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Tag: fact-checking

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Jan 11, 2023
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Highlights From The Comments On The Media Very Rarely Lying

48 min • 7,383 words • 431 comments • 138 likes • podcast (42 min)
Scott Alexander addresses reactions to his claim that media rarely lies, exploring different interpretations of 'lying' and examining specific cases of alleged media deception. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the reactions to his previous posts about media rarely lying, addressing various criticisms and examples provided by commenters. He explores different interpretations of 'lying', examines specific cases of alleged media deception, and reiterates his position that while media often misleads or reasons poorly, it rarely engages in outright fabrication of facts. Scott also reflects on the nature of conspiracy theories and the importance of understanding how people can genuinely believe false things. Shorter summary
Dec 23, 2022
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Fact Check: Do All Healthy People Have Mystical Experiences?

3 min • 376 words • 185 comments • 184 likes • podcast (4 min)
Scott fact-checks and disproves a claim that all healthy people have mystical experiences using SSC Survey data. Longer summary
Scott Alexander fact-checks a tweet claiming all healthy people have mystical experiences using data from the 2020 SSC Survey. He defines a 'very mentally healthy' category and compares their reported spiritual experiences to the general survey population. The analysis shows that very mentally healthy individuals are actually less likely to report spiritual experiences, disproving the tweet's claim. Scott expresses relief at this finding, noting that spiritual experiences can be helpful for people during difficult times. Shorter summary
Dec 22, 2022
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The Media Very Rarely Lies

12 min • 1,748 words • 641 comments • 517 likes • podcast (12 min)
Scott Alexander argues that media rarely lies outright but often misleads through lack of context, making censorship of 'misinformation' problematic. Longer summary
Scott Alexander argues that media rarely lies explicitly, but instead misinforms through misinterpretation, lack of context, or selective reporting. He provides examples from both alternative (Infowars) and mainstream (New York Times) media to illustrate how technically true information can be presented in misleading ways. The post critiques the idea that censorship can easily distinguish between 'misinformation' and 'good information', arguing that determining necessary context is subjective and value-laden. Scott concludes that there isn't a clear line between misinformation and proper contextualization, making censorship inherently biased. Shorter summary
Sep 06, 2021
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Too Good To Check: A Play In Three Acts

17 min • 2,551 words • 865 comments • 325 likes • podcast (19 min)
Scott Alexander analyzes the evolving narrative around a news story about ivermectin overdoses in Oklahoma hospitals, illustrating how cognitive biases and media dynamics can distort information. Longer summary
Scott Alexander examines a news story about ivermectin overdoses overwhelming Oklahoma hospitals, showing how it evolved from a local news report to international coverage, and was then seemingly debunked. He uses this as a case study in cognitive biases, media narratives, and the difficulty of determining truth in polarized situations. The post is structured in three parts, each revealing a new layer of complexity and uncertainty in the story. Scott emphasizes the importance of skepticism and checking sources, even (or especially) when a story confirms one's existing beliefs. Shorter summary
Mar 24, 2017
ssc
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Guided By The Beauty Of Our Weapons

40 min • 6,165 words • 181 comments • podcast (42 min)
Scott Alexander argues that true logical debate, rarely attempted, could be more effective in changing minds than commonly believed, and is necessary for long-term progress in distinguishing truth from falsehood. Longer summary
Scott Alexander critiques two articles arguing that facts and logic are ineffective in changing people's minds, especially regarding political issues. He contends that true debate, following specific conditions he outlines, is rarely attempted and could be more effective than assumed. He suggests that collaborative truth-seeking and adversarial collaborations could be powerful tools for the media. Alexander argues that logical debate is an asymmetric weapon favoring truth, unlike rhetoric or violence which can be used equally by all sides. He concludes that while improving debate quality is a slow process, it's necessary for long-term progress in distinguishing truth from falsehood. Shorter summary
Dec 23, 2016
ssc
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Links 12/16: The Site Before Christmas

15 min • 2,219 words • 585 comments
A collection of interesting links covering various topics from Judaism and science to media bias and hate crime hoaxes, with Scott's commentary on each story. Longer summary
This is one of Scott's regular link posts, where he shares interesting articles and studies he's found with brief commentary on each. The links cover a wide range of topics including religious practices, scientific research, healthcare policy, media bias, and social issues. Among the notable items are studies on early school starting age and crime rates, fake hate crime reports after Trump's election, and research on gender differences in medical care. The tone is analytical and sometimes skeptical, with Scott often providing additional context or pointing out methodological issues. Shorter summary
Jan 15, 2016
ssc
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Lies, Damned Lies, And The Media (Part 6 of ∞)

16 min • 2,391 words • 422 comments
Scott Alexander dissects and criticizes Breitbart's misleading use of statistics about illegal immigrant crime, emphasizing the need for better understanding and interpretation of data in political debates. Longer summary
Scott Alexander critiques a Breitbart article about illegal immigrant crime statistics, pointing out numerous flaws in their reasoning and use of data. He highlights how the article misinterprets or misrepresents statistics, fails to provide necessary context, and makes illogical conclusions. Scott argues that while there may be legitimate concerns about illegal immigration, the article's approach is misleading and unhelpful. He concludes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing flawed arguments on both sides of political debates, rather than assuming one's opponents are simply gullible. Shorter summary