I wonder...

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Do you listen to all sides? If you are an American Republican, do you ever actually watch and listen to CNN, MSNBC or other liberal outlets? If you are an American Democrat, do you give your attention to the arguments made on Fox or OAN?

The same question applies to other nations -- I'm Canadian, and as I've said, I read 3 newspapers every day. One that is decidedly conservative (I'm not, I have a liberal orientation), one that is very liberal (and I don't like it very much), and one that pretends to be in the middle (and costs too bloody much -- $4.20 for a daily rag is a bunch!)

But when you get into a political argument -- are you really informed? Do you really know what the other side thinks? Or do you have your arguments martialed in advance because you already accept that they'll be lying?

(Disclaimer: I am leaning more and more to the idea that people around the world -- and Americans in particular -- actually do live in separate realities. I don't think that liberals know anything about what conservative voices are actually saying, and vice-versa. And I think that is why they are getting to the point of no longer being able to even talk to one another, because they lack what I might call a "common language.")

 

[Suave]

I like watching news from various news outlets, I like knowing how the political adversaries of my dear socialist comrades are thinking.

 

[Jose Fly]

I probably look at and listen to more right-wing media than mainstream or liberal media. I figure I already know what I, and the people who agree with me, think, so I want to know what the "other side" thinks.

A few years ago I was out having beers and pizza with some of my friends and as we started talking about politics, I said something about people being in a media bubble. One of my buds thought he'd be clever and challenged me to open up my phone and show everyone my news feed. I guess he figured it'd be all liberal sources. So I did, and lo and behold, it was almost all Fox News, Breitbart, The Hill, and other right-wing sites!

To his credit, my friend smiled and said "I guess you do live by your own rhetoric".

 

[Nakosis]

Do you listen to all sides? If you are an American Republican, do you ever actually watch and listen to CNN, MSNBC or other liberal outlets? If you are an American Democrat, do you give your attention to the arguments made on Fox or OAN?

The same question applies to other nations -- I'm Canadian, and as I've said, I read 3 newspapers every day. One that is decidedly conservative (I'm not, I have a liberal orientation), one that is very liberal (and I don't like it very much), and one that pretends to be in the middle (and costs too bloody much -- $4.20 for a daily rag is a bunch!)

But when you get into a political argument -- are you really informed? Do you really know what the other side thinks? Or do you have your arguments martialed in advance because you already accept that they'll be lying?

(Disclaimer: I am leaning more and more to the idea that people around the world -- and Americans in particular -- actually do live in separate realities. I don't think that liberals know anything about what conservative voices are actually saying, and vice-versa. And I think that is why they are getting to the point of no longer being able to even talk to one another, because they lack what I might call a "common language.")

Here's a fun thing, I don't know if you knew this but much of the FOX News commentary consists of playing clips from CNN/MSNBC and making fun of it.

So I suspect, who watch FOX anyway, are aware of liberal views and get a lot of entertainment out of them.

I did get my wife to watch CNN news commentary for several days. What I saw was she couldn't connect with the humor, was not entertained really didn't engage the hosts on any level.

Myself, I don't rely on broadcast news for information. Usually I'll research the internet. However finding unbiased information is really difficult.

Do I have arguments marshalled in advance? No, I'm just not that good at remembering the talking points. So I try to wade through all the crap. Take the opinions offered with a grain of salt but usually end up relying on my own experiences with people.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Do you listen to all sides? If you are an American Republican, do you ever actually watch and listen to CNN, MSNBC or other liberal outlets? If you are an American Democrat, do you give your attention to the arguments made on Fox or OAN?

The same question applies to other nations -- I'm Canadian, and as I've said, I read 3 newspapers every day. One that is decidedly conservative (I'm not, I have a liberal orientation), one that is very liberal (and I don't like it very much), and one that pretends to be in the middle (and costs too bloody much -- $4.20 for a daily rag is a bunch!)

But when you get into a political argument -- are you really informed? Do you really know what the other side thinks? Or do you have your arguments martialed in advance because you already accept that they'll be lying?

(Disclaimer: I am leaning more and more to the idea that people around the world -- and Americans in particular -- actually do live in separate realities. I don't think that liberals know anything about what conservative voices are actually saying, and vice-versa. And I think that is why they are getting to the point of no longer being able to even talk to one another, because they lack what I might call a "common language.")

I nodded along with this post. I suspect RF isn't particularly representative of the world at large, though.
But still, to answer the OP...

