I have recently been flummoxed by the amount of crap that
people take as fact just because someone they know has posted it. No fact
checking, no research, just an all too quick share with a shocked face or a
counter rant with malice and hatred. This phenomena seems to be becoming more
prevalent since the recent election in the United States. Now the assertion
that must come following a statement like this is to which side I choose ,
regardless of the fact that I personally have no sway over the election nor
sway over and who vote in it, yet it seems everyone must choose a side and be
judged by it.
So for the record I would, having been given the option, not
have voted for the new president. This notwithstanding, the election itself and
the sheer mass of ignorance and willingness on either side to believe any and
all statements that prop up their chosen side at the expense of the other is
astounding
.
This has led me to follow a number of new sites, chief among
them – Snopes. This has, quite of itself, produced an interesting effect.
Having followed a fact checking site, I now see more “facts” that require
checking as snopes posts them on their wall that all might know. Some of these
rumours purported as fact have me truly scratching my head, a recent rumour
said that a particular state in the US had passed a law that allowed rapists to
sue their victims.
Now this in of itself is a ridiculous idea, but this was so
widely reported and believed, largely
by the people of America, that snopes had to publish a post about it on their facebook
wall to inform their subscribers that it was not the case.
I’ m not sure how to express the emotion that allows people
to believe such things with such ease, so quickly and with such vigour that
they would lose friends arguing over a point that in the end may be fictitious.
But for a little fact checking these people might maintain a friendship, the
problem is that it is not just one sided, people on both side must believe this
inaccuracy.
The other problem in this new world is Trump. Regardless of
politics or where you stand on that scale, Trump has put out facts that have
been shown to be incorrect simply but putting up previous video of his other
statements next to his current ones. In today’s world of cameras and computers
in every pocket, on every street post and in every dairy, there is simply no
way for a man given the attention he asks for to believe that he is able to say
one thing one week and another the next and not be called on it.
Add this to an already muddled and quick to believe world
and you come to the fundamental problem. What or who can you trust.
My advice to you, dear reader is to take a little from here
and a little from there, figure out what you believe for that is what you will
be tested upon in the end. Find the truth, hold on to it, do not be swayed easily
from your convictions by the latest fad, opinion or you tube sensation. Be sure
about what you are going to say before you say it, take a little time before
reacting, do some research into things – check snopes or somewhere else you
trust. To quote from the musical chess, “never be the first to believe, (but)
never be the last to receive.”
