We live in a world overflowing with information, it can be challenging to distinguish between fact and fiction, opinion and reality.

The first thing I was taught about data processing was the difference between data and information. Data encompasses unstructured information, including text, observations, images, symbols, and descriptions, which lack specific function and inherent meaning. Conversely, information emerges when data is processed, organized, and structured, thereby gaining significance and purpose. And, opinion arises when information is contextualized in the furtherance of an agenda, be it positive or negative. 

Social media, news outlets, and personal interactions constantly bombard us with a mixture of truth, half-truths, and outright falsehoods. Amid this cacophony, two guiding principles stand out: truth has no agenda, and facts do not care about your feelings.

Truth Has No Agenda and is not dependent on your prior beliefs or feelings.

The truth is impartial. It exists independently of our beliefs, desires, or biases. No matter how much we might wish for something to be true, our feelings and personal agendas cannot alter reality. This impartiality is the bedrock of scientific inquiry and rational political discourse.

Throughout history, those who have sought to manipulate the truth for their own ends have often been met with failure, perhaps not immediately enough to be useful in decision-making. The truth, by its very nature, remains unchanged and unyielding.

We are now being besieged by individuals and media outlets bombarding us with their version of political reality,  and it is easier than ever to be caught up in echo chambers that reinforce our existing beliefs, regardless of their veracity. With their opposition responding with claims of "fake news" and "alternative facts."

We find selective presentment, or cherry-picking details to support a specific narrative, used to undermine the integrity of any argument or discussion. By carefully selecting only those details that bolster a particular viewpoint while ignoring or downplaying contrary evidence, individuals can create a misleading and biased portrayal of reality. This practice can distort the truth, misinform audiences, and skew perceptions, leading to misguided conclusions and decisions. 

Navigating a World of Information.

To navigate a world filled with bullshit, it is essential to develop critical thinking skills and the ability for discerning truth from fiction:

1. Sometimes, truth cannot be known in a short timeframe: Due to the complexity and multifaceted nature of certain situations, gathering and verifying all necessary information may take considerable time, meticulous effort, patience, and thorough analysis. Those who rush to be first to report or generate social media clicks are often wrong and their reporting should be highly suspect--especially when it appears to be reported in the context of a narrative.

2. Seek Reliable Sources: Look for information from reputable and well-established sources. At one point, academic institutions, peer-reviewed journals, and respected news organizations were considered to be generally more reliable than unknown websites or social media posts. Unfortunately, this is no longer accurate, and everything must be analyzed and tested. 

3. Cross-Check Information: Individuals were taught to verify facts by cross-checking multiple sources, the thinking being that if several independent sources agree on a piece of information, it is more likely to be true. Unfortunately, with today's corporatized media and agenda-driven media outlets, it is hard to tell if you have fallen into a whirlpool of talking points swirling around an agenda-driven echo chamber. As we have seen from sworn testimony and documentary evidence, once reliable search engines have been compromised by their platform owners/operators, they can be their own sources of disinformation, misinformation, or malformation by omission or false rankings of presented search items. 

4. Be Skeptical of Bias: Always be aware of the potential biases in the information you consume. Consider the motivations and backgrounds of the sources providing the information.

5. Question Assumptions: Regularly question your own assumptions and be open to changing your mind when presented with new evidence. Intellectual humility is a crucial component of critical thinking.

6. Engage in Constructive Dialogue: Discuss with others who may have different viewpoints. Constructive dialogue between opposing forces can help uncover the truth and challenge one's own beliefs.

Bottom line.

Do not be overwhelmed and emotionally compromised by the bullshit surrounding you, whether from mainstream media with known political biases or social media, where an alternate reality can be easily created. 

When in doubt, take a walk. Preferably in nature and with a dog. 

We are so screwed.

-- Steve