Fake News in the Social Imagination...

Is that even possible? No... why not?

Because, all information has information in it. And, the information we 'use' is information that we either as one or a group 'feel/think' we can gain and or benefit from and that is called by sociologists - agreement reality.

It is interesting for sociologist to look at what is being considered fake news. So, what information can you find online that describes today's fake news?  One can read online that it considered to be a type of yellow journalism or propaganda that consists of deliberate misinformation or hoaxes spread via traditional print and broadcast news media or online social media. 

Fake news is written and published with the intent to mislead in order to damage an agency, entity, or person, and or gain financially or politically, often using sensationalist, dishonest, or construed as in fabricated headlines to increase readership, online sharing, and Internet click revenue. Mmm, isn't that prevalent in most news networks including ones that some think or call ' real' news? Yes!

Wasn't fake news and isn't fake news used in political campaigning? Yes. Isn't fake news and or 'fake' 'information' used in advertising? Yes. Isn't fake news, about a person spread as rumors, used by most people in this fallen world? Yes. And, why is that? It is to gain an upper-hand, or gain social status.

Well, revenue is generated from this activity, regardless of the veracity of the published stories. Of course, some will argue that fake news intentionally misleads and so advertising doesn't when it claims that its product is so much better than another? 

They, the manufacturer of the product may not come right out and say that but they use images and satire or parody to make the viewer or reader think that theirs is best, even their politician. Like laundry... information is clean or unclean but its still information to be used and people use it to their advantage, both kinds.

You see, we are all subject to 'fake' news/information. We have only so much information available to us at a given time and we act on that as if it is true and for the most part it is true to us in the moment we use it. For instance, if we say that so and so did not do what they were supposed to do and we told the boss about it only later to find out that they actually did but it was someone else who did not do what they were supposed to do and they just passed the blame. 

Well then, shouldn't we 'fess' up and say "Oh, I am sorry, I didn't know that" or "I was only going by what I was told or thought was right"? We should and sometimes we do but sadly more than likely we will just do it again and again...right?

There are plenty of theories and scientific persuasions that we have repeated as good or right information only to be told later that studies disprove it. Was that sharing fake news? Well, ... if you share that which has been disproved, then it is now fake news. For example, we have been told that Pluto used to be a planet.

It happens in our everyday that we share information that is relatively true or not true. Is it fake information? Well, it is and it isn't. Especially, if its only true or untrue for you. I told my students that if they have a certain kind of dog and bring it to the campus, I will not touch it even if they tell me its a nice dog and won't bite. I will not touch it because as a child I had a very bad experience with that kind of dog. 

So, no matter how many times you tell me your dog is nice, if it is that kind of dog (the one from my past) I will not touch it and I will not nor ever like it. Am I acting on 'fake news/information'? Well, I might be if your dog (that kind of dog from my past experience) is really a nice dog just like you are telling me yours is. And, I guess I certainly would be acting on or spreading fake news if I told other people that you have that kind of dog and I say it with a tone that makes others think that you are some kind of person to have that kind of dog, right?

All in all, whether you or me,  I am / you would be acting on information that I/you consider to be true given my/your socio-historical past experience... with that kind of dog; and, even if I read or was handed 'black/white' print that such a dog has been given a 'bad rap' over the years, I will still consider my information true based on my real experience, at least real in my experience with it.

Now, here is where the problem lies as it does with all social pitfalls (social interaction that has corrupt information yet is still exchanged). Where is the problem? I just told you in parenthesis. And, thus those at the time with power and wealth who want to keep that position will use such 'fake news' or information to train you up for their future and their children's future. 

They will even call out 'fake news' when it seems like information being shared will bring them down and or change their social status. So, think twice even three times about 'fake news' and if you are really being told the truth. Who gains from telling either the truth or a lie and their motive. In that respect, if there is any... is 'fake news' information really fake? No, all information clean and unclean, right or wrong is still information and both kinds are used in a fallen world such as this. And, believe me were warned about this.

Is there any truth out there? The only truth we can ever count on is the Word of God!