Superhighway of misinformation

The misinformation superhighway. The internet. Yes, that same place that is supposed to be a wealth of information, is a wealth of misinformation. People, read or listen to things on line and take it, and pass it along as gospel. The first thing you should do is verify it is true, or what parts of it are true, and NOT with the author.

There is no monitor sitting there making sure that everything you read is fact. YOU are supposed to do that.

I saw a video last night that every line spoken in it was either entirely untrue or way off. EVERY line. The ray of sunshine in all of it is that there were a few comments on it that stated that things weren't right in the video.  Hopefully people read those comments and take the whole thing with a grain of salt, or better yet, toss it in the trash where it belongs.

Anytime there is information that is new, we need to investigate, and I mean this blog too! I encourage people to research, or to find out more, I even sometimes remember to give Friday homework. The reason for all of it is that I want people to learn to THINK for themselves, RESEARCH the correct way (don't just read it or watch it and swallow it wholesale), and make INTELLIGENT conclusions. I want people to LEARN MORE, go beyond the information given and see what else there is moving forward. We have become a country of sheep following unhealthy people and ways, easy ways, and then wondering why things don't go well.

The right path is rarely exactly as you want it to be. It is never easy, and it is often time consuming where dedication and persistence is needed.

True research means looking for misinformation, looking for an opposing view and proof either way of the facts. It means searching out truth, not just reading something on the internet. You find what you look for. Honest research requires that you have to look for what you DON'T want to see. Then you disprove it or change your knowledge.

I remember learning some things when I was a preschooler , from my NA grandma. I actually had someone try to tell me something else was true about the tribal ways, and that she was wrong. I researched to make sure Grandma wasn't putting her spin on things, she wasn't. It was the modern video on You Tube that was wrong (isn't that a shock). I didn't actually doubt Grandma for a moment, but I checked anyway.

Believing misinformation is bad enough, passing it along is much worse. Validate something before passing it on.That means not only looking to see if the information is true, but if it is false. I have so many clients fearing and walking incorrect paths because someone passed on some BS. Don't pass it on, quash it where it stands. Research , learn and grow, that is what you are here for!

Don't get stuck on the superhighway of misinformation, be the scholar, the source of good information and help others with it.

Peshaui Wequashimese


(C)2012 Dr. R M Wolf. May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.