In today’s carefully architected environment dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic and resultant economic and social crises, never before have the terms “fake news” and “misinformation” or “disinformation” been quite so much at the forefront of both social media and mainstream media as they are now.

Now many of you reading this will say hey wait a minute, but the opening line of that statement is exceedingly biased, and you’d be right, admittedly so.  But it is the perfect lead-in to the topic of this blog, that being the ability to think critically.  To be able to read between the lines, to read the speakers of those lines and to be able to determine in your own mind what is truth and what is not.  To be able to come to your own educated conclusions free as much as possible from outside manipulation and influence.  To be able to see the light.

This blog piece was inspired by two friends of mine who are currently producing a series of videos on the topic critical thinking entitled “Light in the Darkness”.  Doctors Stephen Brown and Anah-Jayne Markland.  I will post links at the end.  “Darkness” hit the nail on the head for me.  In watching the first two episodes I came to realize that so far I had a pretty good grasp of the general truth of what has been and especially now is going on in the world.  But I also had to honestly ask myself how much was I actually being manipulated and influenced by some arguments.  The darkness.  Yes, I was doing a fair job of critical thinking, but it was not good enough as on some issues I found myself waffling to the point of being too easily swayed.  I have to do better.  I need to see the light.

Back on point; the best definition of “misinformation” I have heard to date came from a radio talk show just this week wherein the conversation centred in part around how much of what is said and posted on social media tends to be labeled misinformation and is subsequently removed by some “proper speech” algorithm.  Personally this is something that I have always considered to be a very one-sided and fascist reaction. More on that term later.  But then the guest clarified how in these cases, misinformation is actually defined as “Since we don’t agree with your views as they don’t align with ours, rather than make a counter argument we will simply delete them.”  Instead of trying to counter with fact-based arguments they simply choose to dismiss it or more often than not fight back with childish insults.  In a sense, this actually is a form of fascism.  “My way or no way.”  Seriously, this is not the way…

They are failing to think critically and reacting emotionally because they don’t like it, often to statements that are in fact backed up by facts and statistics.  Emotion and knee jerk fascism have no place in critical thinking, in finding the truth.   (Yup, definitely a biased statement, but no apologies.)

Never more than right now has it been so important to be able to recognize the truth as believing the lies could completely devastate our society.  Sadly, the perpetrators of misinformation are very skilled at using the tools of ethos and pathos to send their message.  And many on the receiving end either don’t or can’t recognize the use of these tools. (Watch the videos!)

I will give you a very good real-time example.  Dr. Judy Mikovits, a well known virologist, based on her own experience and research has come out against the government and mainstream medical community’s views on Covid and Sars in a recent interview.  Time after time, social media removed this interview and those of other doctors who shared her position.  Rather than rebut her with fact, they simply tried to discredit her through innuendo and delete her.  Knee-jerk fascism?  Methinks so.

The same situation is occurring with Michael Moore’s “Planet of the Humans”.  Watch it while you still can, regardless of what side of the green movement fence you are on. There is something there for everyone.  Rather than using facts and statistics to rebut the film, attempts are being made to have it made illegal to show, eliminating one side of the argument.  Removing free speech.  Critically think that one out…

And that’s what puts us in real peril as a society.  The inability to be able to, or be willing to practice critical thinking.  If we as a society can learn to do that rather than to take the easy path and rely solely on our emotions, the truth will come out and the massive corruption and manipulation we are experiencing as a never-ending barrage at the hands of our national and world leaders will be exposed.  Only then can we build a society truly based on love, caring and giving rather than the one we have now of greed and psychological slavery.

We can no longer be followers lest we find ourselves at the edge of the precipice poised to fall into the dark abyss below. Think. And do it critically.

Light in the Darkness Part 1 https://youtu.be/JmpgxgdRo5o

Light in the Darkness Part 2 https://youtu.be/BkJsjQ11euI