Ethical Influence: Facts Over Spin

Dear Best of LinkedIn Reader,

In the digital arena, where influencers command the attention of millions, truth is no longer just a principle—it’s a battleground. A dangerous new trend has emerged, and it’s tearing apart the foundation of trust that platforms like LinkedIn rely on: half-truths.

These are the slick, factually correct statements designed to manipulate readers into drawing false conclusions.

A true headline doesn’t always tell the full story, and some influencers have become masters at using partial facts to shape narratives that mislead.

We need to call this what it is—lying by omission.

The SPJ Code of Ethics calls for complete transparency, and it’s time for influencers to rise to this higher standard.

Out Of Context

Out-of-context facts can be incredibly misleading.

Take this example: imagine scientists discover a new disease called Ashenpox:

Imagine you’re sitting in the doctor’s office, waiting for your results from a blood test for Ashenpox, a deadly disease. The doctor walks in, looking concerned. She tells you that your test came back positive. Now, you remember that this test is highly accurate, with only a 1 in 500,000 chance of a false positive.

You start to panic, assuming that a positive result almost certainly means you have Ashenpox.

But here’s where things get tricky—and context becomes crucial.

1. How rare is Ashenpox? Ashenpox is incredibly rare—it only affects 1 in 50 million people. In a population of 500 million people (about the size of the entire U.S. plus some), we expect only about 10 people to actually have the disease. That’s right—only 10 people out of 500 million will ever get Ashenpox.
2. How many false positives? Even though the test is very accurate, it’s not perfect. With a 1 in 500,000 chance of a false positive, that means in a population of 500 million people, 1,000 people will get a false positive result. These people don’t have Ashenpox at all, but the test says they do.

Now, let’s put that all together. There are 1,010 people who will test positive (the 10 real cases and the 1,000 false positives). Out of all those who tested positive, only 10 actually have Ashenpox.

1. What are your actual odds of having Ashenpox after testing positive? This means the chance that you actually have Ashenpox after testing positive is just 10 out of 1,010, or about 1 in 101—roughly a 1% chance. So even with a positive result, the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor that you don’t actually have the disease!

The lesson here is simple: Numbers and facts need context. While the test seems highly accurate, the extreme rarity of Ashenpox dramatically lowers your actual risk, even after a positive test. The headline figure of "1 in 500,000" for a false positive looks impressive, but without understanding how rare the disease is, you’d come to the wrong conclusion.

Numbers, stats, and facts alone don’t tell the full story—you must always consider the larger context to draw the right conclusion.

The Ethical Responsibility of Full Transparency

Now that we’ve seen how headlines and facts can be technically true yet still lead readers astray, the bigger question arises: what can we do about it?

As influencers, we have a duty to provide full transparency, not selective truths. You might be able to drive short-term engagement with flashy headlines and half-truths, but long-term credibility is built on honesty, even when the facts don’t serve your agenda.

As author C.S. Lewis once said, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”

Presenting only part of the truth is just as deceptive as an outright lie, and it’s up to us to rise above this practice. If we want to build a reputation as trustworthy leaders, we need to tell the whole story, not just the shiny parts.

Deleting Dissent: The Silent Lie

Manipulation doesn’t stop at selective headlines.

There’s another trend that’s just as insidious: deleting respectful and intelligent comments that disagree with your post.

Silencing dissent is a form of dishonesty, creating an illusion of universal agreement where none exists.

George Orwell once said, “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” By deleting comments that offer respectful disagreement, influencers are contributing to a culture of dishonesty. True dialogue and progress come from engaging with opposing views, not erasing them.

Deleting critical comments doesn’t just control the narrative—it’s censorship.

Ethical leaders don’t shy away from respectful criticism; they embrace it as an opportunity for growth and conversation. When you silence opposing voices, you’re not just hiding the truth—you’re betraying the trust of your audience.

The Call for a New Ethical Standard

It’s time for a new era of influence, one built on full transparency, not selective truth-telling. We have a duty as influencers to report true facts—even when the subject or person we’re writing about is repugnant and evil. This is not just a moral obligation—it’s a professional one. Presenting half-truths or omitting critical details isn’t clever marketing; it’s manipulation. And it’s time we put an end to it.

As influencers, we hold immense power to shape opinions, drive trends, and influence decisions.

But with that power comes an equally immense responsibility: to tell the full truth, no matter how inconvenient or uncomfortable it might be.

The time for selective storytelling is over. The time for real integrity has arrived.

So here’s the challenge: Be the influencer who leads with integrity.

Share the full story, welcome respectful dissent, and resist the temptation to present a polished narrative that leaves out the inconvenient facts. As Oprah Winfrey said, “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.”

Let’s raise the bar, because in the end, the truth is the only thing that lasts.

Take action today: Commit to truth, even when it’s hard. Respectfully engage with opposing views. And most importantly, stop hiding behind half-truths—because your reputation is worth far more than a few clicks.

Stay well. Swim strong.

Warmly,

David

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? Published by: David Vogel, in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

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