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 cincydooley wrote:
Good call. That's typically my attitude with NBC. :-P

And just to clarify, simply ignoring a story because it comes from a dodgy source is basically creating your own little echo chamber. Seeing that the source is dodgy should prompt you to go and look in to the issue, and find out the real story, and actually learn what's realy happening with any given story.

Of course, there's a limit to that, when a story just can't justify time spent on research. Such as a story about some guy complaining about a homework assignment, and the teacher's union official responding with really stupid allegations. In those cases, when you can't just trust the source on the face of it, but it would be ridiculous to spend any time looking in to the issue, the only course that makes sense is to just walk away.

Here's what the parent said to the press regarding the NY Times article assigned:

“There are two reasons not to see bias: It aligns with your world view or you don’t understand the issue.”

More evidence piling up in support of my theory that my countrymen generally have a tough time with irony.

Souce - contains scanned copy of the assignment

Here's the NY Times article.

Manchu that's champagne comedy , thanx for a good afternoon chuckle at work.

 Manchu wrote:
More evidence piling up in support of my theory that my countrymen generally have a tough time with irony.

Tough time with it? Hell they think its synonymous with coincidence

I don't really see the issue...
The father has no reason to see bias (Seeing as it was the Republicans who caused the government shutdown)
The teacher's thing was a bit odd but given that every time we hear about a parent objecting to their child's education they are usually right wing.

 purplefood wrote:
The teacher's thing was a bit odd but given that every time we hear about a parent objecting to their child's education they are usually right wing.

And that's the case here as well. But "Neo-Nazi" is not really synonymous with right wing in the US. It's more like calling someone a moronic, racist douchebag, which is pretty disproportionate even in the face of Mr. Barry's own rather disproportionate concerns.

 purplefood wrote:
The teacher's thing was a bit odd but given that every time we hear about a parent objecting to their child's education they are usually right wing.

Might have to do with teachers' vested interest in ensuring a next generation of Democrats.

 Seaward wrote:

 purplefood wrote:
The teacher's thing was a bit odd but given that every time we hear about a parent objecting to their child's education they are usually right wing.

Might have to do with teachers' vested interest in ensuring a next generation of Democrats.

Well, someone has to ensure there are at least a few sensible people around in the future

 SilverMK2 wrote:

 Seaward wrote:

 purplefood wrote:
The teacher's thing was a bit odd but given that every time we hear about a parent objecting to their child's education they are usually right wing.

Might have to do with teachers' vested interest in ensuring a next generation of Democrats.

Well, someone has to ensure there are at least a few sensible people around in the future

Don't worry. The American university system has plenty if that indoctrination going on.

 cincydooley wrote:

 SilverMK2 wrote:

 Seaward wrote:

 purplefood wrote:
The teacher's thing was a bit odd but given that every time we hear about a parent objecting to their child's education they are usually right wing.

Might have to do with teachers' vested interest in ensuring a next generation of Democrats.

Well, someone has to ensure there are at least a few sensible people around in the future

Don't worry. The American university system has plenty if that indoctrination going on.

Somewhat surprising in big business...

 SilverMK2 wrote:
Well, someone has to ensure there are at least a few sensible people around in the future

You make hilarious jokes. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

 Seaward wrote:

 SilverMK2 wrote:
Well, someone has to ensure there are at least a few sensible people around in the future

You make hilarious jokes. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

You make stupid comments, you suffer the wrath of my sense of humour

 SilverMK2 wrote:
You make stupid comments, you suffer the wrath of my sense of humour

Oh, you were disagreeing? That's even more hilarious.

it is a biased question, it blames Republicans. a Republican would see it as Democrats fault. if the question read "To what issue do senate Democrat leaders insist on tying the federal budget" would you still say its not biased?

How does it blame Republicans?

It seems a straightforward enquiry into a factual point.

 Manchu wrote:

 purplefood wrote:
The teacher's thing was a bit odd but given that every time we hear about a parent objecting to their child's education they are usually right wing.

And that's the case here as well. But "Neo-Nazi" is not really synonymous with right wing in the US. It's more like calling someone a moronic, racist douchebag, which is pretty disproportionate even in the face of Mr. Barry's own rather disproportionate concerns.

Admittedly not but it is the extreme of the right wing so it seems reasonable to assume he was either exaggerating or simply being absurd. The latter being likely.

 purplefood wrote:
Admittedly not but it is the extreme of the right wing so it seems reasonable to assume he was either exaggerating or simply being absurd. The latter being likely.

Wow. How'd you come by the info that this guy's on the extreme of the right wing?

 Seaward wrote:

 purplefood wrote:
Admittedly not but it is the extreme of the right wing so it seems reasonable to assume he was either exaggerating or simply being absurd. The latter being likely.

