We are a contentious people. We disagree. We argue. Sometimes we fight… a lot. Why? Because we know we’re right. 🙂
I get it. There have been times in my own household — I’m sorry to admit — when it’s seemed a major, humongous decision between which one is best — because there’s only one right answer: sausage or pepperoni? (My poor veggie choice rarely garners another vote.) The reality is, friends, we think there’s only one answer too many times… and we make way too many mountains out of molehills.
Part of the reason we get so stuck, I think — and then miss out on the beauty of turning disagreement into dialogue — is because we’re unwilling to unravel our deeply embedded bias. We each have bias within us, and that bias skews our objectivity… whether we know it or not… acknowledge it or not… no matter the issue.
“Bias” is defined as “prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.”
For example, one may believe Tom Brady’s explanation of why he destroyed his cell phone when under investigation by the NFL was completely logical, plausible, and full of good intentions. Others immediately pounced upon the need for stern prosecution.
Politically, some watched the Republican debates, and instantaneously concluded that each of the candidates is an honest, upstanding, completely transparent man or woman. Others claimed the debates were pathetic — and nothing of merit was articulated by any or all.
Think, too, of our immediate reactions — openly hostile or sweetly tender — directed at Hillary, Bernie, or Trump… at Christians, Congress, Planned Parenthood, you-name-it.
I submit that in each of the above, bias has typically skewed the perspective… whether we know it or not. Hence, allow me one more, brief example (I will try to be sensitive)…
America’s favorite sport by far is the National Football League. When the playoffs begin, so do the parties — with even the non-sports fan often tuning in. Last January, there was one game that grabbed my attention most (remember: this is about bias — not sports). The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers played a great game on a cold day up in Wisconsin. Dallas led most of the game but never by more than 8 points.
With 9 minutes left, the Packers finally took the lead. Dallas would challenge once more. Back and forth after an intense drive, it appeared that the Cowboys’ Dez Bryant made a miraculous, fourth down catch and scored the potentially winning touchdown!
But then… as written by a Sports Illustrated reporter:
“On fourth down with 4:42 remaining, Bryant leapt to catch a pass from Tony Romo. On the way down, as he moved toward the end zone, the ball hit the ground. After review, the referees called it an incomplete pass.
NFL rules state the ground can cause an incomplete pass. It was ruled Bryant did not stretch out enough toward the endzone, therefore did not commit a ‘football act,’ and didn’t have control going to the ground.”
The referees reversed their initial call. The home crowd went crazy. The Packers took over on offense and went on to win the game.
From my very comfortable, couch-quarterback position, I adamantly disagreed with the call — and I soon found myself also in disagreement with multiple members of my family. They thought they were right! I thought I was right! But guess what? They are Packers’ fans.
There was… uh… one more thing…
Every football season I play a few, minimally-involved fantasy games. One requires a $10 entry fee, where each week you pick a single football team to win their game, and you can’t pick the same team twice. When your selection loses, you’re out. Over 200 people play. At the time of that playoff game, I was still alive. Had the Cowboys won, I was close to winning the $2000 prize.
Was I biased? You bet.
Did it skew my perspective of what may or may not be true? Of course.
And could I admit it at the time?
No way.
Bias obstructs truth. It impedes our dialogue, too.
Respectfully…
AR