[Tango-L] Style Wars: Truth and Truthiness

[Konstantin Zahariev]

On Nov 27, 2007 2:07 PM,  <Stephen.P.Brown at dal.frb.org> wrote:
> Konstantin wrote:
> >But I think the key [to truth vs. truthiness] is how these groups
> >deal with information that contradicts their views. The
> >biased outcome/truthiness only persists if unfavourable
> >facts are selectively rejected, i.e. the outcome is
> >unfalsifiable.
>
> I agree, although the statement is presented to an extreme.  All that is
> required that the distribution of accepted answers has a persistent bias
> in differing from the truth.
>
> >This apparently tends to happen with authoritarians
> >more, hence my mention of the concept.
>
> It does seem likely to be correct that authoritarian organization might
> lead to a greater likelihood of the rejection of unfavorable facts.  (It
> may even be one definition of authoritarianism.)  So I will agree with
> you.
>
> Nonetheless, individual self-perpetuating biases can persist as was shown
> by Wing Suen in The Economic Journal (April 2004), and informal networks
> of like-minded individuals can generate group biases and polarization
> without authoritarians, as shown by Munger in Public Choice (January
> 2008).  I think such group biases and polarization is evident in the
> truthiness often found on Tango-L.

Yes I agree.. and I should look these references up to see what they
did exactly, thank you. I guess I was focusing more on the 'why'
rather than the 'what'.

Cheers,

Konstantin
Victoria, Canada

> So, I think our views are converging.
>
> Interestingly enough, for most tango dancers, their first introduction to
> such biases likely came from their first teacher.  Most teachers convey
> their own sense of style rather than teaching tango in a manner that is
> indedpendent of style.
>
> Steve