What is Misinformation & Who is Misinformed?
The words misinformed and misinformation are being bandied around like weapons that people use to scare others into submission and potentially force them to take actions against their own best interests . Over the past half century or more this use of words as weapons has become more and more a fixture in our so called democratic societies and quite possibly in the not so democratic as well.
I can think of several words right now like communist, reactionary, fake news, anti-vaxxer, conspiracy theorist and then there are the labels like yuppie, hippy, millennium that have other implied connotations attached to their original meanings.
Yes, words and labels carry a lot of power.
The word “misinformation” is a noun. The dictionary defines it as
“false or inaccurate information, especially that which is deliberately intended to deceive: nuclear matters are often entangled in a web of secrecy and misinformation.”
I took a quick look at the online newspapers this morning and many of the articles were peppered with these two words.
Let’s break it down.
In order to use a word like “misinformation” in regard to a person or group of people who have fundamental disagreements or a mistrust of the world governments reactions, policies and mandated rules toward Covid 19, Covid vaccinations and alternative treatment of Covid it would be implied that the person using the word would be completely informed.
To me this would also mean that they had fully read and understood all the peer reviewed research papers and articles in medical journals, meta analysis of research, worldwide treatment programs and their results.
It would also imply that they would have a deep and profound understanding of viruses, mRNA and Adenovirus vaccinations, spike protein, the human body’s immune system plus the actual Covid stats in various countries around the world, re-purposed medicines and drugs and the history and efficacy of each of these drugs.
It would also mean that they would have to have an understanding of what happens when a big drug company loses its patents on a drug and how that affects their overall profits, as well as this they would also need to know how much it costs to do a full double blinded test on a new or existing medicine or drug.
The list could go on for pages.
On top of all of this they would need to have a pretty thorough understanding of the WHO, FDA, CDC, TGA, NIH and other so called peak medical bodies and where they all get their funding and how and why they operate.
In other words I believe that the person who is branding somebody or a group of people as “misinformed” or a piece of data as “misinformation” would and should have put many hours into studying whatever information was available.
Both for and against whatever it is that they are labelling as misinformation.
To come to a viable conclusion it would also stand to reason that the quality of the information that they are viewing can be referenced and qualified as verified, correct and accurate.
It is said that history is always written by the winning side. But there are always two or more sides to any story, any relationship breakdown, any war, any “anything” for that matter.
If one’s main source of information is the daily online newspapers and TV news shows you have to assume that the person using this information has a profound confidence in the integrity of the media source and its reporters, management and shareholders.
So I would like you to think about it the next time somebody sprays the words misinformation and misinformed at you or if you read them in the media or online somewhere. Think about it in terms of the huge responsibility one has to use such a word or to apply it to an individual or group who they quite possibly know very little about.
I personally have spent many, many hours looking at as much data and information as I possibly can about every aspect of the current pandemic and government and medical response to it. I find all sides, data and viewpoints fascinating. I force myself to look at the pros and the cons of all arguments.
When I began this journey I was going through my own battle with cancer. Cancer was what other people had happening! I knew nothing about it except that it seemed to kill people. Because of the hours of research and analysis that I did I was able to apply what I discovered to my own situation and the end result is that I do not currently have cancer anymore. I also know that I need to keep up the regimens that I have so far followed to keep the cancer at bay.
I didn’t study biology or medicine at school. I had no strong foundation to build on but through hard and diligent work I was able to make health decisions and consequently take actions that resulted in a positive outcome.
I am able to say with confidence that I am attempting to be as thorough as possible and I am basing my decisions in regard to Covid 19 and the pandemic on what I deem to be credible and researched information.
I am not misinformed and I do not deal in misinformation.
I seek understanding.
If you use such words as “misinformation” against me I hope you have put in the same amount of study and research as I have because otherwise your accusations may have the effect of a blocked shotgun that backfires and blows up in your face.
I would much rather that we could co-exist and help each other through this shitty time in the history of the human species.
Tolerance, compassion and understanding will go so much further than polarisation and threats of shunning and punishment.
