Life in the Time of Fake News, Falsehoods, Alternative Facts, Intentional Lies, Half-Truths, Misinformation, and GBS

For the purposes of this analysis, we shall refer to all of the above-mentioned informational concepts as GBS, otherwise known as General Bull Shit.  Some GBS has its place in our society.  It can be used to good effect in comedy or satire.  It can help make a point.  It does however, have no place when used to deceive and function as a tool to guide opinions to a conclusion that is based on that deception.

The Fount of Knowledge

Gutenberg Press

Responsible individuals will read information and, based on its source and importance, verify the validity before acceptance.  All information should be verified with additional reference before it is relied upon for other decision-making.  Information should always be verified before further distribution.

1984 The Book that Brought us "doublethink"

While George Orwell’s 1984 Ministry of Truth is not yet here in any discernible official capacity, the effect of rewriting and distorting history is the net effect of promoting falsehoods through unverified redistribution of BS.  In 1984, terms like “doublethink” were defined as the act of holding, simultaneously, two opposite, individually exclusive ideas or opinions and believing in both simultaneously and absolutely.  It uses logic against logic with slogans like, Ignorance is Strength, and War is Peace.  It would seem that 1984 was a bit premature in its prognostications but recent political events portend to be harbingers of its eventual realization.

Wingnut

The Internet, like television, radio, and the Gutenberg press before it, has greatly increased our access to information.  All advancements in media distribution have provided the opportunity to reach larger audiences.  Unlike the press, radio, and television however, the Internet is not easily monitored for content accuracy.

To quote Ben Franklin, “Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see.”

  

Lazy individuals will forward, re-send, and otherwise distribute anything they find that promotes their beliefs and will do it without verification.  They will ignore those who illuminate their mistakes or will even argue that their statements were based on some facts and anything found to be wrong was an opinion.  Some when presented with irrefutable proof of a falsehood will even “double down” on the GBS and, just like mom, use the “because I said so” argument.  These lazy purveyors of misinformation are as guilty as the persons who originated the falsehood.

Some clever individuals will, in order to promote an idea, blend some limited factual information along with stuff made from “whole cloth.”  This blending of facts and falsehoods makes it very difficult to wholly disprove a statement.  See Ben Franklin above.Everyone is entitled to an opinion.  Our American society is based on free speech, with certain limitations.  Things like slander, threats of violence, or shouting Fire in a crowded theatre will still get you in trouble.  Promoting opinions with GBS, while still protected speech, is also still BS.  To quote my mom, “you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”  As a kid, I didn’t understand why anyone would want a silk purse or where you would get a sow’s ear, but I eventually understood the wisdom in the statement.  Even when GBS is peppered with a few verifiable facts, it is still BS.  Once a lie is told online, it’s difficult to retrieve it, quarantine it, and debunk it.

It is simple to verify most things through a number of Internet sources.  While Snopes is very popular, Ask Factcheck is also available.  You can generally perform a simple Google search with the word Snopes or Factcheck at the beginning of a string of key words from the statement being checked.  You can “cut and paste” a headline of an article with Snopes or Factcheck at the beginning of the search.  Look at the results and follow the link to the proper site reference to verify.

Consider the source.  Satirical sites like The Onion and DailyCurrant have even fooled major news outlets.  We have all seen “Breaking News” stories from the major news media, which repeat misinformation and, at times, offer guesses as to what is happening.  Try to use reliable major news sources for your information, but verify.  See Ben Franklin above.

Beware of extremes.  Left wing or right, they both have their nut jobs, wingnuts if you will, on a mission.  Never trust a statement that starts out with, “I heard that….”  See Ben Franklin above. Try to find some middle ground.  While the Mayo Clinic site might not be right 100% of the time, it is generally reliable.  Uncle Fred’s Freedom Foundation and Alien Abductions Directory dot com may not have the same record of accomplishment.  The same cautionary instincts you have had in life will be of use here.   I leave you again with some more Ben Franklin.

“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.”

and another....

“Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.”