Now You Can Add Browser Extension to Prevent Fake News
Today a guy built a web browser to prevent fake news from appearing.
Huff Posts Shows Us What’s In Those Fake News Stories
Huffington Post article: “Here Are Some Of Those Fake News Stories That Mark Zuckerberg Isn’t Worried About”
Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year is Post-Truth
“The Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2016 is post-truth – an adjective defined as ‘relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief’.”
This American Life Episode about Lies in Our Recent Election
This American Life Episode about Lies in Our Recent Election
Sarkozy on Lies in a Presidential Campaign
Nicolas Sarkozy, former French President and current French Presidential Candidate, has been quoted as saying the following:
In a presidential campaign, you can’t lie. You can’t hide what you are and what you want. You can’t hide what kind of President you’ll be. You can’t keep on talking about nothing indefinitely and committing to nothing, you can’t keep running away from debate, masking the challenges.
It’s not clear when he said this and which presidential campaign he was talking about, but I think we in America have evidence that Sarkozy is wrong. Clearly, as seen here in the land of golden mountain majesties and fruited plains, presidential candidates can lie like serpents.
Mark Zuckerberg said to be “IN DENIAL” by Zeynep Tufekci in New York Times.
Mark Zuckerberg said to be “IN DENIAL” by Zeynep Tufekci in New York Times. This is a great article. We should all read it.
The article talks about fake news sources, about echo-chambers where users almost always seek their information that confirms their biases, and about Facebook’s rather weak response to these concerns.
Scientists — folks known to search for truth — Respond to Trump’s election
Scientific American article about how scientists have responded to the Trump election. This is relevant here because, while not always perfect in achieving truth, scientists do search for truth and science is constructed to move toward truth.
Racial Bias, Ultimately an Untrue Perception, Reduced by 10-minute conversation.
Vox published an article examining racial bias and particularly how racial bias was lessened after a 10-minute conversation with a stranger.
Racial and other personal biases are essentially untruths. If we can find ways to combat these biases, we engender truth and improved decision-making.
Onward to Starting a Nonprofit
Late yesterday afternoon I got great news. It looks like it’s fairly easy and quick to start a nonprofit in Massachusetts.
Also, I got some great feedback from my wife — who works in the nonprofit world — on the website and the prospective name of the nonprofit. Specifically, she hated the name I’d chosen, Truth Farmers… and she is right of course. It’s a terrible name. All the obvious names were taken, including TruthSeekers, TruthBuilders, TruthFinders, etc.
So late last night, I found a much better name, Truth For Democracy, and as soon as I can, I’m going to create a website deserving of such a great name…
Also, I’ve begun reaching out to get feedback and ideas on how the website and messaging looks… It’s great to get input. Nobody, especially me, has a corner on the truth. SMILE
Anyway, I’m starting the day with a happy heart…