What If It's Not True?
Katrina Collier ????????
?? Workshops, Events & Talks for Talent Acquisition & Recruiters, Hiring Managers or HR Tech | ?? Author: Reboot Hiring & The Robot-Proof Recruiter || ?? Memoir: The Damage of Words out May 27
Yesterday I saw a post from The Guardian stating that 'the Majority of Brexit voters 'would accept free movement' to access a single market.' Hallelujah, I thought as I considered its impact on people and businesses that I have witnessed nationwide.
Of course, someone replied with, 'Where does this data come from? We have significant problems with immigration right now. Why would we be happy with floods of EU states people entering the country unchecked?' Floods. States. Unchecked. Sounds like a Farage supporter sprouting the Daily Mail and a quick investigation of his profile confirmed it.
Politics aside, what I always find the most disturbing is the lack of curiosity.
What if it's not true?
Why do people continue to believe people who consistently lie for their self-gain? Sadly, I don't have an answer here. ??
However, The Guardian clearly stated and cited its sources: 'Perhaps the most striking finding was that 54% of Britons who voted leave, including 59% of voters in “red wall seats”, said in exchange for single market access they would now accept full free movement for EU and UK citizens to travel, live and work across borders. This could be because the surge in net migration to the UK after 2016 meant that Brexit was no longer seen by its supporters as the answer on immigration, the report suggested.'
Hmm, so Brexit was not the answer to reducing "unchecked" "floods" of immigrants and that's been evident for 8 years. ??
Before I move on to less inflammatory topics, the next post I read cited stats from the Bank of England and said, '‘We’re getting poorer’ says Nigel Farage in his Beth Rigby interview. I agree. The Brexit he championed is on course to cut UK trade by a staggering 15% - a huge reduction in the potential economic performance of the country at a time when every penny counts.'
Which is true?
Do we trust fearless, independent journalism from a newspaper not owned by a billionaire or shareholders, or media outlets and politicians with a consistent history of lying for self-gain?
Maybe we trust neither.
Perhaps it's time to engage our curiosity and critical thinking and look for facts because it's already hard to spot the truth in the flood of mis- and disinformation!
What if this one isn't true either
Most people using LinkedIn this week will have seen this PR disaster from YesMadam.
The posts about the email - on the left of the image above - felt like a witch hunt. Many assumed the email was genuine and angrily posted 'How dare they!' while I wondered why they weren't engaging in any critical thinking.
My spindly senses tingled as I read it; I smelled a rat. Random thoughts included:
So I went to YesMadam's profile and saw the company's response - the first page is on the right in the image above - and my suspicions were confirmed.
They state it was a publicity stunt. ??
Of course, other sources, including media sources, suggest it was a backpedal created by the uproar online. We may never know, but I do know people are unlikely to forget the company's name and few will ever hear that it was a "stunt".
Where's the interest in the truth?
However, both examples and countless others I see, due to the staggering amount of AI-post-sameness and fakeness, make me despair at the loss of curiosity. Why don't people seek the truth? Fact check. Doubt anything until proven true.
Maybe it's because I am an author and I have to research and substantiate my words because they will be taken as fact. More likely it's because, like 20% of the population, I am a highly sensitive person.
Dr Elaine Aron has been researching HSP since 1991 and states, 'It is innate. Biologists have found it in over 100 species (and probably there are many more)?from fruit flies, birds, and fish to dogs, cats, horses, and primates. This trait reflects a certain type of survival strategy, being observant before acting.' It makes sense; I took in all of the information I could find about both of these posts before responding. I observed before acting.
If you've ever been called too sensitive, too dramatic, too curious or too smart, check out these 12 signs you're a highly sensitive person. Most of these resonate with me, especially the love of reading, researching, thinking and being curious. You can also take the HSP test here (it takes a minute) and do let me know if you are also the contradiction of being a high-sensation-seeking HSP like me!
P.S. If you have ever called someone too sensitive, too dramatic, too curious or too smart, check out the article! There is a reason this trait evolved. ??
Truth in an age of AI
To people who don't engage in critical thinking and curiosity, it is time to start flexing those muscles. The amount of mis- and disinformation already in existence is staggering. Now with the ease with which people can use AI to generate BS and the lack of real consequence for doing so (even the risk of self-humiliation doesn't seem to stop it), it is critical to seek the truth.
In the years ahead, using critical thinking and discernment will be essential, because it will be difficult to know what is true and what is not.
Trust your spindly senses.
Look at all sides.
Develop your intuition.
Be a truth seeker.
Because what if it's not true and you believe it?
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Curious souls:
Recruiters and TA leaders:
Originally posted on TheDamageofWords.com
Well said, Katrina. We have to stay curious and enquiring, especially with as we exist in a rapidly escalating dis/misinformation pandemic (I chose that word deliberately). We also need to learn how to be flexible and open to changing our minds when we come across high quality information that contradicts our embedded views. Confirmation bias is such a massive problem. And finally, yay for the sensitive upstarts!
Ex- Unilever, Global Talent Partnership/Recruitment operations Excellence | HR/TA Operations, Extended Workforce Management, Continuous Improvement
2 个月Well said Katrina,!
Global Head of TA CoE at Haleon, driving TA transformation & Tech adoption
2 个月Great to chat to you this morning and what an inspiring start to a Friday it was a well. I love this and whilst not desperate for a label for my super powers this one fits.
I concur 100%. My immediate response to the YesMadam posts was ‘This is fake, surely?’ whilst others weren’t thinking twice and piling on the incredulity. I then went and checked, and it was! Shockingly, I’ve seen many people on LinkedIn recently ask ‘What is truth?’ in some form or another. We live in dangerous times where some think it’s acceptable to suggest that there are no facts, and that everything is open to one’s own interpretation. These people are often the same ones who lack critical thinking and go down rabbit holes offering ‘alternate’ facts. George Orwell said that freedom is the ability for one to say that 2 plus 2 equals four. There are such things as facts. We could do well to remember this. A handrail to hold when one finds oneself in a mire of madness.