News to Grow on

I read an article today from The Rat Race Trap that suggests we be careful with what we read.  Kind of a funny, really when I pause to consider I was reading that; much like the contradictions by saying “I always lie.” The point being, that in our current rush to get so many things done, print has adjusted to a twenty minute blast to get the story out; so of course there has to be summary, highlights, factoids and invitation for half truths (see yesterday’s post on that).

   None of us are strangers to half truths, coming out of the fog of a recent election campaign year, but we are used to being be cautious with what politician’s say; knowing all along they were just trying to get votes; no one actually believes we’d get what we were promised.  Yet, it is true that I am catching more and more reputable journals printing disinformation, or at least poorly researched stories.  And that is a caution to the public at large that which has a long standing trust of print media at least trying to get the facts straight. I might add that MY relationship with the media is being seriously reconsidered.

   Since we are all so very busy, we as a consuming public, pretty much want entertainment delivered up quickly.  We’re on a high-speed treadmill of life and we have lost the ability (or desire) to ratchet it down when it’s not necessary to be operating with all burners firing.  In short, we get it our way.  And that was introduced to us by Burger King back in 1976 concerning hamburgers and how they were delivered.  The idea leached into every facet of our modern living so that now every aspect appeals to our desires to be custom-designed-for-you-individually kind of taste. 

   Since there is such a dearth of need for feeling significant and special, we jump at the opportunity to stand out, even if only with our food selection.  But that’s not the point of today’s blog.  And, since I only have a few hundred words in order to make my point; and not violate the customized attention span of random readers, let me conclude with adding my voice to this precaution:  

   Take time to think about what you’re given as the facts.  They may be facts arranged in such a way that you are obliquely being manipulated to make a decision that is not fully informed.  Yes, decisions need facts to be formed, be aware and not place your trust into what you’re giving as being pure.  If they are skillfully presented, or even MORE skillfully omitted, then you’re in the same place a parent finds themselves when their child makes a case for a sleep over.

“Their mom said it was ok”