Disinformation got you down?

The disinformation machine is hard at work, but there are things we can keep in mind to help us navigate the deception.

Recognize that the best lies include pieces of the truth. We resonate to the part that is true, especially if it confirms an already established belief. When this happens, we will be more likely to overlook the deception. Nowadays, there is almost never anything that is completely true or completely false. Accept that reality and be willing to live in the gray zone.

Consciously question your confirmation bias by ingesting a variety of input—differently biased news sources, alternative sources, personal blogs, conversations with a variety of humans. While you want to be mindful to not overwhelm your system (because then your brain shuts down or can get rigid and defensive), you also want to make sure you are not living in a one-sided bubble.

Be wary of posts, memes and articles that put something or someone down in order to lift something or someone else up. This is usually a sign of propaganda. Contrast can be a valuable teaching tool and it’s appropriate to call out people or positions, directly, based on the circumstances. But most often, a strong and honest position does not require tearing something else down, in order to make a valid point.

Let me know your thoughts and questions!