University of Maryland Study Shows Watching Fox News Makes You Ignorant
Do you have a family member or friend who imagines Obama a socialist Muslim, who thinks Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilly are towers of truth? Know anyone smitten with Sarah Palin or Megyn Kelly? Think TARP legislation was opposed by most Republicans, even though it was passed and signed under George Bush? How about someone who thinks Obama raised their taxes or took over health care? Chances are, you have a Fox News viewer.
The study shows the more a person watches Fox News, the more provably misinformed that person becomes. Call it the Fox effect, or maybe the Fox syndrome, but Fox News is nothing more than a noise machine organized from the top down to get Republicans elected and concentrate more wealth and power in fewer hands.
A New York Times report also lists details of the study, which tells us that even those calling themselves Democrats who watch Fox News are misinformed, although not to the same extent as self-identified Republicans. And the more a person watched, the higher the level of ignorance.
In a classic demonstration of proof in the pudding, Fox spokesman Michael Clemente, said: "The latest Princeton Review ranked the University of Maryland among the top schools for having 'Students Who Study The Least' and being the 'Best Party School' - given these fine academic distinctions, we'll regard the study with the same level of veracity it was 'researched' with."
Yes, he is wrong on the facts. The University of Maryland is one of the most highly regarded schools in the Mid-Atlantic, and ranked number 19 on the list of "Best Party Schools."
That's one of the most frustrating aspects of Fox News - so much of what they say is so easily debunked if one cares to look, but no one watching Fox cares to look. Like the creationist who believes the planet is only 6,000 years old, no amount of evidence to the contrary will change their mind.
The very serious problem of climate change is seen by many as a liberal fairy tale, due in large part to a concentrated effort by Fox News. The average Fox viewer may not acknowledge climate change and global warming until Florida is the size of Delaware and Manhattan is a water world. Although even then, I'm sure they will call it a natural event, with no human cause at all.
America has been moved to the right over the past 30 years, yet your Fox friends would have you think president Obama has declared America some sort of fascist/socialist Kenyan Islamic contortion. If we are truly to move America ahead, we need to find a way to make it clear to Americans that Fox News is fine to watch for laughs, but not for news.
Published by Jeff Musall
Jeff Musall has a passion for writing, a knack for frank and informed expression, and a desire to engage the minds of readers. He is an avid sports fan across the board and loves good competitions. His work... View profile
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15 Comments
Post a CommentI love it, so the democrats who watch FN don't get as stupid as the Republicans? What a bunch of horse manure. I suppose if I watch Rachel Maddow I will become enlightened...As for Manhattan becoming a water world - let's hope not, then the liberal idiots smart enough to move away might move near here. Until people start thinking for themselves this kind of divisive misinformation will continue to separate us into small groups based on single issues that in the end don't amount to a hill of beans.
The study was shown to be biased and poorly conducted...typical progressive followthru.
Excellent article. And how true!
Leaving it on Fox all of the time is kind of like a radon leak in your basement.
It's scary how people will leave the television on Fox news all the time, as if they want to absorb it subliminally.
Love this, feels like vindication. Thanks for sharing with your trademark sense of humor!
Ignorance seeks ignorance and remains so.
I shared it all over the place! Thanks!
Excellent! And the newspeople (entertainers) at Fox seem to truly believe that if you spout enough lies long enough, people will believe them - and they do! So sad.
Timothy, At least today you didn’t pull out your deck of race cards!! Ah, the days not over yet!!