Addressing Misinformation and Harmful Content Online

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by geoleo

Guilty much? Your virtue signal-ing on here might make you fell better but world impact is doubtful. lol

I have no idea what you're babbling about. You seem so immersed in your echo-chamber you can't see reality... which again, all feeds back to the themes of this thread.

[wingssail]

This thread totally discourages me. I see such a divide between...I don't even know what labels to put on them. It seems hopeless when half of the population hates the other half

I don't think I am a genius, but I am not stupid. And when I read the words like "leftist mantra" (what mantra?) and "they want total socialism" (which they?), and "the matter isn't settled" (93:1 is not settled? Really?) I am struck by the obvious stupidity, or hatred so strong that no distortion of the truth is too much.

And the misinformation about the recent election cycle in the US boggles my mind. It seems that any lie will be accepted if it allows people to avoid the obvious but unpalatable (to them) truth.

Of course this is just my view. But it is totally depressing. How can so many people believe these bizzare claims we see on a daily basis? It makes me shake my head, (You believe in WHAT?). I've gradually come to the conclusion that the mental demands of the ordinary human experience has completely surpassed the mental capacity of many humans.

In a sense I am glad that I am old and I won't have to live through the place where we, as humans, seem to be heading. Sorry kids, you have to.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by wingssail

This thread totally discourages me. I see such a divide between...I don't even know what labels to put on them. It seems hopeless when half of the population hates the other half

I don't think I am a genius, but I am not stupid. And when I read the words like "leftist mantra" (what mantra?) and "they want total socialism" (which they?), and "the matter isn't settled" (93:1 is not settled? Really?) I am struck by the obvious stupidity, or hatred so strong that no distortion of the truth is too much.

And the misinformation about the recent election cycle in the US boggles my mind. It seems that any lie will be accepted if it allows people to avoid the obvious but unpalatable (to them) truth.

Of course this is just my view. But it is totally depressing. How can so many people believe these bizzare claims we see on a daily basis? It makes me shake my head, (You believe in WHAT?). I've gradually come to the conclusion that the mental demands of the ordinary human experience has completely surpassed the mental capacity of many humans.

In a sense I am glad that I am old and I won't have to live through the place where we, as humans, seem to be heading. Sorry kids, you have to.

There's only one Truth..
Mankind has been divided since the beginning of time and will continue to be so till we are extinct.. from fighting other groups for territory to fighting for gain.. all we do is change from one group of thieves and bullies to another.. lies and propaganda will always be with us.. its our driving force..
History speaks for itself and only fools argue otherwise.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by wingssail

This thread totally discourages me. I see such a divide between...I don't even know what labels to put on them. It seems hopeless when half of the population hates the other half

I don't think I am a genius, but I am not stupid. And when I read the words like "leftist mantra" (what mantra?) and "they want total socialism" (which they?), and "the matter isn't settled" (93:1 is not settled? Really?) I am struck by the obvious stupidity, or hatred so strong that no distortion of the truth is too much.

And the misinformation about the recent election cycle in the US boggles my mind. It seems that any lie will be accepted if it allows people to avoid the obvious but unpalatable (to them) truth.

All nicely put Wing. I'm with you on the discouragement and the increasing tendency to put tribal affiliation ahead of objective reality.

You allude to a few examples which are more usually associated with 'right' political beliefs. But as I said up-thread, it's not only a problem of the right. The research shows those on the left can be as blind, or as tribally motivated, when it comes to issues that have become sacred to their side.

In some sense this is nothing new. We are tribal animals. But what's discouraging is that we live at a time when access to quality information about everything from anthropogenic climate change to nuclear power has never been better, or easier. Despite this it feels like we're actually becoming less connected to objective truths or facts, and more wrapped in our tribal bubbles.

With regard to the political tribalism on display here, one thing to realize is that it's not equally bad everywhere. We're mostly exposed to American perspectives here since this seems to dominate this ostensibly international forum. But America is not the world, and there are still many countries where this kind of extreme political divide doesn't (yet) exist.

This is why it's worth pushing back when people speak untruths. If we let a lie stand, and if it is repeated enough, it can take on the mantle of truth, or as the great sage Colbert puts it: "truthiness."

