#FAKENEWS

First of all, I am not a big fan of hashtags, but the title above seems to be the big outcry since the 2016 Presidential election. Fake news has spread so quickly that it is out of control.

I remember a time when people did not believe everything they read, especially before the internet came. You would hear something and verify what you heard through various sources. Sources that were considered reliable back when I was a kid could be the encyclopedia, someone that had firsthand knowledge of the subject, or a newspaper article.

We also had some less reliable sources, like some of the tabloids. The Globe or the National Enquirer are read by many while waiting to checkout their groceries at the supermarket. The article headlines capture your attention sometimes seemingly unreal. Most people laugh at the articles as ridiculous while others soak up every word taking it for truth. My grandma loved the National Enquirer.

Now we have the internet which everyone is told “don’t believe everything on the internet.” Yet for some reason, many people believe everything they read on the internet. That is, unless the article goes against their ideals, then they believe it is unreal.

There are many satirical news sites, which can be read with a good laugh, but never taken seriously. We have political sites that are obviously one-sided, yet these are the ones that seem to gain the most attention. People sharing lies that are told without checking a single fact.

Whatever happened to verifying truth before sharing with others or even just believing it ourselves? There are even websites that help with exposing lies, but even some of these have demonstrated political leanings and must be taken with a grain of salt.

Now social media outlets, like Facebook, want to label pages that they consider to be unreliable as “Fake News.” While on the surface that seems like a good idea to break the chain of bad information, who decides what is not real? If a person in charge has strong political leanings, they may deem all opposing factual stories as fake news.

Responsibility must lie with the reader; sources must be checked. When you say “don’t believe everything you read” live according to your own words.

In the Bible, there were Berean Jews that listened to the Apostle Paul preach, but did not believe anything he said until they verified it themselves through studying the scriptures. (Acts 17:11) Why can’t we have the same desire to know the truth, even if it opposes our current thinking?

Over the years, I have changed my opinions on some things after verifying the facts. Facts are real. Opinions are not always correct. Perception is not always reality, though it is often said that it is. Don’t get caught believing lies. Don’t wait for someone else to tell you what is true. Seek the truth. The truth will not set you free unless you know the truth.