Tag: truth

Social Media Shapes Our News Realities

Parallel Universes
~ Linda Wright

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there were only three broadcast networks on television and those three networks reported mostly the same news, altering only the order of the stories on any day. I know this because when I was in high school a friend and I decided to do a social studies project. One of us listened to the news each evening on ABC and the other listened to NBC or CBS. Each of us made notes on the items reported and when the news programs ended we talked on the phone and compared our lists. There were occasionally minor differences in the slant given to each piece, but mostly it was the same news given in a different order.


Now we seem to have a multiverse of choices for news, not just on television and radio, but via streaming on the Internet and social media. Most of my friends listen to the same sources for their news. Their social media sends them only the news they want to hear. They all have similar views on politics and believe they know what is true. Today as I was driving and listening to music on the radio I heard news that turned my sense of reality upside down. Perhaps there really is an alternate reality right here on this planet.

Day 16 (of 31 days of free writing)

Is It Lying If I Say “I’m Fine?”

~ Linda Wright

Is it lying if I say that I’m fine, when I don’t feel well? Am I trying to convince myself that I’ll be okay or, am I trying to give the answer that is expected? What if part of me feels emotionally unwell but physically fit? Am I trying to protect the person who asked? Is it that I just don’t feel like receiving words of sympathy? What’s the harm in a little fib now and then? If the person who asked was just doing so as a formality, then there is probably no damage done by stretching the truth. The harm happens if the person who asked really cares. That wounds both parties in the conversation and leaves a harmful scar in the relationship.

Day 7 (of 31 days of free writing)

The Evolving Nature of Truth

~ Linda Wright

When I was younger I believed that truth was solid, something that was absolute. What I learned as true in my history classes I find now was a one sided view of what really happened. What science proved to be true when I was younger has now been shown to be false. Just look what happened to Pluto! Once it was a planet, then it was not, and now it is labeled a dwarf planet with one of its five moons composed of organic macromolecules that may be ingredients for the emergence of life. It seems clear to me that more research will bring new truths to light. Recently I read that there is finally some attention being paid to the placebo effect. In fact some people do have the ability to heal their own bodies based on what they believe. Others of us, myself included, lack this talent. The lesson here is not to scoff at those who are lucky enough to have this power. The research isn’t there yet, but it appears that this ability may be genetic. It’s easy for me to understand why some people don’t always believe in the same things. The possibilities for what is true is limitless and the universe is expanding.

Day 6 (of 31 days of free writing)