Short and sweet: 1) When did you last vet your sources for news, information, understanding? 2) Why do you believe your source(s) if you haven’t checked them?
Vetting of your source(s):
- who owns them/who runs them
- how do they get their money to keep operating
- how does getting their money affect what they present and how they present it
- how do they check themselves…do they do internal reviews, that they then share with their viewers/readers
- there is more….to be covered later
Example of a source for many people is CNN. CNN is on television (cable), and gets its money through advertisers paying for views/clicks. In order to get more views/clicks, CNN present the “news” in certain ways.
For example: CNN regularly (meaning daily, even almost hourly) talks about Trump. Even though Trump is no longer President and hasn’t been for 2 years. Yet……….CNN sees that Trump brings them views/clicks.
When you consider your source, do you understand that CNN pushes/focuses on Trump for views/clicks?
If you do, do you understand that CNN presents the information/topic in a way that stokes interest? And that such a presentation is not concerned with accuracy…or truth?
(If you are unclear, then review CNN’s 2 year long “reporting” on “Russian collusion”. Which was false. And has been debunked. But…not by CNN. The “Cable News Network” did not do basic journalism regarding “Russian collusion”. So….as part of your vetting…you must ask: why not? Why didn’t CNN discover this?
Back to the larger topic: once you recognize that CNN, in this example, has other reasons for presenting information as they do, then what do you do to combat that? Do you seek out/listen to other sources?
If not…..ask yourself why you don’t.
We are rebuilding our country and society. Ask yourself the hard question. Why don’t you seek out other sources, knowing your sources is biased?
Do you like being led? Do you like being shaped in your understanding? Being sheep?
Sorry if that makes you bristle. If it did, turn those bristles on those who are manipulating your understanding.
And then vet your other sources (MSNBC, the New York Times, the Washington Post, ABC/CBS/NBC/PBS, the BBC, Fox News, …).
Critical thinking requires effort. Let’s make it.
Son of Liberty 2020
amliberty2020@gmail.com
Taverntalk.locals.com