Between the 24 hour news cycle and the internet, we are being spoon fed “misinformation” (Mr. Trump’s vernacular) or reams of bullshit (my interpretation). Who would have guessed 30 years ago, that you would have to verify virtually every piece of information that you receive? As if extreme political bias isn’t confusing us enough, add AI to the mix and trusted sources are few and far between.
If that huge bass you are looking at isn’t a picture that you personally took, you may well be looking at a cleverly photoshopped creation by an individual whose place in life revolves around fantasy. Advertisers today think nothing of using AI to convince otherwise reasonable folks the celebrity of the day has endorsed their offerings. It has become so commonplace, the idea of suing someone over this practice isn’t worth the trouble, as “everyone does it”. Reliance on the concept of Caveat Emptor is more important than ever before.
Information isn’t the story. The source is. When we recount a piece of interesting information, we are obligated to report the source, thus warning the listener that what you are saying may well be pure crap. I follow a number of internet sites related to hunting and fishing, but don’t believe much of what I read. Advances in AI renders photographic evidence equally suspicious.
Lying is the norm. Notice I don’t use cute euphemisms like “misinformation or misspeaking, or sources tell us” etc. I am talking about bonafide lying. The previous administration brought lying into mainstream America, relying on an adoring press equally capable of gross dishonesty. Mr. Trump, for all his good points, is the master of embellishment and overstatement. He must be watched, especially with numbers. Even so, he is light years ahead of the previous occupant of the White House. I have passed along internet BS, having not verified its accuracy. We need to be careful and not rely on whether or not we wanted something to be true as opposed to verifiable fact.
In my lifetime we have gone from not buying a mule until we examine it to buying used cars on the internet without seeing them first. We go through life busier than a mosquito in a nudist colony, happily gullible and feeding on the media and internet. I am a Missourian and my resolution this year is to promote our identification as the “Show Me State”. The truth is elusive, a fact epitomized by the media and internet. Skepticism is the order of the day. Go forth cautiously and dispense trust sparingly…….very sparingly.
Have a good week!
SR
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