A friend of mine supports Senator Sanders. Actually, more than one, but one in particular inspires this cautionary tale. (Because it’s irrelevant I’m going to obscure the friend’s gender by using the {newly accepted} “they” as I relate this to you.)
On their feed was posted a(n alleged) link to a Washington Examiner story claiming polls showed that only Bernie Sanders could defeat President Trump. My simple response, “You know the Examiner is a right wing source, yes?” In other words, like their hero, President Trump, the Examiner would prefer to have Senator Sanders as the opposition, and their polling source might have its own agenda. However, I don’t even know if the link was bona fide because I didn’t open it.
My friend responded later with a text, with these exact words: “Don’t know where that article came from, I don’t remember sharing it. Thanks for pointing it out!!!” Wow! You can’t even trust Facebook! (sarcasm, btw)
Those of you who actually vet or fact check your sources (and don’t just share memes and links that fit your world view) probably don’t need this warning, even if you are horrified by the anecdote, but be skeptical of EVERYTHING on Facebook. The poster may not even know what’s being published under their name – especially if it’s shared content from a third party, or a meme, or a link to or from a biased source. Not only may it be untrue, it may not even come from the person who seemingly posted it. That there are bad actors out there spreading misinformation cannot be denied.
Random notes & observations inspired by the above:
• I don’t know a single Sanders supporter who wants free stuff. Not.a.single.one.
• Political parties care about one thing, and one thing only: power for the political party. Neither (none) holds the keys to either heaven or prosperity.
• While there was no perfect candidate, none of my top 3-4 choices on the Democrat side were probably ever really viable candidates, but….
• I would vote for the dish sponge we forgot to rinse out prior to our trip before the incumbent president, because with some effort, the dish sponge could be cleaned up, salvaged and made useful.
• It’s honestly difficult for this ex-English teacher to do the “they” thing, but I understand the rationale.
• Speaking of ex-English teachers, I know one who tried to teach his students that the adverb “very” was the product of a weak vocabulary or a lazy mind, and exemplified poor writing. Oh, wait, that was me (probably among others).
• Speaking of lazy, political memes are for those too lazy to express their own thoughts and ideas. Memes are, by definition, simplistic and misleading. Just.Stop.
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