Gullibility in Today's Society

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Gullibility in Today's Society With the increase in media accessible devices - including TV, the internet, e-mail, cell phones, etc. - gullibility in society appears to be higher than ever. According to recent opinion polls and surveys, it’s safe to say that most Americans believe in some sort of paranormal phenomena with little to no scientific evidence to back it up. The authors Shari Waxman, a writer in New York, Phillip J. Klass, a founding member of CSICOP, and Melissa Pollak, a former worker for the NSF, all discuss their matters on the media and public gullibility. The way today’s mainstream media portrays paranormal events plays a big role in people’s belief towards them. Melissa Pollak is the primary author of the report on “Science Indicators 2000: Belief in the Paranormal or Pseudoscience” which circulates on the American’s beliefs toward the paranormal. Pollak reveals recent studies that prove that the explication of paranormal events shown on television affect the audience’s belief towards them. In her report she discusses the importance promoting correct explanation of events through science. She refers to the Council for Media Integrity, an educational outreach and advocacy program of CSICOP, to stress the fact that the lies the media portray should stop because “television has such a pervasive impact on what people believe” (59). These shows only deteriorate one’s critical thinking abilities. In a more technologically advanced era, media today is tainted with paranormal shows/news often providing bogus evidence to prove their point which only confuses the audience. Shari Waxman in "Mind over Media: How the News Legitimizes the Paranormal and Why It Matters" discusses today's misconceptions between non-fiction and fictitious news. Often times these shows or events are represented by respectable TV programs or news providers. She shows how John

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