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   In article ,   
   The Natural Philosopher   wrote:   
   >On 07/02/2024 19:44, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:   
   >> On Wed, 07 Feb 2024 09:27:44 +0000 (GMT), Bob Latham wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> I know nothing of arstechnica but I am very aware that the Guardian like   
   >>> the BBC is not interested in the truth at all.   
   >>   
   >> Did you hear this from some random loony on Facebook?   
   >   
   >No, its an opinion framed by reading/listening to them.   
   >   
   >There is an apocryphal statement allegedly made by I think Mark Twain,   
   >more or less along the lines that :   
   >   
   >"One can rely on the accuracy of newspapers except in a subject one has   
   >direct and comprehensive knowledge of".   
      
   A bit more pessimistic opinion of the press is put forth by Michael   
   Crichton:   
      
     Briefly stated, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect is as follows.  You open the   
     newspaper to an article on some subject you know well.  In Murray's case,   
     physics.  In mine, show business.  You read the article and see the   
     journalist has absolutely no understanding of either the facts or the   
     issues.  Often, the article is so wrong it actually presents the story   
     backward--reversing cause and effect.  I call these the "wet streets cause   
     rain" stories.  Paper's full of them.   
      
     In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors   
     in a story, and then turn the page to national or international affairs, and   
     read as if the rest of the newspaper was somehow more accurate about   
     Palestine than the baloney you just read.  You turn the page, and forget   
     what you know.   
      
   --   
     _/_   
    / v \ Scott Alfter (remove the obvious to send mail)   
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