Bias is something that affects us all on many different levels. It affects our thoughts, decisions, and our course of action. It can always be prevalent, even in one’s subconscious. It is most prevalent in politics, sports or anything that involves taking a specific side or affiliation.
Does bias always prevail in these situations? Will it ever stop?
One cannot be entirely sure of the answers to these questions, especially when applied to the general picture. This is because it depends on what is being debated and whether or not it can be proven or refuted.
To keep it simple, bias is favor towards a particular side or factor of a situation. It is often obvious to identify, yet other times it is cleverly hidden. It is at least somewhat difficult to remove bias from the equation when approaching a certain issue because everyone has different views and beliefs. These views can be shaped by personal experiences or teachings from a higher authority.
A prime example of this predicament is me. I grew up in a heavily liberal family, and I often felt that my relatives did not attempt to put themselves in the shoes of others when discussing political issues. My parents have often tried to hammer certain elements of a political issue into my brain while ignoring others. I felt that they did not consider every feasible point of view before doing so.
Because of this, I started listening to what people who identified as conservative had to say about certain political issues, as well as those who branded themselves as liberals. I decided that I would form my own personal opinion after taking the arguments of both sides into consideration. This does not just apply to politics. I also use this system when observing arguments from sports analysts, climate change experts, and other high-profile personalities.
Over the years, I have put my greatest effort into being as non-partisan as I can be, no matter the situation. I still have my own opinions, but I always take both sides of a story into account and try to understand the reasoning behind them. Nevertheless, bias does affect me, as it does everyone. There have been a few situations in the past where I have sided with my friends and family without questioning them, without hearing any counterarguments from the opposing party or ignoring them altogether. Several of my friends and family members have done the same in the past, and some of them occasionally still do.
One thing that everyone can take away from this is that bias is irresistible at times. It can be controlled, but it occasionally breaks through the barrier. This is why I have become so cautious over the years; I have to carefully consider every factor when approaching circumstances that force me to take a specific side. One thing that cannot be controlled is the fact that bias will likely carry on into the future. It has always been with us, and it probably always will.
