Michael Mohr's Sincere American Writing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. The honest and simple answer: No. Every human being contains bias within them. And when I say ‘every’ I mean all people of all races, genders, persuasions, identities, etc. It’s right to say that I (a white man) have zero idea what it’s like to be a black man. Therefore, were I to try to write from a black perspective (I haven’t and have no plan to), I would be out of my element. However, since I grew up in Southern California (Ojai) and am of the upper-middleclass, I also have no idea what it’s like to be a white working-class person in, say, West Virginia, where the opioid crisis has wreaked absolute havoc on those communities, who are mostly white and mostly in Trump Country. *(To repeat: I am NOT conservative.)
Is this a repost of this old reprint? I can't seem to click to it.
Nice piece, I confess to being frustrated by this debate, because so often "Everyone has a bias!" is used to just spout polemics, which I have no interest in. I think "declaring one's bias" is all well and good, but I think it's far more important to declare, "But I intend to be as fair as I possibly can to everyone involved." One rule of thumb: when you're representing POVs, would all parties say, "Yes, you have accurately represented me"? This is very very very doable! They don't need to agree with your CONCLUSION -- and they have no say in how your represent the OTHER argument (s). But I think we could get to a place where people would write shit, and almost everyone could agree with how their POVs are represented. Then we might actually start communicating with each other.
But we're not doing that. It seems like we're moving farther and farther away from that ideal, and that pisses me off.
P.S. I have occasional beefs with the NY Times, but I still think it's the best newspaper in all of human history, and I think a lot of the current criticism from both the left and the right is "working the refs." The letter criticizing the paper's transgender coverage read like people arguing their ideas should never ever be criticized. Furthermore, it read like it was written by people who don't read the NY Times and their actual LGBTQ coverage.
Thanks for this perspective! There's no way to get around those biases. We all have them.
The more you understand about life and people though, the more you're able to see the world from another's perspective. Reading the Classics really helps you in that endeavor. They are powerful.
Good perspective ! As someone who is trying to bring economic research to current events, I’ve wondered whether I am biased in my writing. I try be aware of my prior beliefs on certain issues and attempt to counter them in my writing, but naturally that can't be perfect. But as you mention, it's being aware and ok with that which matters.
Is this a repost of this old reprint? I can't seem to click to it.
Nice piece, I confess to being frustrated by this debate, because so often "Everyone has a bias!" is used to just spout polemics, which I have no interest in. I think "declaring one's bias" is all well and good, but I think it's far more important to declare, "But I intend to be as fair as I possibly can to everyone involved." One rule of thumb: when you're representing POVs, would all parties say, "Yes, you have accurately represented me"? This is very very very doable! They don't need to agree with your CONCLUSION -- and they have no say in how your represent the OTHER argument (s). But I think we could get to a place where people would write shit, and almost everyone could agree with how their POVs are represented. Then we might actually start communicating with each other.
But we're not doing that. It seems like we're moving farther and farther away from that ideal, and that pisses me off.
P.S. I have occasional beefs with the NY Times, but I still think it's the best newspaper in all of human history, and I think a lot of the current criticism from both the left and the right is "working the refs." The letter criticizing the paper's transgender coverage read like people arguing their ideas should never ever be criticized. Furthermore, it read like it was written by people who don't read the NY Times and their actual LGBTQ coverage.
Very good perspectives, and yes, whilst it is normal to hold biases, using these inherent biases to cause harm to others is not acceptable.
Yes!!!
Thanks for this perspective! There's no way to get around those biases. We all have them.
The more you understand about life and people though, the more you're able to see the world from another's perspective. Reading the Classics really helps you in that endeavor. They are powerful.
Agree!! Love the classics.
Good perspective ! As someone who is trying to bring economic research to current events, I’ve wondered whether I am biased in my writing. I try be aware of my prior beliefs on certain issues and attempt to counter them in my writing, but naturally that can't be perfect. But as you mention, it's being aware and ok with that which matters.
Exactly 👍