Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).
How to Debunk:
1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.
2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.
3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.
4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.
5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.
"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.
"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."
"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."
Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge
Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021
Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.
In the spirit of how to debunk misinformation and disinformation, I encourage you to examine The Financial Services Forum, The American Accountability Foundation, The Epoch Times, Fox News, and One America Network(OAN), among others, using the media literacy skills taught by the News Literacy Project from #1 above under "How to Debunk." Click on the News Literacy Project link to start your work.
Whether it be banning books, gutting voting rights, eviscerating the ability of government to govern , denying climate change, slashing taxes for the rich (not for us), promoting gun culture, encouraging White Supremacy culture, taking away the most personal freedoms of families, blurring the the constitutional separation of church and state, collaborating with international despots, tyrants and Fascists,
promoting and disseminating disinformation about the United States or packing the Supreme Court with extremist idealogues who are trying to tilt the law in the favor of the very wealthy, rollbacks of voting rights and Affirmative Action,
the comprehensive assault on Democracy has been well devised and effective.
But the end result is not the inevitable downfall of Democracy.
And here’s why I think that Democracy can still be saved.
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- The timing of the Dobbs Case that rescinded the decision in Roe v. Wade (1973) to legalize abortion.
All the guns, cynical Supreme Court rulings or out-of-touch Republican politicians can put the pent up energy of American women back into the bottle that the Dobbs decision opened up. Their glee at being able to accomplish this task at the earliest possible moment allowed women and to prepare and mobilize into a political force that has the potential to rumble over Republicans and Project 2025.
2. People under 30 (Gen Z) will cut through the crap and vote for their causes.
Gen Z is starting to come of age as adults. They are a substantial voting block and they are concerned about abortion, climate change and gun violence. There's is an important voting block.
3. The Black Vote.
Black voters still largely vote for Democrats. The Republicans will have to suppress a lot of votes to keep them from being a factor.
4. Immigration is nuanced and most people know it.
I think that as long as the Dems get out the vote, the majority will support Dems on this issue despite all the apoplectic rhetoric from the convicted felon about our southern border being overrun by murderers and rapists. Learning how to cut through the crap is vital.
5. Guns?
Will Gun rights win out over gun control? I don't think so.
6. Climate Change
This issue crosses political boundaries, but not surprisingly these days, only one in four Republicans Republicans identify Climate Change as a major threat whereas nearly 80% of Democrats identify Climate Change as a threat to our well being. I believe that this issue could tip the scales especially if we have a bad 2024 Summer of wildfires, hurricanes and floods.
7. Supreme Court Melt Down
Well, the sad sack six made it official that they have no interest in observing the Constitution of the United States. Essentially granting full immunity to any future president for virtually any action that they take while in office. So much no American being above the law. This is a dark day in American democracy, probably the darkest. But, out of the darkness there is light. Americans WILL speak up and rule from the bottom up will restore sanity to our country. Do anything and everything that you can to promote the vote and show this Right Wing cabal that they will not take over this country without a fight. And I do mean a fight.
From Reuters: Trump on the Supreme Court Ruling: Trump hailed the ruling in a social media post, writing: "BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!" The ultimate in Fascist generated reflection of reality. Don't fall for it. What a way to celebrate Independence Day!! We're heading back to what our forefathers fought so hard to escape. Conservatives want less government and Putin wants no U.S. government to stand in the way of his Fascist goal of world domination. STAND UP TO THIS BAND OF AUTOCRATS!! I think back to what my father would be telling me right now and I'm listening. Dad, I'm listening.
It would be absurdly selfish of me, with all of my privilege and skills, to sit back and watch this country be destroyed by some very, very rich and very, very, very powerful people.
Let’s make no mistake about it, we have an ignorant, bigoted felon running for the highest elected office in the land. He is in that position because he can be so easily manipulated by forces both foreign and domestic. His only concern is himself and his powerful handlers. Now he has cover from the highest court in the land.
Do whatever you can using your own personal superpower to keep this man…these people away from the White House.
Peace.
Well said, cycling singer!
Okay, so square this circle for me: The Oath of Office includes a promise to uphold and defend the laws of this nation. The SCOTUS decision does not square with these words. Do we need to write a new Oath of Office, to which an incoming President promises—I see a national contest where folks submit possible verbiage to replace our traditional oath. THIS gives the lie to this obscene SCOTUS decision.
Hey Di,
Once we secure another four years to work out how to strengthen our democratic institutions, we as a country need to get serious about the seriousness of the anti-democrats out there.
They were taken far too lightly. If we manage to pull ourselves out of this immediate mess, there needs to be a systematic approach to wresting power out of the hands of the filthy rich. They are behind this. They always have been.
They’ve been in charge of throwing out enough crumbs to keep the rest of us sedated while they rape and pillage the planet and us for that matter. It’s time to end the oligarchy and figure out a better way.
I wish I could share your optimism, and this said by the guy who usually sees the glass half-full. But I greatly appreciate your thoughts. Sorta gives me hope!!
Hal.