If you don’t read news media you’re uninformed
If you do read news media you’re misinformed
Hans Lovejoy
You can’t escape that new term post-fact, so let’s grab it in the crotch like Trump and run this topic into the ground as surely he will do with the US of A.
Notice how that opening statement denigrates Trump?
It’s called cognitive bias.
Having been born into different tribes with varying degrees of geographical luck, health, genetics, wealth, education and technical advances, we all adopt and create a perspective of fact, or bias.
It’s in this context that we fight for fact, truth, reality – or whatever you want to call it.
Underlying perception is the desire – by some of us – for domination over others.
Regardless of who you are, some tyrant is always trying to gain more power over you.
Post-fact exists because of power struggles and tyrants.
Easily led
And as a herd of humans, we are easily led.
The late comedian George Carlin said he loved individuals but loathed groups of people.
‘Especially people with a common purpose,’ he said.
‘Because pretty soon they have little hats. And arm bands. And fight songs. And a list of people they are going to visit at 3am.’
Through finely tuned perception management, humans are led and exploited more easily when the reptilian part of the brain is engaged.
Fight or flight has no rationality to it. No nuance. No reflection. No empathy. Exploiting the reptilian response 24/7 is now a fine art.
As such, collective insanity is getting worse. If not worse, it’s certainly becoming more amplified.
Should we take a pacifist, do-nothing position in a fact-free world run by insane tyrants?
No. It’s time to fight back because the business model of insane tyrants is leading further to collective self-destruction.
This wild experiment on a small fragile blue planet is without a plan other than to dominate and forcefully take what’s left and then ruin it.
As humans, we need a lot more spiritual and academic education, including self-awareness and empathy.
Since every piece of evidence can be dismissed now by those unwilling to learn or listen, how can we move forward?
Without agreed facts, public conversation on any issue becomes a loud confused noise of uncertainty, which is fertile ground to be exploited by dark forces.
So, as the rational, intelligent and incredibly good-looking public of the Byron Shire, we need to maintain and further the sane narrative and keep calling bullshit.
We need a post-fact survival kit.
In a world without facts or sanity
• Trust body language.
Notice how US whistleblower Edward Snowden looks and acts incredibly relaxed? That’s because he’s got nothing to lose and is comfortable in his skin.
He wants to share knowledge, not hide it. All those politicians who vilify him simply want to maintain their power illusion. They look uncomfortable in their skin because they lack legitimacy and know it.
• Be aware of the cognitive bias in all news outlets.
For example, Russia Today (RT) is a state-sponsored media network that produces good content about the US and UK, yet doesn’t touch any of its own seedy mafia underbelly. Likewise the BBC (UK state-sponsored media) was accused in February 2016 by an inquiry of failing to act upon disgraced television personality Jimmy Savile.
Savile was well known within that organisation as a sexual predator yet no BBC journalist exposed him.
It’s worth repeating that any organisation or individual will always protect their self-interest.
• Be aware of doubt merchants. Destabilising reality is called ‘gaslighting’, after the 1938 play Gaslight.
It explores the theme of psychological abuse, where a victim is told false information with the intent of making them doubt their own memory and perception.
• Stop being click bait and be more factually vigilant.
There are browser extensions that flag misleading and fake news websites. If in doubt, Google the name of the story with the word ‘fake’ or similar.
(Reasonably) trusted (US) sources for debunking fake news include snopes.com, factcheck.org and politifact.com. The ABC did have a fact-checking department, but that was axed in May 2016.
• Subscribe to as many feeds on social media as possible that are repugnant to your point of view.
For example, what do the [Andrew] Bolt Report Supporters Group, the United Patriots Front, Cory Bernardi and One Nation really say?
Once you get past the vomitous attacks on anything that isn’t like themselves, is there a coherent and factually supported argument?
It’s amazing how aggressive online debate has become.
The more aggressive, the more it lacks self reflection. It’s okay to learn from mistakes and share the process.
• Think like a lawyer, don’t act like one is a useful book by Aernoud Bourdrez, which aims to empower those dealing with ‘conflict seekers’.
• Lastly – be fearless.
Ask questions of those in power no matter who they are. Be aware of everyone’s opinion and ‘facts’.
Knowledge nuts and bolts
Like a crucifix to a vampire, post facts and lies are combated by knowledge.
This includes being familiar with the legal system and understanding legislation (statutory interpretation). The creation of laws and policies at local, state and federal government levels is a cornerstone of how this society functions.
Then there are the courts: the hierarchies and the concept of precedence, deciphering court cases (case law). On top of all that there’s decoding political agendas and propaganda – assisting in this mass illusionary exercise is an army of staff and advisers.
