Living with misinformation and disinformation ∙
Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge. – Proverbs 23:12
Proverbs 23:9, 12
9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
12 Apply your heart to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge.
The profusion of wrong information is endemic. The first quarter of the 21st century saw widespread misinformation and disinformation. In 2018, misinformation was so common that it was chosen as the “Word of the Year” by Dictionary.com. Both misinformation and disinformation spread wrong or false information. They are often used interchangeably. However, they do not mean the same thing. What differentiates them? Misinformation is simply untrue or incorrect information shared without malicious intent. Whereas disinformation is the deliberate dissemination of false information to mislead or deceive.
Misinformation is a common occurrence in our daily experiences, often stemming from errors in listening, remembering, or conveying information accurately. Without the application of critical thinking and thorough fact-checking, individuals may unknowingly perpetuate false information. This misinformation, in turn, spreads rapidly and exponentially.
Disinformation is intentionally spreading false or misleading information to cause harm. It is a tactic often employed in espionage and used for manipulation and deceit, encompassing scams, fake news, conspiracy theories, propaganda, deepfakes, hoaxes, and frauds.
The question arises: why do misinformation and disinformation thrive? Despite the availability of accurate information, it often goes unnoticed or unappreciated, overshadowed, and trumped by a much stronger force: group identity. This social dynamic encourages individuals to seek comfort in “ingroups,” fostering a sense of strength and superiority over “outgroups.” The sense is that our group makes a strong. We denigrate the outgroup. This phenomenon, driven by our need for belonging, often places group affiliation above factual accuracy. “Belonging is Stronger than Facts” (Max Fisher).
Social psychology attributes this trend to forming social ingroups and outgroups, “we” versus “them.” It highlights our natural inclination to side with groups we identify with. An ingroup is a social group with which we identify. By contrast, we do not identify with an outgroup. People are tribal and tend to agree with favor and identify with the group they belong to.
Max Fisher points out, “As much as we like to think of ourselves as rational beings who put truth-seeking above all else, we are social animals wired for survival. In times of perceived conflict or social change, we seek security in groups. And that makes us eager to consume information, true or not, that lets us see the world as a conflict putting our righteous ingroup against a nefarious outgroup.”
Incorrect information, misguided beliefs, and ill-advised choices can lead to dire consequences. We risk contributing to these disastrous outcomes if we accept and spread such misinformation. The value of truth and wisdom cannot be overstated. They are not just to be sought and acquired but actively championed and defended. Merely possessing accurate knowledge isn’t enough. We must commit to living by it; in doing so, we can help prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
James 3:13-17
13 honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.
15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, natural, and demonic.
16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
Proverbs 23:12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
Living in a society saturated with hostility, distrust, rampant misinformation, and disinformation necessitates a proactive and thoughtful approach. We must commit ourselves to critical thinking, self-discipline, and continuous knowledge acquisition. These are the tools we need to combat the misinformation that surrounds us.
Many tentatively approach the Father with hesitation and uncertainty. But we are encouraged to immerse ourselves fully, jumping in with both feet to explore the depths of wisdom comprehensively to understand how we should then live.
Focusing our minds on these teachings is crucial. In Hebrew, applying one’s mind reads, “Bring your heart.” The heart is considered the hub of thought and dedication (UBS). This notion suggests a deep commitment of the mind. We are advised to “Listen to . . ..” and “Pay attention to . . ..” We are to do our best to learn (CEV).
REFLECT & PRAY
There are two kinds of wisdom: God’s wisdom from above and the foolish wisdom of the earth. The wisdom of a fool leads to a dead end, but God’s wisdom leads to life-changing perspectives and opportunities to serve Him.
Father inspire both my heart and mind to pursue wisdom actively, to remain open and receptive to it, to distinguish foolishness clearly, and to reject it decisively.
INSIGHT
“Only when the heart is applied to instruction, and the ear bent upon hearing right and profitable words, will there be progress in divine things. Careless learning by rote will never profit. It is when the whole being is occupied with the truth, that wisdom makes her abode in the soul of him who seeks her” (Ironside).
Proverbs 23:9, 12
9 Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.
12 Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.
“There is no easy way to gain instruction. It requires discipline and application” (BBC). Proverbs 23:9 could be rendered, “Don’t try to teach a dull, stupid fool. You are wasting your time on him,” or “Do not waste words on a fool,” or “Don’t try to talk sense to a fool” (UBS). Fools despise words of wisdom. To get this right, we may have to separate ourselves from fools and avoid conversations with them. They bring little or nothing of value to the table and frequently will not listen to reason. We “should not waste sound teaching on the stubbornly unresponsive” (Garrett).
Matthew 7:6 Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
Wisdom transcends mere rule-following. Instead, it involves leaning on the Father’s guidance to direct us through each circumstance.
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© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 