Preventing the spread of Fake News and Misinformation

[Flopper]

This can’t be accomplished, of course – nor should it.

Conservatives are at liberty to propagate their fake news, misinformation, and lies.

Government should certainly not take action, that would violate the First Amendment.

The only way to address rightwing fake news, misinformation, and lies is to respond with facts and the truth and let the people decide.

Although there’s merit to the argument that rightwing fake news, misinformation, and lies should be ignored, doing so would not advance facts and the truth.

The best approach is to respond to rightwing fake news, misinformation, and lies with facts and the truth and move on, to not fuel rightwing fake news, misinformation, and lies with ongoing and pointless engagement.

In a true in person debate, I would agree responding to lies and false information with truth and logic is effective. But in social media or USMB, responding only provides the poster with an opportunity to spread more misinformation. If everyone read the complete thread then there might be merit in this approach but as you know, most people do not follow a complete thread of a discussion. They just read post after post of the false misinformation, over and over which is the purpose of those who create false news; get it repeated over and over and people will believe it.

 

[Flopper]

It is a political hoax and every bullshit report from anyone over the past year and a half proves it.

Exactly what do mean it is a pollical hoax.

 

[Concerned American]

putting a barrier (a mask) between you and others

Yeah, I wear briefs and they contain my farts about as well as cloth masks contain covid

stay home which is even better

You are the one who is terrified--You stay home. I don't care who wears what. I don't hide from political hoaxes.

 

[Rigby5]

Flopper said:
Misinformation is a major obstacle in winning the battle in both the US and many other countries. However, there are other reasons which are as silly as being afraid of the needle. 5% of Americans say they will not seek any medical attention except in life or death emergency. 26% of Americans suffer from a mental disorder and 5% are seriously mentally ill. 45% of Americans adults do not get vaccinated against the flu or other diseases. When you put all of the above together and add in the misinformation, there's going to have to be very strong incentives to get vaccinated which may come from employers, retail merchants, restaurants, and sports and entertainment venues. In other words, get vaccinated or stay home because there is no place for you in society. With the Mu deviant on the horizon, it may come to this.

Remember that herd immunity is not just from vaccinations, but a combination of all sources of immunity, which include inherent immunity, acquired vaccination immunity, and acquired recovery immunity.
We do not have to all get vaxxed since there is a constant increase in those with new recovery immunity as well.

The flu vaccine seems a little silly, since you can feel just as bad from the flu vaccine as the actual flu, and if they predicted wrong, you can then still get the flu even after being vaccinated.

 

[Concerned American]

Exactly what do mean it is a pollical hoax.

Do you have a problem understanding plain English? I don't know how to make it any clearer. Political=driven by politics. Hoax=bullshit designed to control people

 

[Rigby5]

Masking and Social Distancing are preventive measures that have been used in epidemics for centuries. It is basically common sense. putting distance between you and other who may be carrying an airborne virus and putting a barrier (a mask) between you and others. It's not rocket science. It's just common sense. If you can't do that, stay home which is even better. The greatest value of vaccinations is that allows society to operate normally.

Social distancing and masks are part of the quarantine strategy, that also includes prohibiting travel, contract tracing, etc.
But when the strategy is NOT quarantine, then masks and social distancing are harmful.
When you do not want to go the full quarantine route, then the alternative strategy is herd immunity through accelerated infection.
Variolation is traditionally applied to use up all the easy available host, and the initial spike is encouraged, in order for the epidemic to reach burn out, and end as quickly as possible.

When you do part of one and part of another, like wearing masks but not doing a real quarantine, then all you are doing is stretching it out longer, which then increases the death toll.

 

[Flopper]

If only you were the censor, then all would be well. Just like in Orwell’s wonderful utopia.

I believe the best form of censorship is individual censorship; that is shutting one's eyes and ears to what one believes is false. Another form of censorship that I believe is right and proper is agreed upon censorship such as in a moderated discussion forum.

 

[Flopper]

Do you have a problem understanding plain English? I don't know how to make it any clearer. Political=driven by politics. Hoax=bullshit designed to control people

I'm not asking for a definition of a political hoax but rather, what is it you consider to be a pollical hoax.

 

[MisterBeale]

Taliban took over Kabul, no vaccine, no masks, no social distancing

Didn't you know? This virus is different than others. . . it has rules.

For instance, it only infects folks when they aren't eating, if you are in the process of eating, then you are safe from the virus.

If you are a top level bureaucrat, or politician, the virus has no interest in you, you need not worry about social distancing or masks. Feel free to visit your family, go on vacation, get your hair done, attend funerals and weddings, go to restaurants and conferences, what ever you need or want to.

This virus, although it is less infectious outside, it is more deadly in recreation areas, so all parks, beaches and nature trails must be closed.

This virus is especially deadly after the sun goes down, so we must enact curfews to protect everyone's health.

Oh. . . and this one is particularly important in light of that last post. . . this virus particularly HATE's economic activity of non-globalist owned enterprises, so small businesses and small farms, private owned construction companies and the materials needed for them must be restricted. . . and the virus only cares, as we said before, about economic activity, so it won't care as much about third world shit holes. It doesn't really go those places.

