Social media encourages posting of things we later regret
The ease of posting on social media results in people posting embarrassing, dumb things they will come to later regret.
Youtube confirms it is a propaganda platform – for their own propaganda
Google/Youtube, in a bizarre Twitter post, comes across as a colonizing force telling native Americans what they should think – and says that we should be celebrating Unthanksgiving.
Yes, next question? “Is Facebook Bad for Society?”
Starts with the right idea but then focuses on extremist posts on FB rather than that FB is the largest frictionless propaganda platform in world history. Hint: its not just extremists or just right wing propagandists. The sole purpose of the platform is propaganda. New comments from a former Facebook employee has once again raised questions about its approach, and the consequences of such on society. Source: Is Facebook Bad for Society? New Insights on the Company’s Approach Raise Important…
Wild fires: Is everything a single variable problem?
Western state Governors are increasingly blaming climate change for western wild fires, as if the wild fires are a single variable. If only we could control the climate, we would no longer have wild land fires. Realistically, there is no magic control knob on climate that we can control and which will reduce fire danger for decades to come.
There are concrete steps that can be taken immediately to reduce the threats of future wild fires – but politicians would rather blame climate change – which they do not control – because to acknowledge there are factors which they can control is to acknowledge that their leadership has failed.
A common mistake people make is to focus on a single variable in a multiple variable problem. In this case, the focus is on one variable that cannot be controlled in the near term, while ignoring other variables that can be controlled.
Some what misleading social media propaganda poster
An actual assault by right wing political supporters on the campaign manager of a Democratic Party rival was misreported as an assault on a senior citizen, probably to increase the emotional appeal of the message.
PolitiFact | No, Wisconsin mailbox picture isn’t proof of “massive voter suppression”
Social media has gone wild over a photo showing stacks of USPS mail boxes, as proof that the USPS is removing mailboxes to damage mail in votes this fall. Except the photo was taken at a company that takes in and repairs/refurbishes older USPS mailboxes for re-installation and use.
Where do we stand on new Covid-19 cases?
Recent news reports emphasize the spike or surge in new Covid-19 cases, and often continue to focus on that narrative for days to weeks after the trend has reversed. According to the CDC, the trend in new cases recently plateaued in the U.S. and may now be in decline. But don’t expect to see that widely reported 🙂
False: Full-time low income wage earners cannot afford a 2 bedroom rental anywhere in the U.S.
This claim comes out every year, from the same activist lobbying organization. They use misleading language and obfuscated definitions to imply a conclusion that is not true – a conclusion that the media laps up like good little puppies and uses to make false conclusions. This blog has covered this item twice previously. Nothing has changed.
Journalism: I don’t think that word means what you think it means
“27 police officers injured during largely peaceful” protests. Or something. Several examples of creative reporting, including the MSNBC reporting saying protests are not unruly as a building burns behind him. Words used to have common meanings but apparently not any more. This post is not about the protests about the reporting.
MISLEADING: “The economist who’s warning of a 40% drop in the stock market this year just took credit for predicting the riots
The economist they cite predicted riots AFTER the November 2020 election, due to allegations of a rigged election or foreign interference. This prediction has nothing to do with the riots occurring in May of 2020. But it makes for an inflammatory headline, good for click-bait ad revenue.