Binary Disinformation
Our culture is quick to dismiss the perspective of non-establishment voices, when those voices are offering nothing more than different information to consider. As soon as a different perspective, that requires critical thinking to any extent is available, it’s immediately dismissed. The recent story about Neil Young wanting his music pulled from Spotify because of guests that Joe Rogan has, perfectly embodies this problem.
Young and many other are crying out that the fed and big tech need to sensor Rogan’s podcast on the basis that some of his guests are spreading “misinformation”. Nobody defines what the misinformation is or why it’s wrong, it’s just wrong because they said so. They don’t care about what is right or wrong so long as their agenda is forced on those below them.
We are so intellectually lazy that we can’t possibly comprehend the idea that we may have to process information that smudges the lens we choose to view the world through. We are so resistant to the idea that we may have to put in the effort to consider dissenting perspectives that we immediately become dismissive of and enraged by anyone that challenges us. So, instead of thinking critically and digesting new idea’s, we try to cancel those who oppose us rather than trying to understand them.
The more we accept this approach, either by embrace or passivity, the more destructive it becomes. Words like “resist” and phrases like “speaking truth to power” are nothing but empty political jargon designed to make people feel like they are a part of something when we actually just need to take a breath and consider what else is being said. It won’t always jive with you and more often than not, it won’t, but you at least give yourself the chance to consider and challenge your own ideas.
It’s important to know why you believe what you believe and the best way to achieve that is to challenge yourself by leaving your echo-chamber.