I generally read centre or slightly centre left stuff I guess? But anything I find interesting or surprising, I fact check by deliberately reading something from the 'other side'.
So, if I read something about the negative impact foreign workers were having on my country, I'd read a slightly more left-sourced item than normal, to see the competing viewpoint.
Equally, if I read something about expanding the pool of foreign workers being brought in, I'll read a more right-sourced item.

I've always done that to a degree, I suppose (I was seriously thinking of becoming a journalist at one point, and have always an interest in the media) but I do it almost by rote these days.

I try very hard to stay away from complete left or right-wing bs though. Too much emotive language, and I'm outta there. I want competing opinions, not propaganda.
It takes some effort at times.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I probably look at and listen to more right-wing media than mainstream or liberal media. I figure I already know what I, and the people who agree with me, think, so I want to know what the "other side" thinks.

A few years ago I was out having beers and pizza with some of my friends and as we started talking about politics, I said something about people being in a media bubble. One of my buds thought he'd be clever and challenged me to open up my phone and show everyone my news feed. I guess he figured it'd be all liberal sources. So I did, and lo and behold, it was almost all Fox News, Breitbart, The Hill, and other right-wing sites!

To his credit, my friend smiled and said "I guess you do live by your own rhetoric".

Big difference between The Hill and Breitbart, but I get what you mean.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I take in views from all over the place, to an extent. I mostly stick to right wing stuff as that's where my views lie, but I also enjoy leftist commentators or journalists like Jimmy Dore and Abby Martin. CNN and MSNBC are mostly trash to me now, so I don't really interact with them much these days. I read articles from various sources.

 

[SigurdReginson]

I used to listen to both sides via mainstream media platforms, but honestly they are just getting too stupid for me to sift through. I just stick to independent news outlets like Routers or whatever ones seem the least biased. Honestly, I can't be assed to read through pages of drivel that's so badly spun that there's nothing useful to be gleaned aside from knowing what people who do read that stuff are generally thinking. My time is precious, and I have other more important things to do than to watch some talking head tell me why their mortal enemies the conserberals are ruining the country.

 

[Brickjectivity]

I pay attention to both sides but only a little bit. They have no respect for my time and will spend it all if I let them.

 

[Stevicus]

Do you listen to all sides? If you are an American Republican, do you ever actually watch and listen to CNN, MSNBC or other liberal outlets? If you are an American Democrat, do you give your attention to the arguments made on Fox or OAN?

The same question applies to other nations -- I'm Canadian, and as I've said, I read 3 newspapers every day. One that is decidedly conservative (I'm not, I have a liberal orientation), one that is very liberal (and I don't like it very much), and one that pretends to be in the middle (and costs too bloody much -- $4.20 for a daily rag is a bunch!)

But when you get into a political argument -- are you really informed? Do you really know what the other side thinks? Or do you have your arguments martialed in advance because you already accept that they'll be lying?

(Disclaimer: I am leaning more and more to the idea that people around the world -- and Americans in particular -- actually do live in separate realities. I don't think that liberals know anything about what conservative voices are actually saying, and vice-versa. And I think that is why they are getting to the point of no longer being able to even talk to one another, because they lack what I might call a "common language.")

I'll confess I haven't bought a "paper" newspaper in a long time. I used to subscribe to the local paper for years, but the main reason I stopped was because I got tired having to call them whenever my paper wasn't delivered. Or sometimes it would end up in the bushes. Occasionally, someone would steal it.

But I also noticed that it was starting to cost more and more, while the content was getting less and less. I think a lot of newspapers took their readership for granted, without considering that they could look for other sources of news and information. Once the internet became more widespread and people could pick and choose from any number of news websites, the landscape changed.

The AP, UPI, Reuters, and many other news sites have no paywall, so I usually go to them for daily news, and I'll also look at a few local sites for local news. Of course, they'll report what people say, particularly the top leaders in both parties, so it's relatively easy to discern what both sides are saying and what their arguments are, at least on a cursory level.

As a result, there's very little that most pundits or commentators can add which is truly factual.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Since many news outlets are either pay to read or having to log in, I tend to go for the ones less aligned with right or left but will read any where it is appropriate. The comments expressed usually dictates to which audience any such is aimed. Getting one's news, or views, from just one side is a recipe for mind control. And anyway, a lot of the stuff originates on science type sites which usually don't have a political position - hopefully.