Why do people believe everything that they see on TV without questioning it?

In political terms you and me are what is known as sceptics (skeptics) - people who do not believe at first hand what is published in the news or heard in the form of general gossip. Nothing wrong with being a skeptic. Go back to Athens and join a very large mob of the people who saw themselves as 'skeptics' who never believed at first hand anything spoken by an orator at the Agora.

Go to the Athenian Agora today and you can read every newspaper under the sun and then make up your own mind or not.

The modern Athenian Agora (market place really)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2dPuY77Pvk

In classical Greek Athenian democracy, the people went to the Theatre (Theatron) where they watched a tragedy - there was no absolute end to this tragedy, the people were given a choice - what would you do if faced with the same circumstances?

Democracy - made up from two Greek words - the first part of which is Demos - the People and the second part means an 'aristocracy or leadership chosen by the people'. It just goes on getting better all the time - democracy that is.

So, at the Agora in Athens you can meet people, talk about the issues of the day or not, buy something or not or just sit around drinking coffee while playing with your worry beads.

Welcome to the mad world of democracy - for all of the people, all of the time.

blah blah blah

oh and how to be a skeptic

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+t...

and always remember what someone in Athens once said - "The people get the government they deserve".

Question everything and remember, most politicians want your vote so they can stay on the gravy train.

"If I dare suggest that there is something fishy about events such as the French shooting

---No there wasn't

you call me a 'conspiracy nut'.

--yes

It's better than just believing something happened because you are told it happened.

--no it isn't

You should do your own research about it.

--i have better things to do. I don't value your research

Did you know one the cops commit suicide?

--yes, i learned from the media, same place that you did.

The media hardly reported this. Very suspicious.

--not true

Did you know that France angered Israel by voting in favour of Palestine?

--couldn't care less. The world doesn't revolve round Gaza

Then this happened. Connection?

--No, just in your mind.

The whole thing was an orgy of hypocrisy anyway. The world leaders in that march were all guilty of being a dictator."

--I disagree.

Most people were aware of the cop who committed suicide, France voting in favour of Palestine and the dodgy past of some of the leaders who attended the march. Honestly, it's no big secret to anyone who pays the slightest attention to the news.

The problem as I see it is that some people will look at every world event, immediately shout "conspiracy" and then try to find evidence to confirm their point of view. And you have to admit that there are a lot of conspiracy theorists out there who do that. It's plain annoying.

Our lives in this society are based on theories. The inventions and upgrades to technology for example. Conspiracy is a crime punishable by prison time. Its 2 or more people planning things; as if that doesn't happen. The combination of the two words equal "research", plain and simple, meanwhile, as you can see from the responses, these morons think spongebob is real because he's on tv.

The suicide by the French policeman was well published, the events of the shooting and the hostages took presidence over this story. His suicide was due to personal reasons. The shootings probably tipped him over the edge!

The BBC for example has rules about exhibiting news in an unbiased manner. So from some sources you can be more sure of likely unbiased content than others. But you can never be fully sure - also the news is put out as soon as it is received and checked, so that can change over time as more facts come in.

have you seen the 'walking dead'? it is the same as a news cast.

our news stories concentrate on just 5-things: violence, religion, politics, sex, and money. they create a paranoia, like the walking dead; so that fear will make you ask, 'oh, no! what is going to happen next'?; and, watch their shows.

personally, i do not buy anything that i see advertized on TV, except sodas. and, if i wanted medical advice, i would ask my doctor, as someone whom i trust.

when was the last time you watched a ten-minute commercial to buy a new cell-phone in the middle of the 6:00 o'clock news cast?

wow, and is the news ever slanted to perform a public service to the political conservatives?

There is a specific definition of 'conspiracy theory'. If it fits the definition and you believe it, then that means you believe a conspiracy theory.

It is irrelevant whether you think you are somehow "better" than those "who believe what they see on TV". What is relevant is whether such beleifs are sustained by the facts.

And consistently, conspiracy theories have almost never been proven to be correct.

Onto your claims:

"It's better than just believing something happened..."

WHY is it better?

If this "alternative belief" doesn't square with reality then it isn't better, it is in fact, worse.

"Did you know one the cops commit suicide? The media hardly reported this. Very suspicious. "

Why is this suspicious? What does it prove?

"Did you know that France angered Israel by voting in favour of Palestine? Then this happened. Connection?"

No, there is no connection. Do you have evidence of a connection?

"The world leaders in that march were all guilty of being a dictator."

All of them? And what does that have to do with anything?

Most have been raised by the television. TV is a parent that has taught them right from wrong, made them laugh and then cry. Minds are closed and most are filled with pablum. this is why. Millions of these people have never had a thought for themselves....ever. They are the majority of the votes and are lead around like sheep.

Most people are sheep and will believe anything the governments of the world tell them. A perfect example of this is the present UK Tory government who claims our economy is at an all time high and unemployment is down. Also, that there are very few foreigners in the country. The sheep believe everything, even though their eyes tell them otherwise and wages haven't risen in the last 3 years.

However, some enlightened people see the truth and you are one of those.