Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

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stuper1
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Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by stuper1 » Sat Dec 17, 2022 12:58 pm

Hello SilentMajority,

One of your recent posts stated that US news networks are basically state-run media functioning as mouthpieces for the government. I agree with that whole-heartedly. I'm curious if you would be willing to share the information sources you find to be helpful? I'm always struggling to find good information sources, because it's very difficult as just an average guy looking at a computer screen to know the actual truth about just about anything, as opposed to knowing a facade that somebody wants you to believe.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by Smith1776 » Sat Dec 17, 2022 1:10 pm

Great thread idea. Will be paying attention for sure.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by boglerdude » Sun Dec 18, 2022 8:14 pm

Would like to know too. For now I average information from left/right and foreign/domestic sources and ofc follow the money. But mostly I focus on local problems and dont put effort into finding the truth about Ukraine or Palestine.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by Kbg » Wed Dec 21, 2022 8:46 pm

stuper1 wrote:
Sat Dec 17, 2022 12:58 pm
Hello SilentMajority,

One of your recent posts stated that US news networks are basically state-run media functioning as mouthpieces for the government. I agree with that whole-heartedly. I'm curious if you would be willing to share the information sources you find to be helpful? I'm always struggling to find good information sources, because it's very difficult as just an average guy looking at a computer screen to know the actual truth about just about anything, as opposed to knowing a facade that somebody wants you to believe.
I won't answer your question directly, but I'll suggest some things to get closer to the truth.

Stick to facts. A news fact is something that happened and is reported the same by multiple outlets

Use data over someone writing about data

Do background checks on organizations and people to see where they are coming from.

"Compare 180s". Meaning, find the two poles and they're likely not where the truth is, but a split in the middle might get you closer.

Never forget, news organizations and social media are first and foremost about making money and controversy/salaciousness sells. There's an unbelievably hard bias to doing what "sells."
- "New media" has to double down on the above because it is incredibly difficult to even get out of the noise and be noticed (to then make money)
- New media has the additional danger of the purveyor's algorithms in the background "figuring you out" and then feeding you what you like. This is the main reason why I don't spend much time at all on large corporate social media. I don't like an algo putting me in my own little personal echo chamber...and they do.

Incorporate a wide range of foreign news sources into your news about the US (they tend to be far less myopic/self-involved)

Think for yourself...my personal opinion is that this is beyond rare these days. My perception is that most news consumers have a bias and they chose news that fits their biases. (See two sentences above...news corporations know this and they brand themselves accordingly.)

My bias is as a centrist old school conservative...but I force myself to watch Fox and MSNBC from time to time as much as I despise both news organizations.

Personally I find twitter pretty good for getting a wide range of news from a whole bunch of different angles (other thread notwithstanding).

Lastly, don't waste your life on following the news. It's medical fact that too much news makes you anxious, depressed and withdrawn as compared to those who are not frequent news consumers. In serious cases, it engenders paranoia for those who may be on the borderline of mental illness.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by SilentMajority » Wed Dec 21, 2022 10:13 pm

stuper1 wrote:
Sat Dec 17, 2022 12:58 pm
Hello SilentMajority,

One of your recent posts stated that US news networks are basically state-run media functioning as mouthpieces for the government. I agree with that whole-heartedly. I'm curious if you would be willing to share the information sources you find to be helpful? I'm always struggling to find good information sources, because it's very difficult as just an average guy looking at a computer screen to know the actual truth about just about anything, as opposed to knowing a facade that somebody wants you to believe.
Ohhh man give me time to do this justice, might take a while.

A couple quick points though:

1. You're not an average guy looking at a computer screen. Almost no one on this forum is an average guy, at least when it comes to brains. Average guys just aren't here.

2. I prayed hard about 20 years ago for clarity of thought and understanding about the world, in large part because of the facts about some major events in the world. I think God cursed me and answered my prayer. I know how arrogant or silly that sounds. I'm not arrogant or silly. I'm just saying my perception of everything changed instantly then. Give that a sincere try before bothering about sources.

3. I take everything in as time permits. When I can stomach it I even put on vomit inducing CNN or MSNBC just to see what the rulers are directly feeding everyone. I figure if you can see what's an obvious lie it'll be easier to spot the truth when you see it.

I'll try over the weekend to list some regular places and people I trust for accuracy or open minded thought.

In order to get to the truth you have to be willing to accept the possibility that everything you've ever been told or believe is a lie, including from parents and teachers and people you love and respect. Your own discernment is worth more than any credentials.

