Bias

Bias has become a dirty word recently. Well, maybe not recently. If I were to say that someone was showing their preference for a particular opinion, that's not a bad thing. We all have preferences and opinions. But change "preference for" to "bias toward" and you've got a fire-fight on your hands.

Why is this such a problem? Why can't we have biases? What is it about the nature of the world today that makes "bias" a bad word?

Now having hidden biases, that's problematic. If a judge has a bias against women that he doesn't share, that will affect his judgments, and also be unfair to lawyers who operate under the assumption that this judge is unbiased in that regard. It's possible that, even if the judge is open about his bias against women, he will still not be a fair judge. But at least if he admits it, then people can make informed choices regarding his aptitude as a judge based on all the evidence, not just some of it.

But to believe that we as humans can operate entirely without bias is foolish. The best thing we can do (and I've probably mentioned this previously) is to make full disclosure. Own up to your biases, your opinions, your preferences. They affect your actions, and if those actions are intended to be "fair" then at least let people know with what deck of cards you're playing. It doesn't necessarily excuse bias, or even mitigate it, but it's really the only thing to do.

Mostly, though, I'm sick and tired of people acting "shocked, shocked" that there is bias anywhere. Particularly, I'm tired of people accusing groups and organizations of bias which is obviously present. For instance, NATO is biased against Russia. It's not hard to figure out. The NAACP is biased toward black people. Accusing them of racial bias is like calling the sky blue. Most national entities are biased in favor of themselves versus the world. And why not? People tend (this is not always true, but generally) to be biased in favor of their own interests, self-preservation, what have you. Why are we alarmed by this?

So no, I don't expect anyone to be bias-free. Sometimes I just wish people were a little more open about it. And sometimes I wish people would stand up and respond to accusations of bias, "Yes, I am. What of it?"

Call it a preference.