This is such an important point: It *is* intentional, and those who initiate it know what they're doing. Those who amplify it on the ground level? My guess -- based on decades of living in places with active grapevines -- is that they're mostly doing what comes naturally: gossiping. When it comes to passing on stories, the more exotic the better, and fact-checking is almost non-existent unless you happen to know someone in the story.
Thanks. How to deal with it is a big question. I'm here to report from personal experience that "Don't spread gossip" is a total non-starter. Maybe it would help if enough of us respond to gossip with "How do you know that?" or "Who told you that?" It does help, sometimes, at least with local gossip. But with something like the Springfield, Ohio, rumors, or Trump's BS about FEMA and hurricane relief? The malevolence of the perps and the scale of the spread need more than that. (Hmm. I might need to write more about this.)
This is such an important point: It *is* intentional, and those who initiate it know what they're doing. Those who amplify it on the ground level? My guess -- based on decades of living in places with active grapevines -- is that they're mostly doing what comes naturally: gossiping. When it comes to passing on stories, the more exotic the better, and fact-checking is almost non-existent unless you happen to know someone in the story.
Grapevines is such a good analogy.
Thanks. How to deal with it is a big question. I'm here to report from personal experience that "Don't spread gossip" is a total non-starter. Maybe it would help if enough of us respond to gossip with "How do you know that?" or "Who told you that?" It does help, sometimes, at least with local gossip. But with something like the Springfield, Ohio, rumors, or Trump's BS about FEMA and hurricane relief? The malevolence of the perps and the scale of the spread need more than that. (Hmm. I might need to write more about this.)
Wanted to flag this article from CNN as it's exactly what I'm talking about in this week's newsletter. Trump and MAGA are putting people in harm's way, and making it impossible for agencies to safely get aid to those who need it. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/14/us/fema-helene-north-carolina-reported-threats/index.html
Is there some point at which Musk can have his citizenship revoked? He's doing harm to the people.