They will make up more rules, I mean, have more discovery about the "novel," nature of this virus coming forth from lord and savior dr. Fauxi at regular intervals. . .

 

[MisterBeale]

C-Span
Associated Press
BBC
The Economist
NPR
Reuters

Any story that does not appear in one of the above is most probably false news or only of local interest.

The Propaganda Multiplier

It is one of the most important aspects of our media system – and yet hardly known to the public: most of the international news coverage in Western media is provided by only three global new…

swprs.org

The American Empire and its Media

Largely unbeknownst to the general public, executives and top journalists of almost all major US news outlets have long been members of the influential Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

swprs.org

These connections aren't imaginary friend, you can look them up yourself.

If you think billion dollar corporations don't have agendas? You are really, really, naive.

Interlocking directorate - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[frigidweirdo]

We've all seen it on USMB and elsewhere, fake news and misinformation on just about every major topic of public interest, global warming, elections, covid-19, foreign policy, domestic policy, legislation, crime, etc..... When we see posts that are filled with false information that is contrary to, trusted news services, science, trusted leaders, and often just plain common sense, we feel obliged to prove the poster is wrong. Generally speaking this not the best way to stop the spread of misinformation. It actually increases it. It is exactly what the poster wants, an invitation to provide more misinformation in support of his augment. When we play this game with the poster we become part of the problem, not the solution.

Fake news is bad for democracy — and in a pandemic, it may be a matter of life or death.

How do you stop fake news? It's almost impossible.

China is stopping the spread of fake news by totally controlling everything that is reported. Problem with this is that now what the government says is often fake news.

I think the only real way you can have of this is to force news outlets to be news outlets. Make a distinction between news outlets and those who peddle crap. Give accreditation and make sure everyone knows who is a news outlet and who is speaking fantasy. Have a group of people who are independent of the government and the media who check things out. Do audits of these companies and try and make media outlets push only truth, and if it's opinion, that it's clear it is opinion.

 

[frigidweirdo]

I believe the best form of censorship is individual censorship; that is shutting one's eyes and ears to what one believes is false. Another form of censorship that I believe is right and proper is agreed upon censorship such as in a moderated discussion forum.

Problem is people are lazy.

 

[Flopper]

Who decides what is and isn't fake news? You?

We all decide for ourselves which means considering the source of the news, why is the story being written, bias, and factual information that can be checked and also whether the story is being picked up by major news outlets.

 

[Flopper]

How do you stop fake news? It's almost impossible.

China is stopping the spread of fake news by totally controlling everything that is reported. Problem with this is that now what the government says is often fake news.

I think the only real way you can have of this is to force news outlets to be news outlets. Make a distinction between news outlets and those who peddle crap. Give accreditation and make sure everyone knows who is a news outlet and who is speaking fantasy. Have a group of people who are independent of the government and the media who check things out. Do audits of these companies and try and make media outlets push only truth, and if it's opinion, that it's clear it is opinion.

One of best ways of stopping fake news is not repeating.

 

[Flopper]

The variants or mutations of covid have been occurring in other countries like India, Brazil, South Africa.... How many covid mutations have originated in the U.S.????

.

It is not mutations that that are a problem. This virus mutates constantly. Most of them are harmless. A very small number of the untold millions of mutations are classified as variant because they are potential harmfully. The WHO, is tracking a number of these variants that are of concern. The Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351, B.1.351.2, B.1.351.3), Delta (B.1.617.2, AY.1, AY.2, AY.3), and Gamma (P.1, P.1.1, P.1.2) variants are circulating in the United States and are classified as variants of concern. We don't know where a variant first occurred just where it was first reported.

 

[frigidweirdo]

One of best ways of stopping fake news is not repeating.

But then how do you stop people repeating something that's fake, but have the repeat something that isn't fake?

 

[Lesh]

Care to provide a list of your trusted news sources?

.

It DOESN'T include Facebook or Youtube...or Fox for that matter

 

[Flopper]

I also like Der Spiegel and Al Jazeera.

Not familiar with Der Spiegel but generally speaking, Al Jazeera can be called a credible news source. However, their Arab news channel is biased. Al Jazeera is the largest news service in the world and it takes the authenticity of their stories seriously.

 

[Flopper]

But then how do you stop people repeating something that's fake, but have the repeat something that isn't fake?

You can't stop them but you can reason with them. Most people do not want to spread false information and lies. One way social media could reduce the problem is require the identification of all users. Anonymous users are an invitation to false information.

 

[OKTexas]

Misinformation is a major obstacle in winning the battle in both the US and many other countries. However, there are other reasons which are as silly as being afraid of the needle. 5% of Americans say they will not seek any medical attention except in life or death emergency. 26% of Americans suffer from a mental disorder and 5% are seriously mentally ill. 45% of Americans adults do not get vaccinated against the flu or other diseases. When you put all of the above together and add in the misinformation, there's going to have to be very strong incentives to get vaccinated which may from come from employers, retail merchants, restaurants, and sports and entertainment venues. In other words, get vaccinated or stay home because there is no place for you in society. With the Mu deviant on the horizon, it may come to this.

Mu deviant

Talk about fake news, ROFLMAO

But hey, your post would make chairman Mao very proud.

.