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Response to "Consumption of Communication" by Isabella Bonilla

A Response to "Consumption of Mass Communication"

Earlier today I had the pleasure of reading "Consumption of Mass Communication" on Isabella Bonilla's blog "Belladora: Critique This". Isabella makes some good points I agree with in the post. She points out that "The refusal to have exposure to opposing views creates ignorance within our reality" , and I couldn't agree more. Through out the post, she has a point that I agree with and she certainly doesn't mince her well chosen words. Isabella does make one point that I disagree with. In the final paragraph of her post she says that "(The psychological filter) can be changed at simple will, and pushed curiosity of the mind." I do not believe that the psychological filter can be easily removed, on the contrary I think that it takes extreme persistence and a changed state of mind. 

I will be the first to admit, I have a psychological filter. Perhaps mine isn't as extreme as some, but I am aware that it exists. I certainly don't take pride in it, and I have worked on suppressing it by getting news from many sources from the left and right. Psychological filters are ingrained in those in us. They are learned and it is no walk in the park to unlearn them. Psychological filters can become part of people's very identities and senses of self. Giving up a part of you in this situation is necessary for the well-being of the world, but it is impossible to see the lies when you are caught up in them. That takes a long, hard, deep look into yourself. 

 Of course, it is easier to take that long, hard look than it is to take a look at a newspaper if you are blind. The physical filter is more often than not impossible to remove. The informational filter only involves acquiring new information so you can interpret a message, be that learning a new language or just a few new facts. I will wrap back around by agreeing with Isabella again. She says that changing the psychological filter is "...like the boss battle at the end of the game. If you want to overcome the psychological filter, you have to fight yourself." I couldn't say it better, so I won't try. 

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