Is being unbiased a good or bad thing?

[Burgold]

Just a curious question. Is being unbiased a good or bad thing?

I'll ninjify my answer because while I think it is fair to answer I don't want to bias a thread about bias.

I think it is generally impossible to unbiased especially in all areas. I think it is possible to try to be fair which is quite different. I also think it is possible to be objective even when biased.

But to really answer my question, I think in the end it is bad to be unbiased because it means you are removed and not part of the game. The more you are involved towards trying to solve a problem the more impossible it is not to generate opinions and generate biases and presumptions about the topic. So, while I try to be fair and reasonable about most things, I don't hide from the fact that I have biases, but rather embrace them. I hope in that way I am less blind to them.

[Kosher Ham]

It is all opinion, regardless.

[Mickalino]

Is being unbiased a good or bad thing ?

I have no opinion on this matter.

[desioreo87]

It depends. In Arena's like sports being biased is fun because it leads to ridiculous trash-talking, however I love having honest discussions about sports more than the back-and-forth trash talk.

If im comparing the redskins and the cowboys I'd much rather discuss it honestly than just say the cowboys suck.

[jnhay]

I know it's hard to do, but it's possible and should be a goal for certain people (i.e. scientists and reporters). You can definitely present facts in an unbiased way.

[JimboDaMan]

The fact that you listed "yes" first reveals your obvious bias.

[Burgold]

It depends. In Arena's like sports being biased is fun because it leads to ridiculous trash-talking, however I love having honest discussions about sports more than the back-and-forth trash talk.

If im comparing the redskins and the cowboys I'd much rather discuss it honestly than just say the cowboys suck.

but the Cowboys do in fact suck.

[chipwhich]

LOL Burg, lots of people on this board are removed...and not part of the game, but their biases show and they are opinionated on stuff they don't understand because they are not in it.

IMO, its easy to have an opinion/bias/conviction when not in the game. In that situation I think it's a bad thing. When in the game, there is no such thing as no bias.

[Burgold]

LOL Burg, lots of people on this board are removed...and not part of the game, but their biases show and they are opinionated on stuff they don't understand because they are not in it.

IMO, its easy to have an opinion/bias/conviction when not in the game. In that situation I think it's a bad thing. When in the game, there is no such thing as no bias.

Oh, you can be in the audience and very much part of the game. In fact, in terms of industrial and community psych bitching is very important. It identifies a problem. The problem is when you never move beyond that point. Griping should be a very brief part of the problem solving cycle.

[Smoot Point Really]

I would say bias is unavoidable... Not good or bad... It just is. It depends on what it leads you towards.

[SnyderShrugged]

Just a curious question. Is being unbiased a good or bad thing?

I'll ninjify my answer because while I think it is fair to answer I don't want to bias a thread about bias.

I think it is generally impossible to unbiased especially in all areas. I think it is possible to try to be fair which is quite different. I also think it is possible to be objective even when biased.

But to really answer my question, I think in the end it is bad to be unbiased because it means you are removed and not part of the game. The more you are involved towards trying to solve a problem the more impossible it is not to generate opinions and generate biases and presumptions about the topic. So, while I try to be fair and reasonable about most things, I don't hide from the fact that I have biases, but rather embrace them. I hope in that way I am less blind to them.


I'm not sure the terms "good" or "bad" are right when speaking of bias. I'm thinking maybe "appropriate" or "inappropriate" bias would work better. There are certainly timess for appropriate bias, like bias when conducting risk assessments or bias for the best ingredients in pharmacuticals..

It's the inappropriate biases we should seek to remove IMO.

[chipwhich]

It's the inappropriate biases we should seek to remove IMO.

But who is the one to judge which bias is inappropriate?

[SnyderShrugged]

But who is the one to judge which bias is inappropriate?

This is just my personal take, but I think that it would be any bias that causes harm.

I'm sure there is so much more than my little view, but thats kind of where i'm sitting on it.

[ACW]

Sometimes.

[chipwhich]

Oh, you can be in the audience and very much part of the game. In fact, in terms of industrial and community psych bitching is very important. It identifies a problem. The problem is when you never move beyond that point. Griping should be a very brief part of the problem solving cycle.

Depending on where people fall in or out of the game disallows the end of the griping. Solving the "problem" never satisfies all of the "gripers".

[Burgold]

harm is also subjective.

Take the name Redskins or the use of Obama and watermelon. Do they cause harm? If you ask certain groups they will nod affirmatively, but if you ask others they will say "Don't be ridiculous"

I'm honest enough to understand that the name Washington Redskins is painful to some and does constitute harm by extending the life of a perjorative (at least as it was understood) I also know that Washington Redskins is an honorific meant to inspire and be positive as it represents its city.

Which matters most? It depends who and when you ask.

[Jumbo]

For me, the poll doesn't register all that well. The topical meat (to me) would be about certain and specific aspects of biases begging to be defined in order to discuss most intelligently--matters like the degree, the pervasiveness and the level of influence of various biases, as well as the awareness one has of their biases (and motives for that matter) when communicating what they choose to communicate. Other aspects of interest would include the level of ability to discriminate between more justified (or more rationally supported) biases and their counterparts, or biases that are more emotionally reactive and reflexive versus more cerebral and detached, or those practiced and honed by choice to serve some individual emotional drive.

