Tuesday, March 3, 2015

False Memories: True or False

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/09/was-brian-williams-a-victim-of-false-memory/?_r=0
Read this article and submit your opinion based on what you know about False Memories.

22 comments:

  1. Yes, I do think newscasters should be held accountable for reporting false memories. I feel this way because the public should only hear about real events that took place and newscasters should always be a reliable source of information. While Brian Williams report of false information may not have been intentional it does effect how people will view him as a journalist. I think my life would be more difficult if memories were constantly scrutinized. There would be more stress and pressure, which I think would make it easier to believe a false memory.

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    1. I am not sure I agree that newscasters should be held responsible for reporting false memories. If someone (in this case newscaster, Brian Williams) experiences a false memory, he does not know it is false. He is under the impression that what he "remembers" actually happened. Therefore, I don't think it is fair to make them accountable. I honestly don't think that newscasters would put their reputations on the line over creating very obvious, pretend memories, if they didn't actually believe in their memories.

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    2. I agree that newscasters should be held to a higher standard. This story could have been easily fact checked by the military. Then N.B.C. should have said do not tell this story. But in all fairness he is a victim of false memories.

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    3. I do not agree that NBC should not have shared the story because it is still an important story and it's also entertainment which people like.

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  2. A false memories can be easily plan into a person's memories as showing in the video we saw about eye witness and in the article a simple word phrase can change the memories. If Brian Williams have experiencing a crash he should still have the memories, And I do think in order to put the news to head line he may in plane some false memory to make him and others to believe he was in the crash.

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    1. I don't know if I agree that Brian Williams is trying to implant false memories in himself and others. I think he is more a victim of false memories than a perpetrator of them. However, I do agree that he may have been looking for a little bit of attention which is why he exaggerated his story. Also, if he genuinely saw the helicopter get hit by a grenade in real life (and that part wasn't a false memory too) I think the trauma caused by the event could have affected his memory.

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    2. That so true in every sense of the topic. If wanted gain some attention, I would of done the same. The problem is he got caught in the wrong so if you get put on the spot. That's when you stop. The problem is that he is still going which getting out of hand.

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    3. I think Jack brought up some good points. In the video we learned that memory is malleable and it showed how other people can influence someone's memory. I think that Brian Williams memory could have been influenced and he began to believe the specific details even though they were really embellished.

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    4. Could Brian Williams have misremembered because of the trauma of his situation?

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  3. False memories are extremely common amongst individuals, especially children and women between the ages of 25-45. I do believe that Brian Williams could have suffered from a false memory because it is easy for a memory to change and morph over time. Once a memory is retold, it loses its value...the more the memory is recalled, the more likely it is to change over time. Also, memory isn't kept in one part of the brain, so it is plausible to have complications with memory. Having said this, the extent of Brian Williams false memory is a little suspicious. He supposedly began to believe that he was actually in the plane on fire...but I wonder if that was just for attention or if it was a true belief he had. It seems a little far fetched, but the fact that he left the limelight of news broadcasting because of what people were saying about his memory and about him "lying", it makes me think he was genuinely telling the truth.

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    1. "he extent of Brian Williams false memory is a little suspicious. He supposedly began to believe that he was actually in the plane on fire...but I wonder if that was just for attention or if it was a true belief he had"

      I agree with Danielle on something for once. It seems like he is just trying to get some attention. It reminds me when grandparents tell old stories and suddenly something crazy happens. They are just trying to get their grandchildren interested so they change some details to make it sound better. Who would care if he saw an airplane being shot, but a airplane being shot down with a news icon. That would grab people's attention.

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    2. You have used some good data, Danielle to support your views on this topic. Very interesting perspective!

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  4. Before reading this article, I thought Brian Williams was an idiot. How could you make such a obvious mistake that you were not in the aircraft being hit. Now after reading this, I feel bad for the guy. The memory was 12 years ago and he has probably told the story a ton of times. Eventually all of the facts were jumbled around and new details formed and lost. Someone else may have planted ideas in his head to make the story sound better. False memories are clearly somewhat of a problem if other people are making up similar stories like Hilary Clinton almost being Shot at. I am very skeptical about Steven J. Frencha and his research of people claiming they believe they saved a cat since they wrote about it. Depending on the age of the student, I'm pretty sure I could remember if I saved an animal before.

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    1. I agree with Pat. I think that Brian Willaims could have easily exaggerated some of the details in the story to impress people but he eventually began to believe the exaggerated version of the story.

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    2. You make some excellent points, Pat. Good application of your knowledge on this topic.

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  5. I agree with Pat. I feel bad for the guy but he is a little to old to have these false memories. Especially in a situation major like this. He seems like a good guy but he need to wake up just a little bit. He trying to make this a reality but it is not.

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  6. After reading this article, I believe that Brian Williams was suffering from false memory. He has told the story a lot of times and I believe there were some suggestions, new opinions and ideas that made him changed his story and he ended up believing, or remembering, the new story/idea that has planted in his mind without him even knowing it.

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    1. I agree that because Brian Williams retold his story so many times, this caused his memory to change and the details changed into a false memory.

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  7. I think that Brian Williams was a victim of false memories and that he really did believe that he was in the plane that the grenade hit. False memories are so convincing and if someone in the public eye is willing to put out this clearly wrong information, they must think it was true. I feel bad for Brian Williams because he is probably embarrassed by what people are saying.

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  8. I am impressed with how all of you are using the information that you learned in class to assess this article and situation. You have made some very good points. Another question to consider is this: should Brian Williams be held more accountable because of his position as a newscaster. Should people in other positions of trust be held more accountable for the memories that they share? For example should doctors and policemen who have positions of trust be held more accountable?

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  9. This is Tara's comment that appeared on the other site:
    The news is the central piece of daily life. Without it people would be lost in what is happening in the world. If false memories are reported its lying to a mas amount of people that could have negative consequences. My life would be confusing if my memories were scrutinized like his. I would start questioning my self constantly not knowing if what I was remembering was real or not.

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  10. Here is Tara's other posting:
    I agree with Ellie that even if it was no intentional it affected how people viewed him and how people viewed the news. People could start to feel that the new was a lie and it was just being fabricated by news reporters.

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