{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F1282aea6-8578-4289-b69a-d43289e91dd4","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"<iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px;\" title=\"Episode 234 \u2013 Bush Fires and Media Bias\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allow=\"clipboard-write\" seamless src=\"http://player.captivate.fm/episode/1282aea6-8578-4289-b69a-d43289e91dd4\"></iframe>","title":"Episode 234 \u2013 Bush Fires and Media Bias","description":"&nbsp;<br />\n<br />\nIn this episode: Bushfires, Media bias, Scomo or Smoko, Fireworks displays, Barnaby Joyce, Media Bias, the NZ volcano and Palace-chook.<br />\nThe theme of this episode and this podcast for 2020.<br />\nBe aware of hidden agendas. Question your sources of information. A lot of people and a lot of media don\u2019t care about the truth. They will lie and deceive to promote their own agenda. When reading something ask yourself \u201cWho is the writer? Who is paying this person? Does this person have an incentive to skew the argument in a certain direction?\u201d<br />\nThis bushfire crisis is a useful case study for how different media will tell a different story depending on their agendas. Be aware of it, look for it, treat it as a game but then treat it as something very dangerous.<br />\nTreat everyone like a used car salesman until they earn your trust. If statistics are used then there should be references to the sources. If not, be suspicious. If they are quoted, then check them out and see if the sources say what the author says they say.<br />\nOnce you have the facts, then comes the hard part of deciding right from wrong. As a society, we have lost the ability to rationally dissect and argue ethical and moral questions. Here at IFVG we are trying to restore the lost art of civilised debate.<br />\nHere is how it usually works. If you are for or against a proposition you must be able to state a general rule that covers the situation. EG banning fireworks displays during bushfires or killing Iranian generals by drone strikes or politicians going on holidays during emergencies. The general rule must be capable of operating generally. For example, the Iranians should be able to kill a US general in the same circumstances. The less general the rule and the more exemptions then the less credible the rule is because it no longer relies on general principles.<br />\nAs I said \u2026 this bushfire crisis is a useful case study for how different media will tell a different story depending on their agendas.<br />\nThe Fire Crisis<br />\nTwo Stories<br />\nPro-Scomo<br />\nWe have bushfires all the time. This one is no different or if it is, no one could have predicted it would happen or if they could, no one could predict when it would happen. Morrison took a holiday and everyone needs a holiday. He can\u2019t be expected to hold a hose. Other people are employed to do these things. Once it got really bad, he came back and started sorting things out. The failed hand-shakes were clumsy but he was trying to console and help but these people who were tired and upset and he didn\u2019t take it personally. He has provided lots of extra money and got the defence force involved and will be holding an inquiry as to what happened and how to do better in future. He had to produce a government ad to explain what is being done so as to calm Australians and also to overcome the negative unhelpful left-wing media who are misleading quiet Australians. If the latte sipping greenies had allowed cold fires for hazard reduction the fires would not have been so bad. Ultimately fighting fires (and it\u2019s funding)\u00a0 is a state government issue and not in the federal government\u2019s wheelhouse. Also, these days there are a lot of crazy arsonists which is adding to the problem. Yes, the climate is changing but ultimately Australia produces a very small amount of total greenhouse gas (compared to India and China) and even if we reduced our emissions to zero, it would not affect climate change and would not have prevented this fire. It is un-Australian to blame Scomo for something he can\u2019t control. It is un-Australian to criticise the efforts of our brave fire fighters.<br />\nHow do I know all of this? Unfortunately I read The fucking Australian and The fucking Courier Mail.<br />\nAnti-Scomo<br />\nThis fire is extremely bad. It could have been predicted, it was, and the government was told to prepare for a catastrophe but did nothing. It was suggested that exhausted fire fighters ...","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/085762e2-797c-4ef4-9b10-434ecde61c07/logo2018v2.jpg"}