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> Bias I can put up with, so long as it is not supported by fabricated facts. I am inclined to say the 'effect of fake news' on the election is a fabricated fa

> Bias I can put up with, so long as it is not supported by fabricated facts. I am inclined to say the 'effect of fake news' on the election is a fabricated fact. It's not like 4-chan and bad subreddits happened yesterday - they just needed some convenient strawman to attack after Hillary lost; I'm certainly no fan of trump but it's sad to see otherwise intelligent people gobbling this up..

taeric 10y ago
I think I agree that most fake news had no effect. But I still view fake news as The Onion. Mostly a comedic effect. However, having seen that some folks actually trust brietbart (spelling?), I am left speechless. It is defended as being "like The Onion," yet also compared to serious news sources. Biased maybe, but also serious and holding themselves to facts. And I get the difficulty. Being wrong is not necessarily lying. However, lying should be discouraged. Heavily.
- forgotpwtomain 10y ago
  > However, lying should be discouraged. Heavily. People are also into 'healing-crystals' and 'prayer' should we do something about those as well?
  - taeric 10y ago
    Do you actually have something actionable in this comment? I mean, at an actionable level, "healing-crystals" should be labeled factually as to their efficacy. And "prayer" should be encouraged as a way to keep you thinking about things you are not acting on. So, should we "do something about them?" I am not pushing for banning of any activities. I'm not even hiding behind "free speech" as a shield. I did misspeak, though. I do not necessarily want to discourage lying. What I do want to do is encourage truth. This is one of the reasons that "changed their minds" doesn't bother me. Everyone has likely been wrong about something in their life. Confronting that truth is not easy. And should be celebrated. Do I like being called out for having been wrong? No. Not even a little. It is a painful experience. Am I glad when it happens. Absolutely. I am a better person for it.

taeric 10y ago

I think I agree that most fake news had no effect. But I still view fake news as The Onion. Mostly a comedic effect. However, having seen that some folks actually trust brietbart (spelling?), I am left speechless. It is defended as being "like The Onion," yet also compared to serious news sources. Biased maybe, but also serious and holding themselves to facts. And I get the difficulty. Being wrong is not necessarily lying. However, lying should be discouraged. Heavily.

forgotpwtomain 10y ago
> However, lying should be discouraged. Heavily. People are also into 'healing-crystals' and 'prayer' should we do something about those as well?
- taeric 10y ago
  Do you actually have something actionable in this comment? I mean, at an actionable level, "healing-crystals" should be labeled factually as to their efficacy. And "prayer" should be encouraged as a way to keep you thinking about things you are not acting on. So, should we "do something about them?" I am not pushing for banning of any activities. I'm not even hiding behind "free speech" as a shield. I did misspeak, though. I do not necessarily want to discourage lying. What I do want to do is encourage truth. This is one of the reasons that "changed their minds" doesn't bother me. Everyone has likely been wrong about something in their life. Confronting that truth is not easy. And should be celebrated. Do I like being called out for having been wrong? No. Not even a little. It is a painful experience. Am I glad when it happens. Absolutely. I am a better person for it.