I saw this tweet this morning and thought, “This is why citing articles to prove a point has little effect on anyone who’s not already convinced of the point we’re trying to make.”
I scan through my social media feeds every day and watch people throw articles and arguments around like grenades (I have no stones to throw – I’ve done the same thing in moments and even seasons of self-regulation failure) and rarely see a skeptic converted. General confidence about the reliability of news sources and the narratives they put out is in the toilet (except for the pieces that affirm the narratives we embrace). As a result, we get stuck confirming our own beliefs and refusing to entertain narratives that invite us to think and believe differently. The more noise there is, the more forcefully the arguments are made, the harder people seem get. I don’t think it’s a sign of degeneracy as much as a reflection of our psychic limitations. The image that comes to mind is a pill bug rolling up into a ball when it feels threatened.
“What is happening here is that television is altering the meaning of ‘being informed’ by creating a species of information that might properly be called disinformation. I am using this word almost in the precise sense in which it is used by spies in the CIA or KGB. Disinformation does not mean false information. It means misleading information–misplaced, irrelevant, fragmented or superficial information–information that creates the illusion of knowing something but which in fact leads one away from knowing. In saying this, I do not mean to imply that television news deliberately aims to deprive Americans of a coherent, contextual understanding of their world. I mean to say that when news is packaged as entertainment, that is the inevitable result.”
And when news is packaged in sound bites for quick delivery, consumption, and re-circulation, the inevitable result is much worse. Add propaganda in the form of fake news on top of all that, and it’s a virtual sewer.
I’ve been trying to assess the ways my own brain, habits, reflexes, emotional life, and character have been shaped by the age of disinformation. I believe the effects have been significant. So I’ve started to interrogate every tweet and retweet, every post, every share, and every status update with Postman’s admonitions in mind. Am I contributing to or spreading more decontextualized and fragmented information? Am I getting swept up in the spirit of the age, which deceives me into thinking that rhetorical middle fingers, sound bite activism, public quarrels, and sitting in the seat of mockers are a form of prophetic engagement? Because if I am, then my voice will simply be part of a chaotic choir whose conductor is the prince of the power of the air. I prefer not to cooperate with him if I can help it.
We can only do better if we become aware of what we’re actually doing. And that requires slowing down and being silent or at least slow to speak on our media platforms (James 1:19). Since the act of spreading disinformation is often driven by our emotions, it means confining the processing of our emotions – particularly rage, anxiety, grief, disgust, and discontent – to the company of trusted friends and the Holy Spirit until we are quiet and still enough to hear the things God wants to whisper to us. When Elijah the Prophet was in deep despair over the widespread injustice he had experienced and witnessed, he looked for God in the great and powerful wind, then in the earthquake, and then in the fire; but the Lord was not in any of them. Instead, God’s voice spoke to him in the form of a still, small voice. He asked Elijah, “What are you doing here? Go back the way you came.” (1 Kings 19:11-13)
Categories: Culture/Social issues, Spiritual Formation, Uncategorized
Life Reconsidered - Judy Wu Dominick 
There is so much wisdom here, Judy. Thank you!
Appreciate it, Laura!
I have been part of the noise and a victim of it, too. And I think there’s pride involved as well, wanting to be heard or to be right in the midst of the drama. I feel drawn to more quiet time and more intentional reading of God’s word.
I was a print journalist years ago and when asked why I didn’t do TV, I explained that real news is so much more than a 5-second sound bite. TV was all about flash and not substance.
The age of the internet has me floored. It’s 10x worse than TV, and yet also such a powerful print tool. I want journalism to go back to being a real profession, where the pursuit of truth above all is the goal. As someone who loves to know what’s going on in the world and who also wants to change the world, I feel very disillusioned about where to go to educate myself on the issues. I wonder if a breaking point will come, or has it already?
I really enjoy your blog, your voice, and I know we have mutual friends in your church! Maybe one day I’ll get to say hi in person. 🙂
Glad to know we have mutual friends, Kathie. I appreciate your comment. I agree with you that despite its problems, the internet is still a powerful print tool. I do come across high quality content fairly regularly, but it can be like trying to fish nuggets of gold out of a vat of poop. Deliberately slowing down the pace at which I ingest information is helping me recover a sense of balance. I’ve given up certain responsibilities, gone back to my former commitment to have most of the hard conversations face-to-face, and am choosing books, well-researched articles, and in-depth podcasts and interviews over the myriad of shorter op-ed pieces. I wonder too about our collective breaking point. It seems like the election brought us to a saturation point, but instead of taking a breath and recalibrating, this high level of intensity has become a frightening new normal. It’s simply not compatible with spiritual, mental, or cultural health. The many shrill voices we allow to speak into our thought life don’t stop when we walk away from the screen; they invade our private spaces and disrupt family and community life.
I deeply appreciate the perspectives you offer here. Thank you so very much for sharing them.
A week ago I realized I desperately needed to pull away from the news and all the social media banter for awhile. I needed time to quiet and still myself, as you said so well, so I could hear God’s gentle whispers, receive his healing for all that is wounded. I realize it will only be through first receiving the good news of Jesus in my own life that I will be able to share it well with others. Your post resonated so deeply and is a source of helpful confirmation.
Thank you for all of the many ways you share your powerful insights with us on an on-going basis. They are a much needed source of encouragement and an instrument of illumination for me. May God bless you and the work you do.
Thank you, Karyn!