4 ms·
There is an odd quirk in our culture, where lying is universally acknowledged to be toxic behavior, but the use of intentionally misleading language is merely f
by marcusverus 6y ago
There is an odd quirk in our culture, where lying is universally acknowledged to be toxic behavior, but the use of intentionally misleading language is merely frowned upon--as long as it doesn't contain a falsifiable claim. But this is really a distinction without a difference, as they achieve the same goal, which is to put an idea in the mind of the listener/reader which the speaker/writer knows to be false. After all, lying isn't what got us into the current era of a post-truth public discourse. What got us here is a historical and ongoing toleration of journos and politicians who are careful truth tellers in a technical sense, but liars in practice.
In my opinion, these liars-in-practice are far more pernicious than the liars-in-fact. It's easy to disprove a fact, whereas it takes time, effort, and some analytical ability to unpack a carefully worded untruth.
Apologies for the rant.
- gen220 6y agoIt’s interesting to me, because in my mind Reuters is characteristically a good actor in this space, often opting for more of a mouthful but not misleading title. It might have been an honest mistake? Although it would be surprising to me that a Reuters editor would miss the implication of this headline.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- asdfasgasdgasdg 6y agoExcellent point. The goal of honest language should be the creation of correct beliefs about reality in the minds of who listens to you, even if those beliefs might sometimes not serve your ends. Otherwise, it's not communication, it's warring against truth. (Of course, there is disagreement about what is true in many cases, but in this particular case, the reporter or editor presumably knew the difference and went forward with the title anyway.)
- tenpies 6y agoI would argue that there's a caveat: if the lie is about a person or group that the mainstream media is active hostile against, lying is not just expected, but encouraged and rewarded. Or so, anonymous sources familiar with the matter tell me.
- loopz 6y agoOr in other words, exposing frauds for who they are based on facts, not their talk.
- ilaksh 6y agoThat's not my culture. I don't misrepresent things like that. And I don't frown on I curse. But no one cares what I think.
- loopz 6y agoYou also have no power. The problem power is a ponzi scheme.
- nappy 6y ago"liars in practice" is uncharitable at best. A headline has some maximum number of words, and there is only so much that can be conveyed. "Technically true" is strong standard to meet in under a sentence. Is this purposefully misleading? I would say no.