3 ms·
Why do we need the term “disinformation?” Deeply suspicious of this word. Seems to let politicians ignore allegations without having to declare them as false.
by Tycho 6y ago
Why do we need the term “disinformation?” Deeply suspicious of this word. Seems to let politicians ignore allegations without having to declare them as false.
- kthejoker2 6y agoIt also includes things which are technically true but lack context, or aren't relevant to the policies or decisions we want. "George Floyd was a drug using criminal" is true, and therefore becomes a talking point in conservative circles to justify the police brutality he suffered, even though it's irrelevant to why others are upset at his treatment. I think it's a more useful framework because half truths are way more dangerous than outright lies.
- Tycho 6y agoI don’t agree with your perspective about relevance. Details are an important part of journalism. You might not find some detail salient along some particular line of argument, but I still want to know.
- betwixthewires 6y agoI think you're making an interesting point that warrants a little further exploration: "disinformation" is nothing more than you using information available to you to determine what you think is true that the people who disagree with you would not like you to consider in your assessment. What the whole "control disinformation" argument boils down to, in my opinion, is an attempt to stifle people's own faculty of reason and deliberation by restricting their access to information. Who is to decide what information is relevant to you? Why is it that some people want to do that because you did not come to the conclusion they think you ought to?