As I indicated earlier in the other thread that presumably inspired Burgy here, such characteristics can become fairly well-identified in self and others given proper circumstances and enough samples of communication---or given enough competent and informed introspection (and sometimes with assistance of others) when regarding one's own biases.

I have acquired a bias against involving myself in very many serious discussions in the tailgate. :silly:

It is usually soon after I ignore that bias that I am reminded why I have it. :pfft:

[Prosperity]

Just a curious question. Is being unbiased a good or bad thing?

I'll ninjify my answer because while I think it is fair to answer I don't want to bias a thread about bias.

I think it is generally impossible to unbiased especially in all areas. I think it is possible to try to be fair which is quite different. I also think it is possible to be objective even when biased.

But to really answer my question, I think in the end it is bad to be unbiased because it means you are removed and not part of the game. The more you are involved towards trying to solve a problem the more impossible it is not to generate opinions and generate biases and presumptions about the topic. So, while I try to be fair and reasonable about most things, I don't hide from the fact that I have biases, but rather embrace them. I hope in that way I am less blind to them.


ummm well it depends on what you mean by biased

if biased you mean tending to be opinionated and sticking to then looking to confirm those opinions at every opportunity then... no it's not a good thing. That sort of bias stops development.

if you mean completely unbiased in the sense that all beliefs are equal and what you hold to be true is not given any sort of epistemic priority over other proposed beliefs then I'd say that's not ideal either.

I think the ideal is that you always look for new beliefs and ways to generally educate yourself about the word, but at the same time you should have some sort of conviction so that you maintain some sort of stability with your opinions.

Moderation in all things

[Corcaigh]

A man who sees both sides of an argument sees nothing at all ~ Oscar Wilde

[jobaga]

I think a lot of people confuse passion with being bias. You can feel very strongly about something and not be bias, which is fine. If you feel so strongly about something that you will not allow yourself to listen to opposing opinion, then that is a bad thing. Communication and open discourse are very important and should have passion. Bias people will only serve their personal agendas and not the 'greater good'

[Jumbo]

A man who sees both sides of an argument sees nothing at all ~ Oscar Wilde


...as one drunken Irish miscreant and ne'er-do-well to another...:pfft:

[HailinginSeattle]

ummm well it depends on what you mean by biased

if biased you mean tending to be opinionated and sticking to then looking to confirm those opinions at every opportunity then... no it's not a good thing. That sort of bias stops development.

if you mean completely unbiased in the sense that all beliefs are equal and what you hold to be true is not given any sort of epistemic priority over other proposed beliefs then I'd say that's not ideal either.

I think the ideal is that you always look for new beliefs and ways to generally educate yourself about the word, but at the same time you should have some sort of conviction so that you maintain some sort of stability with your opinions.

Moderation in all things

Well said.

[Corcaigh]

...as one drunken Irish miscreant and ne'er-do-well to another...

And what's your point?

[zskins]

I think I am biased towards this thread.

[Jumbo]

And what's your point?

I can't find my point. But I have located one of my old biases. It's been unused since New Years Eve of '79. Skoal! :D

[Jumbo]

Moderation in all things

Indeed.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s107/jumboskins/tealc.jpg






:D

[Special K]

Well, we are all biased in some way or another. I think the biases can be good and/or bad, depending on how severe our bias is and how we project that bias.

My problem with bias occurs when people don't recognize their own. I'm biased as heck in many situations in life, but for the most part, I've learned to recognize that bias and take that into account when formulating opinions or involving myself in discussions, etc.

To me, the most important thing is objectivity. A person can hold certain biases and still step back from those biases and evaluate an situation objectively. It just more difficult and most humans can't do it :silly:

[nonniey]

It's impossible to be unbiased.

[Corcaigh]

Moderation in all things

Except moderation, of course.

[Veretax]

The poll is going to be inconclusive... If the question was, is Being unbiased a good thing, then yes or no, then you could maybe draw a conclusion as it is, if I think its a good or bad thing, I could answer any of the answers save for the last and still not give you a clue as to whether it is good or bad.

[Burgold]

The poll is going to be inconclusive... If the question was, is Being unbiased a good thing, then yes or no, then you could maybe draw a conclusion as it is, if I think its a good or bad thing, I could answer any of the answers save for the last and still not give you a clue as to whether it is good or bad.

That was the poll question. It just wasn't the thread title.

I specifically left the opening argument vague because however I defined it would have biased it or spun the conversation in a certain direction. By leaving it as open ended as possible, I gave people the maximum room to conjecture and consider while using a number of hopefully compatible operational definitions.

Clearly, bias can be biased and once we accuse people of bias or frame it in a way which indicates a potential kind of bias, then the guilty get all grumpy and defensive and other guys get all righteous and loud. More, I wanted to try to have a discussion of bias, prejudice, etc. without it devolving into left/right or race which seems to be successful... if, I am reading the thread correctly unsatisfying.

The ultimate definition and direction of this thread needs to be shaped by the concensual bias of the group.

[AsburySkinsFan]

I chose "sometimes" because on issues of faith I am completely biased and unapologetically so while on other issues I think its important to be unbiased not that I do it well all of the time.

[Darth Tater]

There is right and there is wrong.