I’m not surprised they don’t trust the media

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

i subscribe to the Telegraph as part of a variety of news sources so I get a broad overview on what’s being put out there. It’s become clear to me that they don’t understand the concept of free speech at all.

I replied to a thread on there about H & M (was in response to someone’s comment on the Clarkson thing). It was removed almost straight away, I guess because it didn’t fit what they want to put out to their readers (ie wasn’t sycophantic to the Royal Family). At least, I’m hoping it isn’t simply because I used the word “arse”. Pathetic if that’s all it is.

Anyway, it got me thinking how easy it is for media outlets to present a VERY imbalanced picture of something. To make it look as if all the comments and thus the general public fully support their narrative. And it had the effect of me wholly supporting Harry and Meghan, when before I’d been ambivalent about them. I now can see EXACTLY the point they’re making in their Netflix series.

I think I was naiive before re news media. I remember being a bit a few years back when I had a comment removed from an Instagram post on a popular school mum’s style page. It wasn’t crass or rude, it was simply “I don’t think those sunglasses are particularly flattering, sorry. I prefer the other ones.” Nope, it was removed. And this photo, of these godawful sunglasses, was full of people praising how great she looked and how fab those sunglasses were.

Now, I know I won’t have been the only one to think or comment that way on that Insta thread. So I can only assume that they removed comments they didn’t want others to see, simply because they didn’t fit with what they wanted to portray. No rudeness, unkindness or swearing. But poof, it was gone. It was the first time I thought….”hmmmm. So this is how social media manipulates public opinion. By simply removing anything that doesn’t agree with them, and presenting one single narrative”

Never did I think that serious news outlets would do the same. But I’ve learned over the past couple of years how common it is. And now it makes H and M’s story all the more believable.

The power of the press scares me.

It’s probably because you said arse. HTH.

Yeah, it’s the same with reviews. I used a posh face cream that had 100% 5 reviews but I was not impressed, left a polite 4 review on their website saying it was ok but nothing special, my review was instantly deleted.

Worse, I hired a professional because of the handful of glowing reviews about him on a third party website, but it turned out, he was a lying thieving crook (and incompetent), I tried to leave a negative review and no site would accept it. I redrafted the review so many times, at first I explained what happened with him, then I kept reducing it until the last version just said was I hired him and I was disappointed in the quality of his work. Could not get the review online on any of the sites where he is listed. I assume he pays them to do this.

Don’t trust reviews!

I can't believe even the Telegraph would be that stuck up to object to the word "arse".

Watch the series on the Murdoch family if you haven't already. Eye-opening.

The thing I don’t understand is why keep giving them fodder on a silver platter?

Genuinely, I get they want to get their own side of the story across in their own words, but all you’re doing is opening the door to even more scrutiny, even more invasion, even more criticism.
And you’re inviting it into others as well.

Eg the story about meeting Kate in ripped jeans and being a hugger.
Thats now turned into so many comments on here as proof that Kate is a repressed Stepford wife, and no wonder she always looks so miserable and pinched, that she has no personality, is lazy and stupid and walks around smiling inanely all day.

Harry said he had no idea that his comment about race from OW interview would be picked up on. His whole family ended up in a media ‘whoddunit’ of ‘who’s the royal racist’ With aspersions being cast over the whole family.

So they’re not only opening themselves up to more criticism, but also everyone else. Knowing how much they struggled with it, I do wonder why they are now encouraging it on others.

It doesn’t make sense to me

Write it again, don't put arse in it and then you'll know.

That's apalling. I used to be naiive enough to think that the only problem was false reviews which were good. I had no idea that the websites themselves would remove bad ones.

I'm also having an issue with a roofer that is recommended on all sorts of sites. Seems to be a total cowboy, done half a job, overcharged, left damage etc.

Trust no-one.

Try putting the same comment up without using arse and see ?

I think you're missing the point a little. This thread here is not so much about H & M and what they've done, there's really nothing more to be said about that now. It's more about media influence, and how I feel there are no trustworthy news sources out there. They've all got an agenda. That old phrase "don't believe everything you read in the papers" - I haven't heard it in a long while but it's so true.

I really don't know what to read anymore to get an unbiased view of the world.

Oh sorry, it’s in the RF section, so assumed it was about M&H and the media, rather than the media in general. Had it been in a different section I would have viewed the topic differently.

In which case I agree with you. Everything must be taken with a pinch of salt

I can't now as don't want to out myself.

Trades person?

I really don't know what to read anymore to get an unbiased view of the world.

I think it's very difficult to get an unbiased view because there are two sides to every story. But you are right that the media often have very strong bias & most of the stuff we read is propaganda.

Well I suppose it's about the RF and the media controlling it, or vice versa. (Both, I guess). Anyway....I just can't understand why people have such strong feelings about people who they've never met and whose stories we only read about in the paper. We never really got to know the real Queen, did we? No-one knew wwhat she was really like, yet people used to say "Oh, I LOVE the Queen!" Maybe I think in too literal a fashion but I didn't used to understand how someone could say they liked someone as a person so much. Fine to say "I love what she does for x/y/z cause" or "I love the colours she wears". But no-one actually KNEW her, or how she really was behind closed doors.

We're only seeing surface. All the time.

The thing with the Royals is that they only exist in their current form (which is incredibly outdated) because the public are on side & support it. That's why there is constant PR & propaganda. I mean I'm shocked so many buy into the crap eg thrifty Kate rewears a coat but people do buy into it & do think they know them.

And this surprises you?

Ah, if only everyone had your wisdom. 🙄

I think it's just a bit depressing to realise the full extent that it happens.

@MarshaMelrose well yes a highly intelligent population would perhaps sort out our productivity problems 😜.

Let us know when you've got smart enough to contribute. 🧐 😊

It's like the Lady Hussey thing, I can't stop thinking that the lady who made the complaint has been leaned on & the whole matter swept under the carpet.

@MarshaMelrose that's ironic considering your complete lack of contribution to this thread! I obviously touched a nerve 🤣🤣

This has gone on throughout covid. The media pushing one particular narrative and not covering alternate view on lockdowns, vaccines, etc. They were so quick to label things such a vaccine safety queries or vaccine injuries brought to light by real people as misinformation, or discredit leading scientists who questioned the science and presented alternative views. It's happens with the media as well as social media. There's a lot of power at the push of a button. Don't believe everything you've been told even if it seems like it's what everyone is saying...

Many forums consider it a swear word. I’ve been deleted for saying ‘prat’ before 🙄 ridiculous but I don’t make the rules. And I don’t think there’s a conspiracy - to then you posted a profanity