Has the internet damaged our ability to trust what we see before our very eyes. You think it is Tom Cruise chatting on a Youtube? Think again. Maybe it is. Maybe not. Peter Katcoff, president of the Marin Philosophical Society, talks about loss of trust caused by the internet. People in positions of authority are lying, and lying to us with authority.
Recent changes in our language reflect the dirty-dealings dealt us daily. We have words like deep-fake, disinformation, back-pedaling, false-narrative, mis-spoke, and a host of others that would have been, by children in the 40s just answered with a swift, “liar, liar, pants on fire!” and the little liars would skulk away humiliated at having been caught fibbing.
No such thing today. What happens to a society that has lost its ability to trust? The misinformation (not to be confused with “disinformation”) presented to us, ranges from invalid dangers lurking around every corner to “facts” (not) that have us voting for menacing leaders, running to the gun stores or living in fear and hatred.
What is a person to do? Well, don’t give up hope. Peter has some interesting and encouraging things to say on this dismal topic and how we, as individual members of a society, can and should handle it. He also has some wise advice worth heeding on how to determine if what we see is a bunch of hooey or the truth. I went from being horrified to being comforted at my own power to know what’s what. See what you think.
Love letters? Of course. You may be surprised at the possibilities we have to encourage doing the right thing. You may be surprised at the power you have.