I’m exhausted by the constant action of correcting and squashing fake news. If I can hear something and think, “Oh, that’s interesting, let me go do a quick search,” why can’t others do the same? Whether it’s Google, Reddit, ChatGPT, Twitter, any kind of news aggregator, or even my coworkers at work, it’s normally pretty painless to go and figure out what is happening. Understanding the embedded truth as well as the zeitgeist about things does take work—but not much.
I’m tired of doing the work for everyone else.
Concrete Beliefs
I understand it would exacerbate the problem to gate keep and “girl boss” information from others, but it’s much easier to just know someone is wrong than tell them. I find that most times, people are telling me statements and not asking questions. I can’t even guarantee I know an answer myself anyway. It’s not our job to be everyone’s personal fact-checker, but I do think there’s a way to raise the bar for your circle’s collective understanding of life.
There are some great ways to be non-hostile in the way you communicate differences and shortcomings. You don’t have to tell someone they’re wrong and you’re right, but you can flip a switch that makes people go, “Oh wow, that’s different.” At the very least, you set a precedent where people don’t come at you sideways spouting propaganda and conspiracies. There’s an age-old adage: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink.” Ultimately, people’s beliefs about anything are not concrete, and new information and insight can transform ideals. But, they have to do the work themselves.
It’s not your job to help people understand the truth or even seek it out. But allowing misinformation and misrepresentation of ideas to spread, I think, is something we all have a hand in stopping in some form or fashion. Sometimes it can be deflating to meet someone with concrete ideas that couldn’t be further from the truth. However, we can still have hope while being pragmatic about society and seeing things as they are. Embracing reality doesn’t mean losing hope; it means finding realistic ways to inspire change and understanding. But I do laugh when I think about something one Twitter user said: “My vote can’t possibly count the same as yours.”
The Responsibility of Influence
Despite the frustration, I do believe we have a duty to positively impact our circles and communities. The spread of misinformation can have real-world consequences, and if we can play a role in mitigating that, it’s worth the effort. This doesn’t mean becoming the source of truth for everyone around us, but rather fostering a culture of curiosity and critical thinking.
Encouraging friends and family to question what they hear and to seek out reliable sources is a small but significant step. It’s about planting the seeds of skepticism—not cynicism—that can grow into a more informed and discerning community.
Here are some practical tips for engaging in healthy conversations and addressing misinformation:
- Ask Questions: Instead of outright correcting someone, ask them questions like, “Where did you hear that?” or “Have you checked any other sources on this?”
- Share Reliable Sources: Politely suggest looking into reputable sources. You might say, “I found a detailed article on this topic from [trusted source]. Maybe it could provide some clarity.”
- Express Uncertainty: Show that it’s okay to not have all the answers. Say something like, “I’m not sure about that either. Let’s look it up together.”
- Provide Gentle Corrections: If you know something is incorrect, you can gently correct it by saying, “Actually, I read that this might not be entirely true. Here’s what I found…”
- Encourage Critical Thinking: Foster a mindset of questioning by saying, “It’s always good to double-check information, especially with so much misinformation out there.”
Using these approaches can help create an environment where people feel encouraged to think critically and seek out the truth, rather than feeling attacked or dismissed.
Balancing Act
Finding the balance between correcting misinformation and maintaining personal well-being is crucial. It’s exhausting to constantly be the voice of reason, especially when faced with resistance or indifference. Setting boundaries is important; we can guide others without taking on the full burden of their ignorance.
It’s okay to step back and protect your own peace while still striving to make a positive impact. We can share tools and resources, encourage dialogue, and lead by example without feeling solely responsible for everyone else’s enlightenment.
In the end, it’s about creating a ripple effect. Every small effort to combat misinformation and promote truth can contribute to a larger movement towards a more informed and thoughtful society. And that, I believe, is worth the effort.