Wow. How'd you come by the info that this guy's on the extreme of the right wing?

I didn't.
Neo-Nazism is on the extreme right wing.
The teacher was obviously assuming the parent was right wing (Possibly due to recent media stories of such things) and was either being an idiot and claiming he was an extreme right wing supporter or was exaggerating for effect.

I'm just going to point out that being Jewish does not preclude one from being a National Socialist










Although admittedly it might hinder opportunities for advancement.

 Senden wrote:
I'm just going to point out that being Jewish does not preclude one from being a National Socialist.

Being a Neo-Nazi really has nothing to do with being a National Socialist. Neo-Nazis are a white power hate group.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
How does it blame Republicans?

It seems a straightforward enquiry into a factual point.

I think the wording of that question is incredibly poor. Take out the word "insists" and you've gone a long way toward making it less biased.

 purplefood wrote:
I don't really see the issue...
The father has no reason to see bias (Seeing as it was the Republicans who caused the government shutdown)
The teacher's thing was a bit odd but given that every time we hear about a parent objecting to their child's education they are usually right wing.

Except of course it wasn't. The House passed multiple bills including a budget. THE SENATE AND THE PRESIDENT WOULDN"T EVEN TAKRE THEM UP.

So no, and yes, you're biased. Even though I was with the Democrats on this, its biased to say its the Republicans fault.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Kilkrazy wrote:
How does it blame Republicans?

It seems a straightforward enquiry into a factual point.

Additionally ITS NOT the President's job to make laws fair. Which was one of the statements. Whoever wrote that is an idiot who never took government.

The needs of the many do not outweigh the needs of the One. This is the USA not fething Vulcan.

NM, just pulling it more off-topic.

 Seaward wrote:

 SilverMK2 wrote:
You make stupid comments, you suffer the wrath of my sense of humour

Oh, you were disagreeing? That's even more hilarious.

The point you made is stupid because not every teacher is a democrat or republican, and not every teacher "forces" their viewpoints on their students.

And are you suggesting that Republicans might be doing something to anger teachers, "forcing" them to ensure that children become democrats thus potentially saving those that the Republicans are "crushing under their heels"?

 SilverMK2 wrote:
And are you suggesting that Republicans might be doing something to anger teachers, "forcing" them to ensure that children become democrats thus potentially saving those that the Republicans are "crushing under their heels"?

Yep. Republicans are generally in favor of such horrific concepts as getting rid of bad teachers and paying based on performance. Teachers don't like those ideas.

 Seaward wrote:

 SilverMK2 wrote:
And are you suggesting that Republicans might be doing something to anger teachers, "forcing" them to ensure that children become democrats thus potentially saving those that the Republicans are "crushing under their heels"?

Yep. Republicans are generally in favor of such horrific concepts as getting rid of bad teachers and paying based on performance. Teachers don't like those ideas.

My wife and many of her younger colleagues love that idea.

Needless to say they're not well liked by the union. They're also some of the best teachers in the district so the union can't touch them.

 Seaward wrote:
Yep. Republicans are generally in favor of such horrific concepts as getting rid of bad teachers and paying based on performance. Teachers don't like those ideas.

Well they probably don't likek the later because its a terrible idea.

 LordofHats wrote:

 Seaward wrote:
Yep. Republicans are generally in favor of such horrific concepts as getting rid of bad teachers and paying based on performance. Teachers don't like those ideas.

Well they probably don't likek the later because its a terrible idea.

How is it a terrible idea????

 cincydooley wrote:

 Kilkrazy wrote:
How does it blame Republicans?

It seems a straightforward enquiry into a factual point.

I think the wording of that question is incredibly poor. Take out the word "insists" and you've gone a long way toward making it less biased.

To what issue do House Republican leaders on tying the federal budget?

No, it doesn't make sense now. Let's try a few synonyms:

To what issue do House Republican leaders insist on tying the federal budget?

To what issue do House Republican leaders require tying the federal budget?

To what issue do House Republican leaders demand tying the federal budget?

To what issue do House Republican leaders maintain tying the federal budget?

Of course we must also consider that there could be observer bias operating in your evaluation of the situation.

 cincydooley wrote:

 LordofHats wrote:

 Seaward wrote:
Yep. Republicans are generally in favor of such horrific concepts as getting rid of bad teachers and paying based on performance. Teachers don't like those ideas.

Well they probably don't likek the later because its a terrible idea.

How is it a terrible idea????

A teacher's performance would be based on how well their students do.
If their students do poorly because they had a bad teacher that's one thing.
If their students do poorly because they can't be arsed to put the effort in or some other reason then why should the teacher be punished?