In this new, frustrating alternative world, speaking out results in getting shouted down so my advice is to counter vitriol with education when ignoring utter nonsense doesn’t work. Knowledge truly is power and using Google doesn’t count. Read a damn book! Go to a library and hold knowledge in your hands and devour the words, concepts and theories like the best damn (or beautiful) chocolate cake you have ever eaten. Like EVER! Soak that knowledge up like a sponge and then put it to use recharging and insulating your brain from the damaging effects of misinformation, myth and maddening deflection. Protect your ideals, your dreams and your life goals because if we don’t do this then they can and will be taken away.
The new Kingdom of Righteous Authority seems to have its own goals too and the desire to turn our ability to distinguish right from wrong, fact from fiction and truth from lie on its ear is actually working on a portion of society. Ask yourself, “Does this sit well with me?” and, “Can I look myself in the eye and be okay with accepting anything less than the truth?” If the answer to either is “no” then scholar…educate thyself to protect thyself. If the answer is yes to these questions then I guess we are done here and you are free to move on. I cannot be of service to you, go in peace.
To lie or not to lie, that is the conundrum. Or problem. Or concern. Or frustration. Why is it so hard to believe people anymore? And, why do we see more instances of those trying to tell the truth being labeled as liars as a quick means to discredit? Is it because the actual truth is viewed as a liability and seeing how far the moral envelope can be pushed is more tempting or financially lucrative? I have no idea what is really going on for sure but, I do know that my ability to spot fabricated nonsense hasn’t changed despite what some talk show hosts may claim. I say “talk show hosts” or gossip columnists because to call them journalists doesn’t seem to fit since more opinion than verifiable fact gets reported anymore.
Maybe it’s just me but I thought the purpose of journalism was to verify information prior to broadcasting it and then it was up to the listener to decide? Maybe it’s just me but I thought the act of a reporter speaking on assumption without verification was the very definition of laziness in reporting and viewed as a major no-no? And to be fair, it isn’t just the media, oh no, it’s a bizarre back and forth Ping-Pong match between politicians, the media, the public and, you guessed it, TRUTH is the ball.
Now days, everybody claims to know, or knows someone that claims to know or heard about some website that knows. Or, they saw a message spelled out in miles high chemtrails. “I saw it on the internet so it must be true!” Or, “I heard the President say it so it must be true!” Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying President *Orange Crush is the only Grand High Exalted Pooh-Bah Liar, because he seems to be in good company lately. What I am saying is that lying is now an acceptable cottage industry in not only Washington D.C. but also across the planet. Don’t like something about someone? Just spread a few fibs about them and BOOM, problem solved, no one takes them seriously anymore.
And, snowflake suddenly becomes an insult. What? Why? Is it because a snowflake melts when in the presence of heat? So does a yummy Popsicle so how about Popsicle? Shut up you Popsicle! No, wait, that is a registered brand, better pick something that has no lawyers eagerly waiting to type up a cease and desist letter. Oh, Lordy! Even being witty with the insults has become uninspired and lazy. Also, here’s a quick disclaimer to cover a previous comment: *I am not associated in any way with Crush, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (the manufacturer of Crush) or PepsiCo (the distributor of Crush in the US). Satire folks…look it up before your panties twist too tight.
So, in conclusion, why all the bullshit lately? Because it’s quicker and easier to sling shit than it is to own up to mistakes. Pile crap high enough and after a while the less inquisitive can’t see or smell the truth even when it’s right in front of them. Just tell me what to believe! I’m too busy to educate myself!
Question the questionable. Research the ridiculous. And, most importantly, trust your own instincts. I have said this multiple times before and grew up in a gas lit, “edit the past to fit the desired narrative” childhood so hear me loud and clear when I say, if someone is asking you over and over and over to trust them, DON’T! The truly honest don’t need to proclaim their virtue because they aren’t trying to sell anything, they only want to inform. The truly honest don’t need to assure anyone of their ability to be honest because they live their lives in a way that highlights it without saying a word. That is the beauty of truth, it never needs to be announced when it walks into a room and requires no microphone to be heard. You just know. And…this is big…bigly big…the honest are HUMBLE souls that never demand loyalty or forced, fear-induced praise in order to function. Not complicated, contrary or contrived. Just the plain old truth.
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