Running Against God Aint’ Easy

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.

Keep it Positive

I’m trying to deliver uplifting messages during this stressful Election 2024 season. I have some things that I’d like to say, but I think it’s better to do a little personal deep breathing before sharing any of my thoughts that are anything but uplifting. With that in mind, I’ll allow you to ponder the title of this post. Enough said on the subject.

In the meantime, stay busy and keep doing what you’ve been doing to create the world that you would like your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and beyond to live in. It’ll help to keep your spirits up and lift up hopeful thoughts.

Another "It's the People, Stupid" Moment

My wife’s reunion group from their Freshman dorm days at Whittier College and their tag-a-long spouses got together for what has been pretty much an annual event since they graduated. This past week, 14 of us gathered in Templeton, California for a few days of catching up, relaxing, swimming eating, playing golf and just having an all around good time.

This event was another reminder of how valuable our relationships are for all of us. They are life changing and potentially world changing in scope. A very cool moment for the Whittier grads was a chance meeting with the local Bureau of Land Management head person at the Piedras Blancas Light house on California’s central coast.

Some light conversation yielded the fact that his mother had graduated a couple of years before they did. So Ryan got out his phone and called his Mom. A delightful speakerphone conversation ensued and it was an “all is right with the world” moment.

Here’s to your next Casablanca moment.