"Truth Decay: Conspiracy Theories and Hoaxes Are Blurring Reality"

There's an article today in Alternet.org titled: "Truth Decay: Conspiracy Theories and Hoaxes Are Blurring Reality" at: www.alternet.org...

It's adapted from Greg Guma's Rebel News Round Up, broadcast live on The Howie Rose Show at 11 a.m. Fridays on WOMM (105.9-FM/LP – The Radiator) in Burlington, VT.

The article is interesting and makes reference to many conspiracies and such that appear here on ATS and elsewhere. The 182 (at present) comments that follow the article are worth reading as well.

I must say that I agree with one of the conclusion of the article.

"In short, some theories may be distractions or even deliberate deceptions, but others are worth considering, as long as we stipulate that they aren’t necessarily facts and resist exaggeration. The problem is that it’s becoming more difficult to tell the difference in an era when facts have been devalued. There are so many possibilities, the standard of proof appears to be getting lower, and theories tend to evolve, expand and mutate rapidly in unexpected ways as they circulate through cyberspace. As yet, there is little follow up to see whether new facts reinforce or discredit a particular idea or prediction. Corruption of truth meanwhile contributes to social division and civic decay. Yet there are apparently no consequences for stoking paranoia, intentionally confusing speculation with fact, or perpetrating a premeditated hoax."

I agree because I'd include another dimension beyond the cyberspace realm, and beyond "theories" noted in the quote. I'm disgusted by how often politicians, pundits, lobbyists, radio talk show hosts, tv news "correspondents," "advisors," "specialists," and such, knowingly, blatantly and unashamedly lie. Looking straight into the camera or talking straight into the microphone and simply misstate facts, without being challenged on the distortion. And the fact that this is as pervasive as it is, and as accepted as it is by the general viewing and listening audience, makes this concept of "Truth Decay" a dangerous reality. Propaganda's been around for a long time. But it's getting to the point of the absurd.

The onus is upon the general public to try to get to the truth. Here on ATS, there are some pretty nutty threads at times, but more often than not, there are some extremely well-researched, well-analyzed, and well-critiqued posts and comments that try to get to the heart of the matter. Unfortunately, much of the mainstream is more than happy to go along, unquestioningly, with whatever is said on radio or tv as actual propaganda, ...I mean "fact."

someone are scared?

I agree that on this site there are very many people who state facts and site references that seem to be hidden from the mainstream. But what is the truth? Where do you actually find the truth that doesn't carry a hidden agenda? I appreciate this site but many threads carry agendas just as MSM does.

We need to get rid of the conspiracy theorists, especially those who think al qaeda is hiding behind every bush and we need a TSA naked body scanner on every street corner because al qaeda could conspire at any moment and strike.

Those conspiracy theorists are blurring reality.

Yesterday I used one of the removed posts on here to teach my two older children that lies are often built using a tiny smidgeon of truth, and that people use things that are shocking to turn off your brain so that you don't question something.

That they should question what they see, hear, and are told. That if something shocks them, or seems odd even though it looks possible, it should trigger them to look for the truth.

I showed them the lie, and then showed them what the truth really was and replaced the shocking image with reality.

Conspiracy Theories don't blur reality. Lies blur reality.

Are these not the things that we should have learned at our mothers knee when she told us of Chicken Little and The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Perhaps these stories would be worth revisiting.