Google has launched a new section to their website that allows users of the site to compare quotes from political figures.
The site uses recent quotes from politicians on specific subjects side-by-side for comparison. On its front page, the site compares quotes from the two presidential candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama.
The quotes are accompanied by a date and what publication it appeared in.
The site also allows users to click a button to randomly generate quotes from two selected politicians.
From the site's 'About' section: "Much of the published reporting about people is based on the interpretation of a journalist. Direct quotes, on the other hand, are concrete units of information that describe how newsmakers represent themselves."
A shot at journalists? Perhaps. The site is very useful though.
Watch The Political Spin Machine With Google "In Quotes"
InQuotes
-Matt M.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Thanks for the post. I'll check it out. Yes, I can see from your description how useful a quick-reference took this may be (and, specifically, to journalists). I also wonder, mustn't there be something like this already out there?
But, apart from that, do you think an over-reliance on such a resource may further escalate a kind of "gotcha" attitude in politics, rather than a more thoughtful and contextual consideration of a particular political issue?
I mean, taken out of context, anything any of us says can be unfairly misconstrued or manipulated. This is part of what I don't like about superficial approaches to political campaigns and so-called political "debates."
At least for me, it's more important to try to understand the larger context and differing perspectives of what are sometimes very complex issues. This does take time to do, though, and time is something few people have much of to spare these days, or are willing to spare.
I think, for me, I'd use this Google feature as a starting point (like how I use Wiki), where I'd then go to the original or other legitimate sources to verify or read further on the nature and fuller context of the quotes provided.
As usual, it's the tool-is-just-a-tool argument. And HOW tools are used. Sometimes tools are too powerful for the exercise of human restraint or wisdom. An extreme example would be nuclear weapons. One "false" move and, oh, boy.
- Misako M.
Post a Comment