The sharing of information in this new age we inhabit has brought with it many new challenges. Being able to reach audiences that you have never met before allows for the sharing of information on a scale unprecedented in the span of our collective existence. How has this affected us though?
Healthy Scepticism
With the flood of information that we have in our daily lives, I believe it has become important to be somewhat sceptical. Do you trust the source of information? Why?
There has sadly been a pattern of media appropriation around the world. I see many videos on YouTube speaking about Fake news and biased news sources.
I can tell you that this is not unique. South-Africa has long been struggling with the attempted capture of our public broadcaster, the SABC. Over the months (Please go look) many scandals have been uncovered with ex-CEO Hlaudi Motsoeneng handling the broadcaster in a way that helps the spread of propaganda in the country.
That is not even to mention the Gupta media station.
Common Sense
People are not stupid! Well, not all people...
As a species, we have adapted in many ways over the years. If you spot a hole in the ground, walk around it. We do not always think about what we are doing, we just do it. Sadly, that also means that people will impulsively spread 'lies' when it could serve the argument. This happens especially when they believe the lie as fact.
Common sense to me says that I have to question it. What is the source? Who said it first? Does it make sense? Spreading false facts can be very damaging so it is always a good idea to verify your source!
Fact checking
When in doubt, always be sure to check your sources. There is a reason we have worked so hard as a species to develop science, reasoning and debate!
Please follow me @dracosalieri and start a conversation with me. I am always ready for interaction.
Maybe, if we seek for a deeper truth than mere existentialism, we might find an answer. My answer is the Word of God. Yes, you may want to question the Bible as well because it is based on a certain history in the way that it was published first. You may also question it in terms of biology - the virgin birth as well as the resurrection. But my point is, if you are in search of the truth, do not discount the Word of God. In fact, if you are really searching for truth, why not start there?
That is the thing... I do believe in the word of God as far as there is a divine interpretation of human culture. I have questions about the perception of a primitive people. The creation story has a meaning when understood from the perspective of primitive man, or even man's quest in general, but does that make the events fact?
Were Adam and Eve the first people or are they a symbol of humanities struggle to find our place in the world? Is the Snake the Ultimate evil or a representation of our fear? Is Hell a place or is it a representation of the chaotic internal turmoil that we are struggling with?
Good questions. Read the New Testament along with the old. Look out specifically for the foreshadowing of everything that is said in the Old, and apply them in the new. Of course there is a whole lot of symbolism. One thing though: God is Almighty. Do not think that you can mould Him according to humanity. It is actually the other way around. We do not understand His greatness. We can only really "interpret" Him into human terms because that is all we know.
The problem with so many in today's society is they not only do not fact check they literally believe anything if it's online.
Sadly true! The fight for truth never ends but is worth it...
Good point especially with steemifs platform
True indeed, the problem is that at every time in human history the system and those in charge would benefit if those under them wouldn't have all the information because if they do they it would be much harder to manipulate them. Today we have can find almost every information on internet but the system doesn't give us enough time and space to do that, also unfortunately it is in our nature we don't want to think about all the info and if it is true or not because how would it benefit us in the system that doesn't want us to do it.
Yes, also question the Word, if you want. But be open to the answers that you will find.