Today we are inundated with information especially with the advent of social media – where any one can share their cat pictures, thoughts, and suspicions. With all this noise it is our responsibility to know what is accurate and what isn’t.
This is particularly true when we construct our political views during these tumultuous times. But how do we determine the basic facts that we filter through of our life experiences to form our opinions and influence our actions?
On the SeniorPlanet website, I discovered “How to Spot Fake News” which I found helpful when evaluating claims we hear in the media and on social networks.
According to the article, Fake News are false stories that appear to be news, spread on the internet, usually created to influence political views or as a joke. Several types are identified: news satire, news pariody, propaganda, deepfakes, sponsored content and news fabrication which is content with no factual grounding, presented as legitimate news.
But how do you evaluate the different claims? When you aren’t sure ask yourself the following: 1. Who wrote the information? Is this person knowledgeable & reputable? What credentials does the author have? 2. Is the information up to date? Who owns and runs the website? 3. If a claim is made, where does it come from? If a source is given, check the source. 4. Does the author have an agenda? Are they trying to sell a product? Is a company or organization sponsoring the website? Are they defending a product?
You can also go to the following factchecking websites that investigate whether claims are true, false or somewhere in-between: Snopes.com, PolitiFact.com and FactCheck.org.
For the fun of it, see if you know which of the following claims found on those factchecking websites were found to be true.
1. The Trump Campaign sent a fundraising email to raise money to help him recover from COVID-19.
2. Stimulus checks will reduce future tax refunds.
3. A man at the capitol riot died after accidentally tasing himself.
4. Clarence Thomas’ Wife Ginni Sponsor 80 Buses to Capitol Riots?
5. The CDC is reporting all pneumonia and influenza deaths as caused by COVID-19.
No matter our political persuasion, during these times of deep political divisions we should seek to determine what claims are false; not just accept what fits are personal views. And when possible respectfully ask the question “How do you know that?” – which I’ve found to be tricky especially when discussing politics with my wife!
And by the way, all five rumors are false.
Okay, after that heavy subject see if you find this piece of advice amusing. “Never sing in the shower! Singing leads to dancing, dancing leads to slipping, and slipping leads to paramedics seeing you naked!”
The host for the Miss America Pageant from 1955 through 1979 was Bert Parks. I received correct answers from Kim Birge, Tina Castanares, Emmett Sampson, Barbara Cadwell, Rose Schultz, Margo Dameier, Keith Clymers, Carol Earl, Virginia Johnson, Cheri Brent, and Jim Ayers this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket and who was in the same class as the first runner up in the 1959 Miss America Pageant. And last week I missed Tina Castanares.
In the 50s and 60s there were poodle skirts, “letter” sweaters, bell bottom pants and mini skirts as well as white knee-high boots named after a popular dance craze. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name for this style of boot popularized by Nancy Sinatra when she performed the 1966 hit “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’”? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with a photo of the dancers on Hullabaloo or Shindig.
Well, it has been another week bouncing from one distraction to another. Until we meet again, even apples past their prime can make a good apple crisp.
“It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.” Andy Rooney
