Bias

Not a political statement, just a fact of everyday life. 

Here are a few words being tossed around lately.  No particular order, just words! Definitions are expressed as nouns or verbs. Usage changes the meaning slightly. 

"Bias is disproportionate weight in favor of or against an idea or thing, usually in a way that is closed-minded, prejudicial, or unfair. Biases can be innate or learned. People may develop biases for or against an individual, a group, or a belief. In science and engineering, a bias is a systematic error. "

Preference In psychology, economics and philosophy, a preference is a technical term usually used in relation to choosing between alternatives. For example, someone prefers A over B if they would rather choose A than B. Preference can also be used in insolvency terms."

"Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that "involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior." The field of ethics, along with aesthetics, concerns matters of value, and thus comprises the branch of philosophy called axiology."

Ambiguity "the quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness."

Condescending: "having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority."

Prejudice: preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience"

Conscience: an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior.The whole conscience thing was covered in my high school religion class, having a parochial education had its merits. Yes you can twist that inner voice and convince yourself right is wrong, up is down, blue is red. So here is one place where being honest with oneself is important. Here is where ethics and ethical behavior is born.

Words are powerful use them wisely!

In general terms in my former professional life, you would be ethically bound to certain parameters or standards. It would be normal to develop a bias based on prior experiences, for example; maples produce seedling that are unsightly and the branches easily break in the wind. After years of seeing damage from  maples, I would recommend their removal. Thus one could conclude all maples are bad? Mmm, really? Well my preference is to exam maples  more closely, so my bias doesn't turn into a prejudice. I would not behave in a condescending manner to any one how happened to disagree with my opinion about maples. Get the picture? You can show a bias as a preference to an alternative or differing dialogue or philosophy. 

Here is something else to consider, you can compromise your beliefs, but not your ethics! Confusing, you bet!

So what's the point? Before you post to social media or take a heavily cropped and edited video and try for your fifteen minutes of fame, you need to consider a few things.

1. Is it the truth? Really!
2. Will it harm others?
3. Is it appropriate?
4. Is the purpose to incite and antagonize others?
5. Can it be done in another manner?
6. Is it in poor taste?

Back to fishing and tying some neat flies, the world is a crazy place and you can't fix it by being angry just one day and one person at a time.