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.
Bruce:
Hi God, it’s me , Bruce.
God:
I know who you are…
B:
Of course. My bad. So, how are you today?
G:
I’m pretty busy, especially these days with all the election crap going on, what’s on your mind?
B:
Woh, a bad word. A little stressed are you?
G:
When I sent Jesus down to you people, I thought that I made it real clear how you all are supposed to conduct yourselves with each other. I even wrote it down in 10 easy steps.
But no, you all either can’t read or you (at least some of you) are making shit up in my name. I don’t appreciate that. So , yes, I’m a little cranky
When I said no graven images, I meant it. When I had Jesus upend the merchants tables on the Temple steps, I thought you’d get the message that business and religion don’t mix capich?
B:
Yes sir or mam or your holiness or your honor…
G:
I don’t give a rip what you call ne, just do as I say or there will be consequences. Relay that message in your Blog.
B:
Yes si…Sure thing.
G:
While we’re on the subject of what I expect from ya’ll, let me get this off my chest.
B:
What’s that si…….
G:
Your a little slow, but you’re starting to catch on. When I generate disasters like say Covid, catastrophic wildfires, massive floods, frequent hurricanes or Fascist wannabes, I do it to give you idiots yet another chance to get IT right. Just read the f…ing Bible, Koran, Torah, Upanishads or Sports pages and do what they say. It’s not rocket science. What is it with you people?
B:
Well, S…, I’m just one lone grain of sand on your metaphorical beach, so I can only speak for myself and maybe a few others, but I do have a few thoughts. Promise that you’re not going to smote me for anything that I might say?
G:
Bruce, I’m not the vindictive type, especially considering that you came to me before I had to come to you. Well then?
B:
Umm, how do I say this. Oh never mind, you already know what I’m thinking so I’ll just tell you what I think.
G:
Thatta boy. Let it out.
B:
Well, some of your loyal servants, who may be well intentioned, have decided to rewrite the Christian Bible in their own words. The New Testament is nowhere to be found in many churches that claim to be acting in your name. The word “Love” is not spoken and the Gospels seem to have been rewritten into the “Hostiles.” They are all about fear, loathing, intimidation and disinforming your children. You are supposed to be the Father, but they have invented a false god to take your place, one that fits their image of themselves. They call him “Daddy.”
This really pisses me off. Because a persons’ religious beliefs are so deep seated and frought with emotion, they can be easily misled into believing whatever worldview that is preached to them in the name of God. Not you, but the false one. They are taught that anyone that doesn’t follow these beliefs are “the enemy within.”
This false profit “Daddy“ is trying to condition us to hate each other. I’m not afraid to say that this is scary, very scary. You sent us a similar person about 90 years ago and the result was a world war that brought about great death and destruction.
I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but you asked.
We are gullible, short sighted, lacking in curiosity and just plain ignorant. It is very frustrating.
Fortunately, we that don’t follow the false god have finally awakened. It might be too late to prevent the country and the world from slipping into another global mess like the one we dealt with in the 1930’s and ’40’s, but we are working hard to overcome a movement that has had a several decade head start.
I think that it’s the big oil people that are behind the false god. The Saudis, the Russians and the Texans. I know that I don’t need to ask you forgiveness in making this accusation, but I’m doing it anyway. After all, you are so big and I am so small.
Why else is climate change denial a major part of the new religion?
Why were so many people allowed to needlessly die from a virus that could have been mitigated by medical science. Why do some politicians wantonly promote guns and gun violence? Why foment racial hatred and encourage the denial that people are more alike than they are different. Why purposefully lie to people about newcomers to our country and spread disinformation about the strength of our economy. I know I’m drifting a little, but hear me out (even though you already know what I’m going to say). I find it disgusting, pathetic and patently inhumane. I have actively been trying to expose it in this Blog for the past four years.
Things aren’t looking good for those that believe as you do. But, I think that you will have the last say. Does the arc of the universe really bend to the good? I hope so.
The false god also believes that women don’t deserve the same health care that men get. He promotes a view shared by the radical religious right that the unborn fetus has more value than the the mother carrying it. I won’t try to speak for you, but I don’t think that you support this position.
And then there is the issue of crime. The head Fascist claims that the United States is being overrun by crime brought by immigrants. This is simply not true. This is another example of an authoritarian ruler coming in to save the country from the bad state that it is in. Even if it isn’t really in a bad state. The authoritarian needs something to fix and when there isn’t anything that needs fixing, they try to create problems for themselves to come in and fix. Crime is one of them, immigration is another and the economy is another.
I briefly mentioned climate change and gun violence. This is where the false god is making real problems worse through disinformation and inaction. Not good and very frustrating.
I’m almost done.
There has been legislative inaction, judicial over action and executive misguided action from the false god’s political backers. The global oilagarchs must be very happy with what they see. After-all, the false god serves them at the end of the day.
Ok, I’m done.
G:
I’ll get back to you, but in the meantime, let me just say this. There is good reason for hope.
