Memories. Ahhh Yes, Memories of My Life

Bias?

PROMPT July 6th

Is there such a thing as “unbiased reporting?” (Consider not just journalism, but storytelling - is it possible to tell a story without bias?)

         There is no such thing as an 'unbiased' thought, written word, action. Bias exists in everything we say or do. We are all 'trained' to think a certain way. Even if you are still in school, you are trained to think along certain lines. But you might ask, "What about those who rebel against the norm? Even in school?" My answer would be, "They are still biased." They may not like the way a school, or the school system is run, or the things you do there. So they rebel, but they rebel because, well... that's what you do when you don't go with the flow." But you still think along a biased line, because in rebelling, you are biased against the school/school system.

         Well, what about work then? We're still biased. The man I was while in the Navy is nothing like the man I am right now. Why? Because I had to think along certain lines to keep my sanity, to do what was expected of me as a Submarine Sailor. Think about professional athletes. They are 'programmed' to perform a certain way, yet when they leave the game, they are not like that at all. They may never lose all of the sports mentality, but they change. You have to. It's called adaptation. You either adapt to your new surroundings, or you die.

         No matter what you do, there is some amount of bias though. Even in writing, because your mind thinks along certain lines. I read some of these blogs, and am amazed at the use of F-bombs and such. If you're comfortable using them, fine, go ahead. Just don't expect me to. I used those at one time in my life. Want to guess when? Why don't I now? It's 'not acceptable' in the work environment I'm in. If I were to use them all the time in my job, I don't think they'd let me remain as an employee much longer. That, or they'd send me to counseling. What happens there? I get 'programmed' (biased) on the correct type of language to use. I made a choice 27 years ago when I left the Navy, that I would no longer use 4 letter words on a 'normal' basis. Even in my sailor days, there were words that were off-limits in my vocabulary. I found them to be demeaning and crude. Use your imagination, you can figure them out. Since I won't speak those words in casual conversation, I don't write them either. Just me being me as I always say.

         So yeah, we're biased in everything we do, say, write, whatever....






Jim Dorrell