FEATURE ARTICLES. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD EVIDENCE, BAD EVIDENCE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN? PT 1.

It is a Strange World, when you Realize that Three Common Topics Covered and Discussed on TELEVISION AND RADIO;

- POLITICS.

- PSEUDOSCIENCE.

- MEDICAL AND HEALTH ISSUES.

Subjects, Which on the Surface should have very little in common, ARE SATURATED WITH BOGUS AND UNTRUTHFUL CLAIMS AND CONCLUSIONS, WHICH ARE DERIVED USING THE SAME TYPES OF IRRATIONAL, ANTI- INTELLECTUAL, AND FAULTY REASONING THOUGHT PROCESSES.

Unfortunately, THIS SEEMS TO BE WHAT THE MEDIA IS LOOKING FOR, IN THE HOPES OF INCREASED RATINGS. 

The result is that MANY OF THOSE WHO TUNE IN ARE LEFT WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT ANY ASSERTIONS MADE DURING THE PROGRAM ARE PROBABLY TRUE, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ONE TO OFFER REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS THAT CONTRADICT THESE "TRUTHS."

I Believe that the Level of Success or Popularity these "SHOWS" Enjoy, can be Understood because of the following CHARACTERISTICS FOUND AMONG SOME OF THE VIEWING AUDIENCE:

- PREJUDICIAL ATTITUDES WHICH LOOK FOR JUSTIFICATION, NO MATTER

WHAT THE SOURCE.

- A SIMPLISTIC AND UNDISCIPLINED VIEW OF SCIENCE, AND THE

NATURAL WORLD.

- A FAITH OR BELIEF SYSTEM THAT IS SO TENUOUS, THAT IT

MUST NOT BE QUESTIONED.

- REFUSING TO CONFRONT ANY CONCLUSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN

MADE ON A PERSONAL BASIS, FOR FEAR OF WHAT IT MAY REVEAL.

...AND THE MOST TELLING OF ALL...

THAT ANY OPPOSITION, NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION, ISSUE

OR DISAGREEMENT IS, REPRESENTS AN EVIL CONSPIRACY,

REGARDLESS OF THE LACK OF EVIDENCE.

SEE PART 2.