A friend of mine was telling a story of meeting a reporter while she was on the west coast writing a story for an east coast, New York newspaper. After telling me that, he added, “You know, one of those fake news organizations”. When I began to object, he “shushed” me and didn’t want to talk about his use of the term, fake news, or hear any differing opinions.
The truth about fake news is that it has always been around. The only thing new about fake news is it is now a label people can throw at others who may not agree with their own views. In their mind it justifies their differing belief. We no longer have to think about our opinions or defend them to others. We only have to utter the phrase, fake news, and pretend that this justifies our position over any resistance we may encounter.
One person’s fake news is another person’s truth. How does that happen? Have we just quit thinking or discussing alternative ideas?
Every piece of information that comes our way has potential error and should be evaluated by the receiver. This type of misinformation comes from everyone: friends, enemies, acquaintances, strangers and families. Some of it is innocent, and some is intentional.
Well-meaning parents may be the biggest supplier of fake news to their own families. This is an especially common practice when trying to get a child to change their behavior for the better. A mother might say to her child, “Don’t make ugly faces, your face may freeze in that position.” Fake news! Fake news is commonly used, and has been for years, to sway opinions, values and behavior. We are constantly being bombarded to buy this certain product, use this service, invest your money a certain way, vote for a particular candidate, or go to a certain church.
All of us produce our own brand of questionable information that we share as fact. We cannot seem to help ourselves. Our biases color how we see life. Our assumptions cover over the facts we either don’t know or choose to ignore. We usually share our values, not facts.
Values and beliefs are more difficult to justify because they cannot always be completely explained as we wish. They are experiencial. We can explain impartially why we purchased a box of cereal better than we can explain or justify our values or beliefs. It seems to be easier. It is not personal. We usually defend our values and beliefs by repeating ourselves with trite statements and getting louder. This is easier than giving a reasonable defense. It is easier to shout, “fake news”, than listening to a reasonable opposing opinion and discussing it openly. We don’t like our values and beliefs challenged. Values and beliefs are more from our experience. They have been developed over a long time and we do not want to change them. When these things are questioned, our very self is being questioned.
Christians, especially, have to be aware of all spiritual information coming their way. Spiritual guidance comes to us from all different directions. Pastors, Bible teachers, friends and a multitude of written information give you advice with a well-meaning intent for you to have a better life. Some of it is a blessing and some of it is fake news. It is up to each of us to decide what is correct.
