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.
Update: McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024. New York Times best seller.
I view it as sort of a mission of mine to be a part of the larger beacon of light to help myself and you through these dark times. As I say that, I believe that a good deal of the darkness that brings us down is fraudulent. It is fake and manufactured to frighten us into believing that things are much worse than they are.
Is this a difficult time in human history? Of course. Monumental changes in societal norms, global interconnectedness and wealth discrepancies have set in motion a global right wing Nazi-style resurgence rooted in doubt, fear and hate.
The people behind this resurgence in hate, including those proposed to be in the next presidential administration in the United States, are trying to make us feel helpless. Let’s be clear, we are not helpless. Far from it. We have the power. Believe it, because we do.
Not the monetary power of Elon Musk, Harlon Crow, Peter Thiel, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerburg etc. ad nauseum. Not the political power or media power that they have purchased to disinform millions of Americans into accepting the flip side of reality. A higher power, a greater power accessible to all of us. A power that when collectively applied will solve any problem, heal any wound.
A power capable of toppling the rich and powerful. I see and hear it in the people around me. Also in the information that I choose to consume. I see it in the Stoicism that girds my loins to change the things I can change and not worry as much about the things that are beyond my control.
What gives me the most hope this holiday/Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanza season is that on a day when pure hate showed it’s ugly head when a car plowed through people attending a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, I attended a Christmas concert by the San Francisco based choral group Chanticleer which was an experience of pure love.
Feed your soul with the love. Hate will happen, but you are not allowed to let it consume you.
My greatest hope for humanity is that we can bottle up some of the good spirit that bubbles out through this season and give a healthy dose to everyone. I guess that this bottle is each of us. Do what you need to do to pry yourself out from the fear and loathing and use yourself as a vessel of love to spread love. This Solstice time of year is the darkest time of the year. It has its place. Use it to refresh and nourish yourself as we look forward to the increasing light of Spring.
Have a joyous week and best wishes for the new year.