This is getting too long. I'll add something this weekend.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by stuper1 » Wed Dec 21, 2022 11:29 pm

I'll look forward to your list of people and places you trust.

Everything else you said in your post resonates with me. Thank you.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by vnatale » Thu Dec 22, 2022 12:10 am

Try C-Span!

https://www.c-span.org/

Watch / listen to things exactly at their source without any filtering by any media!
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by Kbg » Thu Dec 22, 2022 10:25 am

stuper1 wrote:
Wed Dec 21, 2022 11:29 pm
I'll look forward to your list of people and places you trust.

Everything else you said in your post resonates with me. Thank you.
I don't really "trust" any sources. I evaluate them and then take on board my own assessment of something factoring in my own personal expertise.

Certain subjects I know very well and can evaluate the info source pretty accurately and then I put them into my "good" or "ignore" mental filing cabinets. Speaking of mental filing cabinets...all the big US commercial news sources are in my ignore box (not counting wire services). Some topics I don't know at all and don't have the expertise to assess. In that case, if it is something that has a quantitative aspect to it then I go to the numbers. For me, Covid was one of those things. The truth was in the numbers (which were plentiful) as I couldn't understand any of the studies realistically.

For typical news stuff the various wire services are what I gravitate to. Mostly fact, little to no commentary.

AP, Reuters, UPI, BBC, Agency France, China News Service...there are quite a few.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_n ... %E2%80%93M

Years ago I was a serious news junkie...reading current news constantly. At some point I realized I was wasting a lot of time on things that would not materially impact me personally at all and if it did I had near zero control over the thing anyway. Accordingly, I significantly dialed down my intake.

Things that are in the news and you can effect/react to.

- Health, personal taxes and finances, local elections/issues
-- Health...this is it's own industry (with manipulative "news") but I can read summary headlines and talk to my doctor about it. And if the issue is something I'm genetically inclined to have an issue with I can seek out expert opinion (family doc, doc friends, a specialist if needed)
-- On taxes and finances, there's zero I can do (except vote) on whatever a legislature is going to do. However, what I can do is adjust to the new reality via personal tax strategy/investment approaches.
-- Local...lots of potential items here but schools and zoning can have a big impact on you and may be worth getting involved in/upping your knowledge on

I'm sure I may have missed an item or two...but the principle is why spend a lot limited life time on something you can't do diddly squat with/about?

I do spend a fair amount of time on certain foreign policy issues/events due to personal interest...cuz you know, I am the board's resident former deep-stater. Be careful what you say because I may suggest Xan ban you from the board (joking). ;D
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by jalanlong » Thu Dec 22, 2022 5:14 pm

This reminds me of a fallacy described by Nassim Taleb but for the life of me I cannot remember what he named it. He describes a situation (which happens to me a lot) where you read an article (or see a tv news story) regarding a topic with which you are very, very knowledgeable. Say an article about your favorite band or something specific to your career. You read this story and are absolutely shocked at the misinformation in it. Names are wrong, dates are wrong, situations are described not as they occurred. Inferences and causations are drawn between events that in reality have no correlation whatsoever. You finish the article and turn the page, amazed that such shoddy journalism exist in this publication.

Then you move on and read another dozen articles regarding subjects about which you are not an expert...foreign policy for example. But you never stop to think, what if those dozen articles are as shoddy as the first one, but you just don't know it because you are not an expert on those subjects. That calls into question everything you read and hear. A scary thought for sure.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by vnatale » Thu Dec 22, 2022 7:24 pm

jalanlong wrote:
Thu Dec 22, 2022 5:14 pm

This reminds me of a fallacy described by Nassim Taleb but for the life of me I cannot remember what he named it. He describes a situation (which happens to me a lot) where you read an article (or see a tv news story) regarding a topic with which you are very, very knowledgeable. Say an article about your favorite band or something specific to your career. You read this story and are absolutely shocked at the misinformation in it. Names are wrong, dates are wrong, situations are described not as they occurred. Inferences and causations are drawn between events that in reality have no correlation whatsoever. You finish the article and turn the page, amazed that such shoddy journalism exist in this publication.

Then you move on and read another dozen articles regarding subjects about which you are not an expert...foreign policy for example. But you never stop to think, what if those dozen articles are as shoddy as the first one, but you just don't know it because you are not an expert on those subjects. That calls into question everything you read and hear. A scary thought for sure.


