Navigating through a minefield of misinformation and disinformation.

 MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE THAN EVER

DISCERNING THE TRUTH OFTEN DIFFICULT

The reality of the information world today is that we are bombarded with unlimited access to facts and also attempts to create a narrative that attempts to conceal or cloud what is true. There was a time when your news was limited to 3 Television channels and a local newspaper, while I am sure there was always attempts at disinformation, it seems that it was much more accurate in times past. Today the major news sources are now the most distrusted, because of their apparent partisanship. They have destroyed their own credibility by their own actions that eventually were exposed. 

At the same time, government agencies, that are often the sources of information, have also proved to be either clouding the truth or outright lying. Their credibility has also been enormously damaged, either motivated by partisanship or attempts to cover up wrongdoing. The reality is, that there is not much that can be trusted today.

It is not only what is reported falsely, but more often what is not acknowledged or reported on at all.

The internet does have access to many people who are on the ground around the world and is also accessible to most everyone on the planet. It seems everyone has access to the internet, except North Korea, and there is someone somewhere that is in close proximity to most every event that is newsworthy. It is a remarkable situation that allows for near instant access to events as they happen. It is increasingly evident that even these sources are being used by those in power to create a narrative that is in their favor. The internet is now the major source of information for most everyone, globally. It is, predictably, now a tool for those who seek the truth and those who wish to conceal it. 

There are no casual observer of the news, in fact, many have tuned out all news, feeling that there is nowhere that is honest or trustworthy. It is likely that no one source is reliable enough to be completely accurate. Only a wide range of sources allows some ability to gather a picture of what is really happening and then some sort of putting the pieces together, aided by experience and objective thinking will hopefully put one on the right path. This and hopefully the ability to admit error and not be locked into some sort of preconceived conclusion make everything a moving and evolving outcome. That is the reality of the world we live in today. 

Personally, having been an observer of things for 60 years, I do have an advantage over youth in that I remember many things that I can attest were facts, even when a different narrative is often put forth. Once you see things that you know are untrue, it is easier to question other things that are put forth. Then the methods and patterns are continually being reused and replayed, because they worked in the past and are more easily understood by those who have seen all this before. 

So, good luck, to all those who are interested in the world today and remember that, it is true, the truth does seem to prevail in the end, even when it often takes many detours and seems like a maze of dead ends and other roadblocks on the way.