Invoking "Trust but verify"

Despite our differing opinions, let’s agree that liars, in any form, are offensive.? They are particularly egregious in business, where untruths and misdirection often occur in the public domain.? The commandment “Thou shall not bear false witness” highlights a fundamental human dilemma.? Lying, a universal vice, usually follows other offenses, raising questions like, “Why is this person lying to me?” and “Can I trust anything else this person says?”?

Lying—avoiding responsibility for our words and actions—is a reflex ingrained in human survival instincts.? Our history, myths, and legends are filled with stories of people using lies and deceit to survive or manipulate others.? People lie frequently, often without good reason, and sometimes even when the lie is transparently false.

In a democracy, lying about public matters of fact is particularly inexcusable.? Untruthfulness has grown beyond epidemic proportions, leading some to suggest that we have entered a “Post-Truth” era, where “objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” However, human nature has not changed.? What has changed is the exponential growth of communication channels over the past four decades, driven by our increasing reliance on the internet, rapid communication, and the proliferation of social media.

Humans are social animals who rely on others to shape our understanding of the world. As children, we accept the truth as defined by those around us—our parents and peers. As we grow, we become more independent and critical, but the flood of information from the internet and social media complicates this process.

Recent studies have pointed out the challenges in dealing with disinformation, noting that fact-checking results are mixed at best. People tend not to question information unless it violates their preconceptions. A 2024 policy paper published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace outlines ten proposed strategies to counter disinformation, including supporting local journalism, media literacy education, fact-checking, and changing recommendation algorithms. However, the report is not optimistic, noting that there are no silver bullets or optimal policies for dealing with disinformation.

In response to this challenge, we must adopt a new standard for public information. Anyone who makes public assertions should be expected to provide supporting sources for review. If supporting sources cannot be provided, we should reject the statement. Just as mainstream news outlets and academics are expected to cite their sources, the same should be expected of anyone who makes a public claim. If they cannot prove their assertion, they should clarify that it is only their opinion.

As adults, we must take responsibility for assessing and filtering information ourselves.? Our trust in information should always be conditional, and we must pay attention to what is not being said or asserted.? We should demand transparency in all public matters of fact and expect that statements of opinion are not passed off as statements of fact.? Biases should be disclosed, and sources and quotes should be accurately cited and not taken out of context.? Above all, we must demand a means to validate the information we are asked to accept as accurate.

In the end, perhaps we should focus more on living up to the ancient Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Telling the truth and insisting others do likewise is a good first step.? About all else, we can argue to our heart’s content.

References:

?Bateman, J., & Jackson, D.?? (2024).?? Countering Disinformation Effectively: an evidence-based policy guide.?? Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

?Christian National Crusade.?? (2024, 18 2024).?? The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion.?? Retrieved from JSTOR: https://jstor.org/stable/community.32222679 .

?Holocaust Encyclopedia.?? (2014, AUG 18).?? Protocols of the Elders of Zion.?? Retrieved from Holocaust Encyclopedia: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/protocols-of-the-elders-of-zion

?Koenigsberg, R.?? (2024, Aug 17).?? Political Violence as Collective Psychopathology.?? Retrieved from https://www.libraryofsocialscience.com : https://www.libraryofsocialscience.com/ideologies/resources/koenigsberg-political-violence-psychopathology/

?Koenigsberg, R.?? A.?? (2024, AUG 17).?? Political Violence as Collective Psychopathology.?? Retrieved from https://www.libraryofsocialscience.com : https://www.libraryofsocialscience.com/essays/koenigsberg-political-violence/

?Lazer, D.?? M.?? ( 2018, (MAR 9, Vol.?? 359, No.?? 6380)).?? The science of fake news.?? Science, 1094-109.

?Lewandowsky, S., Ecker, U.?? K., & Cook, J.?? (OCT 2017).?? Beyond Misinformation: Understanding and Coping with the “Post-Truth” Era.?? Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, pp.?? 353 - 369.

?Logical Fallacies.?? (2024, AUG 18).?? Retrieved from logicalfallacies.org : https://www.logicalfallacies.org/

?Mambrol, N.?? (2018, OCT 12).?? Home ? Post-truth ? Post-truth.?? Retrieved from Literary Theory and Criticism: https://literariness.org/2018/10/12/post-truth/