Friday, July 31, 2020

Weathering the perfect storm: Conspiracy, Astroturfing, and Fake News

By: Tyler Lovelace

tslovelace1@gmail.com / tl915117@ohio.edu

Lately, it seems that it is hard to be hopeful in our current news and political environment.  Between politicians reaching too far, the general public walking itself in circles around any whisper of turmoil that may or may not be true, and the media choose to focus on all the wrong details in order to pull off a certain viewpoint of the events unfolding around the world, we are all feeling a little cynical.  The combination of some of the topics of our discussion the past few weeks have been swirling together to create the perfect storm of doubt and bitterness to put people on edge.

This past week, in addition to revisiting astroturfing from when I watched John Oliver cover it when he originally aired that segment, I also caught up on his recent deep-dive into conspiracy theories and how our current situations have created the ideal environment for these beliefs to spread like wildfires.  Their debasement on social media and in some accredited news has done nothing but fan the flame, as a positive or negative response to these theories reinforces their belief in the owners all the same.  Simultaneously, you have news entities like Fox News claiming that the disasters in Portland, Oregon are an impending doom on the liberties of Americans, but the protests still occurring are only happening within one city block (CNN). 

With politicians insisting that matters and opinions are factual and discounting anything that shows the contrary, news outlets intentionally ratcheting up tension where it need not be, and the public driving itself crazy with conspiratorial ideas, we all need to take a step back and look at things critically.  It is prudent that we speak to each other calmly and rationally to help thwart off the overbearing negativity surrounding us on all sides.  It seems as though, as prevalent as astroturfing is, it takes almost no effort to have the public create these movements themselves with little to no push from the corporations or politicians.

My employer gave out custom-made reusable masks today for all employees and continues to provide surgical masks for everyone as well.  When handed a new, well-made mask, one employee stated that they should be handing out masks like these that have filters and are actually efficient at protecting against the virus, then going on a thirty-minute lecture on how the necessitation of masks is a hoax and just the government trying to mold us into following every order they give with no question or hesitation.  Another employee all together refuses to wear a mask at all – despite it being company policy and State mandated.  I had to keep myself from becoming agitated and engaging in a conversation that would have only exacerbated the issue and decided to adjust my approach for the next time these issues come up.

Through all the confusion and bitterness going on in the world, it is our duty to handle every conversation like an ethical journalist – speak civilly, listen openly, seek truth dutifully, and handle misinformation responsibly.  Regardless of how hopeless it may seem, there will always be those to face it boldly and help change and influence where they can for the good.  I know this blog post has been kind of all over the place, but I want to drive this message home with this short video.  A friend shared it with me yesterday and I found myself angry after watching it, nearly fuming by the time it was finished.  When thinking about this blog post today and lingering on this video, I realized that the point of this video was perhaps not to emphasize the hatred and anger portrayed throughout, but to show that in spite of all of that, the anonymous passerby encouraged and elevated the proper discourse and showed the hope left in humanity. 

Source: https://youtu.be/ltmlvk9GAto
Source: https://youtu.be/ltmlvk9GAto


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