Dear Chilliwops,
Thanks to the Internet one of the really positive things about living in this day and age is the access we all have to media outlets other than mainstream media operated by the big names – Murdoch, Fairfax and others.
We can explore the Internet and receive news from all over the world at little or no cost. We can subscribe to many hundreds of Web pages covering current events, national and international news, education, science, politics, the arts, the environment and many more.
Whatever your interest and whatever the topic one can find information on that topic. We can also obtain opinions from many people, some knowledgeable with expertise in areas that may be of particular interest. And it may be very fresh, contemporary, and even instantaneous.
But there is also a danger. We may receive and possibly even circulate “news” that is just someone’s opinion – not even newsworthy, not necessarily accurate, just someone’s opinion.
My message today, dear Chilliwops, is to be very careful about merely forwarding information you receive. Even if the information is sent to you in the first place by someone you believe in and trust.
Before you press the “forward” or the “send” button in taking steps to circulate information, pause, and take a moment to think very carefully about the accuracy of that information. At least do some basic research. Don’t merely circulate an opinion because you agree with it at face value.
You may be damaging your own credibility if that information is found to be factually incorrect. Circulating incorrect material may also cause harm to others.
Too often people use social media to circulate a particular political, economic, social or religious message. I have noticed it most dramatically during this year of elections in Australia and the United States. It is okay to express ones views – I am certainly not suggesting censorship – but I caution against the use of social media when one is foisting so-called “facts” upon others.
Recently I was the recipient – possibly along with many thousands, perhaps even millions – of readers internationally of a rumour circulated via email purporting to be a truthful representation of the Health Care legislation in the USA. I received it from a relative who probably thought she was doing the right thing in circulating and “informing” people of the “dangers” of aspects of the legislation.
The message I received carried racist overtones and could be harmful to many in our society. If unchecked it may also serve to incite racial hatred.
Did you know in some Australian States it is a criminal offence to incite racial hatred? Not only is it morally wrong but it is also a serious offence.
As it turns out, the document circulated by email was very, very wrong. In this case I used the Web to search far and wide and discover the truth about the legislation. I even contacted a respected friend of mine in the United States to ask about the legislation. Everything I read and heard pointed to the mischief that was carried in the message.
The truth is a group of people who hold a particular view about the world used social media to spread their hateful message. It was no more than an attempt to cause others to follow their path, ignoring the truth.
The way in which the article was presented might lead one to simply accept it as true after all it did refer to legislation and specific clauses in legislation passed by Congress. It sounded authentic. Other references in the message were true and that made the entire article more believable.
I refer to only one example of this type of misuse of social media but I can assure you there are many. It is a constant occurrence on social media. This approach to circulating untruths and mischief is very widespread and unfortunately some people just want to believe the stories.
That is the way in which these purveyors of hate get their message across and in their minds ensure a vulnerable audience accepts it as truth. But you are too smart for that. I know you will always want to discover the truth.
Undertake your own research. Don’t just go to one other Web site thinking you will find the answers. Use a variety of sources. I have found some well known and frequently quoted Web sites to be inaccurate at times.
Most importantly, do not get drawn into the use of social media to spread negative stories. In the end the truth always wins out.
Love always,
Your Popple