That resonates with me on a few levels.

I have several times been quoted in articles in local media. It's always semi-shocking how twisted a reporter can report my words. I In 1986 time after the company I was Chief Financial Officer had gone public, I was being interviewed by a reporter from the local "alternative" newspaper. I was asked a certain question and I knew it was not an easy topic to understand so I carefully explained my answer three times to the reporter in hopes that it would be accurately reported. It ended up being reported totally opposite to my explanation.

This past summer I sent to our local newspaper details for the results of a softball game for a team I coach. It was ready made for them to just copy and paste it into their column on local softball games results. I was truly shocked at how they mangled those few sentences I had sent them were once it got into the newspaper.

Finally, yes, I have had the above experience wherein I read something that I know is inaccurate and each time it causes me to wonder how accurate is everything else that I am reading in which I am totally reliant upon the writer doing his or her job at providing information that is accurate.
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by Kbg » Thu Dec 22, 2022 7:24 pm

+1 million

So very, very true...then combine this with an agenda. Big sigh.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by Mark Leavy » Thu Dec 22, 2022 8:25 pm

jalanlong wrote:
Thu Dec 22, 2022 5:14 pm
This reminds me of a fallacy described by Nassim Taleb but for the life of me I cannot remember what he named it.
(etc.)

It predates Taleb. I first spotted it when I worked at Intel. I had first hand knowledge, yet none of the reporting was anything close to accurate.

Knowles Law of Media Accuracy

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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by boglerdude » Thu Dec 22, 2022 10:16 pm

> then combine this with an agenda. Big sigh.

yet, you seem to be the biggest supporter of government and corporate media here =)

Some call it https://www.johndcook.com/blog/2021/01/ ... n-amnesia/
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by Mark Leavy » Thu Dec 22, 2022 11:59 pm

boglerdude wrote:
Thu Dec 22, 2022 10:16 pm
Some call it https://www.johndcook.com/blog/2021/01/ ... n-amnesia/
That's it.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by Mountaineer » Fri Dec 23, 2022 6:51 am

Mark Leavy wrote:
Thu Dec 22, 2022 11:59 pm
boglerdude wrote:
Thu Dec 22, 2022 10:16 pm
Some call it https://www.johndcook.com/blog/2021/01/ ... n-amnesia/
That's it.
Pretty much describes the reaction I had when I scanned Vinny's Twitter list. Lots of trees, not much forest. And, it reminded me of an endless list of selfies in word format. To each his own though.
DNA has its own language (code), and language requires intelligence. There is no known mechanism by which matter can give birth to information, let alone language. It is unreasonable to believe the world could have happened by chance.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by Kbg » Sun Dec 25, 2022 10:56 pm

boglerdude wrote:
Thu Dec 22, 2022 10:16 pm
> then combine this with an agenda. Big sigh.

yet, you seem to be the biggest supporter of government and corporate media here =)

Some call it https://www.johndcook.com/blog/2021/01/ ... n-amnesia/
Apparently you skim most of what I write.

I do not chose to live my life in a perpetual state of negative cynicism either.

I don’t hate my government. It screws up and it does good things as well. I think news is corporate, bottom line driven and markets to segments of the populace like any other business.

https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org ... Arena.aspx

Not many people have read the entire speech…this is the paragraph before the man in the arena paragraph from which the speech is usually called.

Let the man of learning, the man of lettered leisure, beware of that queer and cheap temptation to pose to himself and to others as a cynic, as the man who has outgrown emotions and beliefs, the man to whom good and evil are as one. The poorest way to face life is to face it with a sneer. There are many men who feel a kind of twisted pride in cynicism; there are many who confine themselves to criticism of the way others do what they themselves dare not even attempt. There is no more unhealthy being, no man less worthy of respect, than he who either really holds, or feigns to hold, an attitude of sneering disbelief toward all that is great and lofty, whether in achievement or in that noble effort which, even if it fails, comes second to achievement. A cynical habit of thought and speech, a readiness to criticize work which the critic himself never tries to perform, an intellectual aloofness which will not accept contact with life’s realities—all these are marks, not as the possessor would fain to think, of superiority, but of weakness. They mark the men unfit to bear their part painfully in the stern strife of living, who seek, in the affectation of contempt for the achievement of others, to hide from others and from themselves their own weakness. The role is easy; there is none easier, save only the role of the man who sneers alike at both criticism and performance.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by ppnewbie » Mon Jan 02, 2023 2:45 am

Some sources I am turning to.
zerohedge.com
peakprosperity podcast and newsletter
goldsilver.com - they have a section with news that’s very interesting.
Ron Paul’s podcast
I’m a fan of the Quoth The Raven podcast.