[Bycrick]

The very title of the thread clearly demonstrates the problem. Nobody gets upset about "misinformation" in the generic sense. There’s no big movement to kick the flat-earthers of of social media, for example. A lot of people are perfectly willing to ignore "misinformation" as long as it doesn’t put THEIR beliefs or values in question. If it does, only then is it something to be suppressed.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by geoleo

......and no forbidding leftist green new deal and climate changer alarmists flying around the world by themselves in their private jets polluting like hell
. Seems they are the huge hypocrits of all time. Something like a preacher going in a whorehouse ,worse!.

The goal of this thread was actually to discuss the problem of misinformation, not to spread a bunch more of it around.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

The goal of this thread was actually to discuss the problem of misinformation, not to spread a bunch more of it around.

Harry and Megan's righteousness while buzzing round on private jets is Misinformation.. how does Bob Geldof travel.. not tourist class.. let's consider Sting or Kevin Costner..

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Harry and Megan's righteousness while buzzing round on private jets is Misinformation.. how does Bob Geldof travel.. not tourist class.. let's consider Sting or Kevin Costner..

... no, it's perceived hypocrisy. It might bug you, but it's not misinformation. There's no winning the "who's personally the most holy" when discussing a broad systemic problem that is not solvable by voluntary action.

Discounting someone's advocacy because you think they're not holy enough is probably closer to misinformation, wouldn't you say?

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by boatman61

There's only one Truth..
Mankind has been divided since the beginning of time and will continue to be so till we are extinct.. from fighting other groups for territory to fighting for gain.. all we do is change from one group of thieves and bullies to another.. lies and propaganda will always be with us.. its our driving force..
History speaks for itself and only fools argue otherwise.

poor Mr wingsail cant handle it. you nailed it accurately (again).

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

The goal of this thread was actually to discuss the problem of misinformation, not to spread a bunch more of it around.

One persons "misinformation" is anothers propaganda----propaganda is not necessarily lies. All advertising is propaganda. All political "narratives" are propaganda. Harmful content is mostly porn. Persuasion is the key and hard to accomplish . We live primarily mythologically-nothing more.

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by geoleo

Harmful content is mostly porn.

I disagree. No goats were harmed in my porn.

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by wingssail

This thread totally discourages me. I see such a divide between...I don't even know what labels to put on them. It seems hopeless when half of the population hates the other half

I don't think I am a genius, but I am not stupid. And when I read the words like "leftist mantra" (what mantra?) and "they want total socialism" (which they?), and "the matter isn't settled" (93:1 is not settled? Really?) I am struck by the obvious stupidity, or hatred so strong that no distortion of the truth is too much.

And the misinformation about the recent election cycle in the US boggles my mind. It seems that any lie will be accepted if it allows people to avoid the obvious but unpalatable (to them) truth.

Of course this is just my view. But it is totally depressing. How can so many people believe these bizzare claims we see on a daily basis? It makes me shake my head, (You believe in WHAT?). I've gradually come to the conclusion that the mental demands of the ordinary human experience has completely surpassed the mental capacity of many humans.

In a sense I am glad that I am old and I won't have to live through the place where we, as humans, seem to be heading. Sorry kids, you have to.

You are depressed but you are also glad so its a twofer!

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

... no, it's perceived hypocrisy. It might bug you, but it's not misinformation. There's no winning the "who's personally the most holy" when discussing a broad systemic problem that is not solvable by voluntary action.

Discounting someone's advocacy because you think they're not holy enough is probably closer to misinformation, wouldn't you say?

Bill Gates says he loves his guilty pleasures spewing carbon while telling the poor to do without simple guilty pleasures. Will Bill defend his guilty pleasures with his vast fortunes when the government cracks down as his guilty pleasures are not solvable by voluntary action?? What say you. Throw in Kerry and all the other climate phony s like Megan and Harry.

[geoleo]

Lets all sing CUMMM BYY AHHHHHHHHHH to feel better.

[geoleo]

Im not perfect! After all I voted for Obama -(twice) .