Why do humans make bad eyewitnesses?

[Zywiec]

You can check out the Innocence Project for all of the people incarcerated by eyewitness testimony, than later released through DNA or other scientific method here:

http://www.innocenceproject.org/

The latest accounts of the recent teaparty debate had me thinking about the unfortunate realities of human recollection.

Just a couple of examples:

The question asked to Ron Paul was about:

A healthy 30-year-old young man has a good job, makes a good living, but decides, you know what? I’m not going to spend $200 or $300 a month for health insurance because I’m healthy, I don’t need it.

Yet in many of the threads this person turned into:
- a poor man
- an unemployed man
- a man who wanted insurance, but couldn't get it
- something other than what was clearly in the transcript or video

Then Wolf asked "But Congressman, are you saying that society should just let him die?"

A few nuts in the audience yell: "yeah", even while Ron Paul was answering "no".

That in many threads turned into:
- the audience shouting "let him die"
- the audience wildly applauding
- something other than what was clearly in the transcript or video


Does emotion completely take over our rational and critical thinking and transform truth into our own reality?

[hedgehog]

1. On the other hand, given that real people fail to get medical

care in this country every day because they don't have money, maybe what happened is that people projected the sad reality onto the original premise.

[MineralMan]

2. Worst? What are the comparisons?

What creature other than humans can be an eye-witness and testify to what they saw? "Worst" is a comparative adjective. In order for it to make any sense, there must be eyewitnesses that are better in some way than humans. I can't think of any, so perhaps "Worst" should be replaced with "Bad." We are bad eyewitnesses, but we're the only eyewitnesses that exist.

[Zywiec]

4. Point taken, and I updated the OP.

I guess I was comparing our recollections to some technical means. Thanks!

[MineralMan]

7. No problem. Thanks for making the change.

[zappaman]

3. Everyone knows billy goats make the best eyewitnesses

They remember every detail.
Problem is trying to get the little fuckers to talk.

[Lord Helmet]

5. billy goats with glasses

[Frustratedlady]

6. You left out Black man. If someone is going to take advantage, they think Afr. Amer.

When they talk about the impoverished, they picture Blacks sitting on the front porch waiting for their welfare payment and food stamps.

Don't let them tell you otherwise.

[peace13]

8. The question was bad form the beginning.

So many young people have jobs and can't make ends meet. Here are a few relevant questions that the moderator could have asked.

-If a thirty year old man with a job can't afford rent, car, gas to work,and food how can he afford health insurance? If he can not pay should we let him die if he gets sick?
-The thirty year old man has a job but his low salary and school loan do not leave him any extra money after paying for rent and food. What should he do if he gets sick?
-Bobby is 30 with a preexisting condition that leaves him un-insurable. If he gets sick should we let him die?
-Mary is 30 and after she and her husband pay for their rent and living expenses for their two children there is absolutely no money left for health insurance. She found a lump in her breast? Should we provide her with surgery or let her die?

[Zywiec]

9. Yes, all much better questions that should be asked in the next debate. n/t

[Confusious]

14. But won't...... nt

[Zywiec]

10. Kick

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. Because people tend to hear and see what they expect to hear and see.

Any trial lawyer will tell you that eyewitness testimony is usually the least reliable evidence, not the most.

[GusBob]

12. I noticed that too

Paul's answer was clearly no. And as he was the one being spoken to, to me his is the only answer that matters. His position that the churches used to take care of these folks is dated and absurd, of course

As for the people in the audience and the folks here on DU: they hear what they want to hear, and see what they want to see, and portray their descriptions accordingly, disregarding some facts and embellishing others

I blame Spongebob and the decreasing attention spans in our modern era

[Zywiec]

13. Shameless kick. n/t

[Ohio Joe]

15. The exaggeration does not change reality

That douchebag Paul would have the man die regardless of his situation, that he chose to not have insurance does not matter. Paul was politically savvy enough not to say it out right but it is indeed what he was saying.

[Zywiec]

16. Why is the exaggeration even necessary?

To me one's case is weakened as soon as they are shown to be untruthful.

[Ohio Joe]

17. It is what people do on emotional subjects

It does nothing to change the fact that Paul would prefer someone die who could not pay a hospital bill rather then let them be treated.

I do not deny people make bad witnesses. I do not deny people exaggerate. I also will not use it to justify in any way shape or form letting people die because they cannot afford treatment.