Everyone is biased!

25 October 2009

Whenever there is a political issue that arouses passion, many would cry foul that the media and their opponents are biased. Of course they are: because everyone is biased. More often than not, accusation of bias is used to delegitimize the opponents. It’s not aimed at the merit or otherwise of the arguments put forward by the ‘biased’ person, but a quick way to say ‘you’re wrong, therefore whatever you say is wrong’. However good, cogent and intelligent the argument may be, by shouting bias, one can get away without engaging with the idea. It is intellectually lazy and dishonest. Anyway, am I biased? You bet.