Everything has to have a bias, it's like ying and yang.
No it doesn't.

It is possible to be completely fair and totally impartial. It's not common, but can happen. Finding a person with no prejudices whatsoever would be nigh on impossible, but finding someone who is totally unbiased on a particular issue is perfectly reasonable.

No, you would be biased towards fairness.

2006-12-27 16:10:15

#20

Vilham: Say wat!?; +580|7192|UK

cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:
Well for journalism, you have to have a bias, if theres no bias where the hell is the authors opinion on the subject?

Thats the thing about good news reporting, their is no opinion, its all fact.

2006-12-27 16:28:38

#21

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|7007|SE London

Fancy_Pollux wrote:
Bertster7 wrote:
cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:
Everything has to have a bias, it's like ying and yang.
No it doesn't.

It is possible to be completely fair and totally impartial. It's not common, but can happen. Finding a person with no prejudices whatsoever would be nigh on impossible, but finding someone who is totally unbiased on a particular issue is perfectly reasonable.
No, you would be biased towards fairness.

No you wouldn't. That's not what being unbiased means. If you are reporting on a topic with no slant on it whatsoever then it is unbiased, pure fact undiluted by opinion. The fact that something is unbiased does not inherently indicate any prejudice against unfair and highly opinionated reporting, nor does it show that the specific report has been produced specifically to exclude any opinion.

Ticker tape news often gives a good example of unbiased news, for example: "Plane crashed into mountain, 86 dead" (not a real example) is a perfect example of a totally unbiased statement.

2006-12-27 16:31:47

#22

l41e: Member; +677|7074

Imaginary tickertape wrote:
NASDAQ up 21pts

Above is an unbiased statment. It's not biased against anything. However, I don't think it's possible for a person - as opposed to statement - to be "unbiased without being biased towards being unbiased".

2006-12-27 16:32:00

#23

Fancy_Pollux: Connoisseur of Fine Wine; +1,306|7072

Bertster7 wrote:
Fancy_Pollux wrote:
Bertster7 wrote:

No it doesn't.

It is possible to be completely fair and totally impartial. It's not common, but can happen. Finding a person with no prejudices whatsoever would be nigh on impossible, but finding someone who is totally unbiased on a particular issue is perfectly reasonable.
No, you would be biased towards fairness.
No you wouldn't. That's not what being unbiased means. If you are reporting on a topic with no slant on it whatsoever then it is unbiased, pure fact undiluted by opinion. The fact that something is unbiased does not inherently indicate any prejudice against unfair and highly opinionated reporting, nor does it show that the specific report has been produced specifically to exclude any opinion.

Ticker tape news often gives a good example of unbiased news, for example: "Plane crashed into mountain, 86 dead" (not a real example) is a perfect example of a totally unbiased statement.

No. Being unbiased is simply being biased towards being unbiased.

2006-12-27 16:32:37

#24

S3v3N: lolwut?; +685|6944|Montucky

what in the bias is going on?

2006-12-27 16:34:37

#25

Vilham: Say wat!?; +580|7192|UK

No its not... unbias means you have no opinion on it. Bias isnt the oposite of unbias, bias towards one view point against another view point are the opposites of each other.

BF2S Forums Can you be unbiased without being biased towards being unbiased?

cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:

samfink wrote:

Fancy_Pollux wrote:

cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:

cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:

Fancy_Pollux wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:

Imaginary tickertape wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

Fancy_Pollux wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

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