I like what someone said “compare 180’s” because it seems a lot of media has an agenda or a specific point of view, including the one above. They are my 180 of the main stream media.

Also thanks for the cspan reminder. I remember how relaxing it was to watch their coverage. If I recall, they had a show where they just read the news factually as presented by a partular newspaper.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by vnatale » Mon Jan 02, 2023 7:05 am

ppnewbie wrote:
Mon Jan 02, 2023 2:45 am

Some sources I am turning to.
zerohedge.com
peakprosperity podcast and newsletter
goldsilver.com - they have a section with news that’s very interesting.
Ron Paul’s podcast
I’m a fan of the Quoth The Raven podcast.

I like what someone said “compare 180’s” because it seems a lot of media has an agenda or a specific point of view, including the one above. They are my 180 of the main stream media.

Also thanks for the cspan reminder. I remember how relaxing it was to watch their coverage. If I recall, they had a show where they just read the news factually as presented by a partular newspaper.


C-Span has a show, which I have on now, called Washington Journal and which is on every day of the year from 7 AM to 10 AM. You can also go to their website and watch any segment at any time. That is the show I think you are remembering.

The Peak Prosperity person lives a few miles from me. I was going to follow his advice about 10 or so years ago but did not. How do you evaluate his continuing harping that we have already reached "peak prosperity"? Seems to me that he's been wrong for a long time?
Above provided by: Vinny, who always says: "I only regret that I have but one lap to give to my cats." AND "I'm a more-is-more person."
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by ppnewbie » Mon Jan 02, 2023 2:55 pm

vnatale wrote:
Mon Jan 02, 2023 7:05 am
ppnewbie wrote:
Mon Jan 02, 2023 2:45 am
Some sources I am turning to.
zerohedge.com
peakprosperity podcast and newsletter
goldsilver.com - they have a section with news that’s very interesting.
Ron Paul’s podcast
I’m a fan of the Quoth The Raven podcast.

I like what someone said “compare 180’s” because it seems a lot of media has an agenda or a specific point of view, including the one above. They are my 180 of the main stream media.

Also thanks for the cspan reminder. I remember how relaxing it was to watch their coverage. If I recall, they had a show where they just read the news factually as presented by a partular newspaper.
C-Span has a show, which I have on now, called Washington Journal and which is on every day of the year from 7 AM to 10 AM. You can also go to their website and watch any segment at any time. That is the show I think you are remembering.

The Peak Prosperity person lives a few miles from me. I was going to follow his advice about 10 or so years ago but did not. How do you evaluate his continuing harping that we have already reached "peak prosperity"? Seems to me that he's been wrong for a long time?
He definitely has a specific point of view. But (I think Smithy said it) its a good 180 point of view. And he has some very coherent nuggets in every podcast and newsletter. He was WAY WAY ahead of the curve on covid because he has a PhD in Virology. He had excellent points on natural gas output shocks ahead of most with a breakdown on NPK (nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) and how the Ukraine conflict would affect those.

His "Crash Course" large set of videos is IMHO an fantastic and free resource. I watched the entire series. And his book, Prosper, is a great reminder of other types of capital. Financial, Living, Material, Knowledge, Emotional, Cultural, Time.

Like I said its probably not wise to rely on this one point of view but its a very good input.

Incidentally, I started listening to this podcast called Acquired a few months ago. These guys are big time tech fanboys. I listened to a whole series they did about a big VC firm in California, A16Z. They waxed poetic about this guys for hours and at the end of the series they breathlessly calculated one of A16Z's funds return. 4X !!! I sent them a note telling them the SP500 did about 2.5x during that timeframe with zero hassle, no fees, much less risk, etc, etc... I never got a response. Guys like these are another one of my "180" point of view.

Thanks for the CSPAN reference. Washington Journal is going to be my new go to source. I watched a bit of it online and it was as good as I remember.
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Re: Question for SilentMajority about Information Sources

Post by ppnewbie » Mon Jan 02, 2023 2:58 pm

One more thing. I think the NYT is basically garbage. I cant even put on my rotation because every time I go ten words deep into an article I have the overwhelming urge to throw it in the trash.
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