As big news breaks, we are seeing officials floating misinformation and untrue explanations. The New York Times even editorialized that a "culture of dishonesty" has taken root in the Trump administration, undermining the public’s trust in institutions.
A recent study shows that partisanship may be more important than facts in shaping a public opinion. In an experiment, supporters of President Trump were given information showing that his speeches contained false and misleading information. While people were able to accept the new, correct information about jobs and crime, the fact that Trump had spread false information didn’t curb people’s support for their candidate. They recognized the information as false, but they didn’t care. This is a disturbing insight for those of us working to build more peaceful, inclusive communities.
In a culture of dishonesty and doubt, it is that much more challenging to make social change. So what can we do about it?
Although that study that affirmed the dominance of partisanship in decision-making, it also contained a silver lining: Facts matter, and can make a deep (if not decisive) impression. Remember that although some people won’t care if something is a lie, many people will. While we may not be able to challenge the strongest partisan support for a candidate or politician, we can bring the truth to light.
Here are tips on how to do so:
Tip #1: Read beyond headlines and check the evidence.
On social media, it can be tempting to share or retweet stories without reading them thoroughly. These days it’s especially important to be careful to spread news that is well-supported with evidence. What are the sources for the information in the story? How did the author arrive at their conclusion? Amplify stories that are transparent about the evidence and true.
Tip #2: Focus on the truth and tell an affirmative story.
When you see a lie gaining traction, it can be tempting to argue. But repeating a lie in order to debunk it can give it more weight and power – and it’s unlikely to convince anyone who believes it anyway. Check the facts but don’t repeat the lie. Instead, tell the true affirmative story.
Tip #3: Remember the purpose of the lie.
When lies circulate widely, it’s worth asking why. The Trump administration’s lies about widespread voter fraud, for example, are designed to erode faith in democracy and provide justification for voter suppression. Instead of debunking the myth, focus on the real problem, which is voter suppression.
More broadly, dishonesty from the administration seems designed to destabilize faith in our institutions and to make us doubt our own perceptions of what’s real and what’s false. That is why we need to stay committed to telling the truth, and to stay focused on building a more peaceful and just society.
"""Kama habari kubwa inavyovunjika, tunaona maafisa wakitoa habari zisizo sahihi na maelezo yasiyo ya kweli." "New York Times pia iliripoti kuwa ""utamaduni wa udanganyifu"" umezika mizizi katika utawala wa Trump, ukidhoofisha imani ya umma katika taasisi." Uchunguzi wa hivi karibuni unaonyesha kwamba huenda upendeleo ukawa muhimu zaidi kuliko mambo ya hakika katika kuunda maoni ya umma. Katika jaribio moja, wafuasi wa Rais Trump walipewa habari zinazoonyesha kwamba hotuba zake zilikuwa na habari za uwongo na zenye kupotosha. Wakati watu waliweza kukubali habari mpya, sahihi kuhusu kazi na uhalifu, ukweli kwamba Trump alikuwa amesambaza habari bandia haukuzuia msaada wa watu kwa mgombea wao. Walitambua habari hizo kuwa za uwongo, lakini hawakupendezwa nazo. Hii ni ufahamu wenye kusumbua kwa wale wetu wanaofanya kazi ya kujenga jamii zenye amani zaidi, zenye kujumuisha. Katika utamaduni wa udanganyifu na shaka, ni vigumu sana kufanya mabadiliko ya kijamii. Kwa hiyo tunaweza kufanya nini kuhusu jambo hilo? Ingawa utafiti huo uliithibitisha utawala wa upendeleo katika maamuzi, pia ulikuwa na faida: Mambo ya hakika ni muhimu, na yanaweza kufanya hisia kubwa (kama si ya kuamua). Kumbuka kwamba ingawa watu fulani hawatapendezwa na jambo fulani kuwa uwongo, watu wengi watapendezwa nalo. Ingawa huenda tusingeweza kupinga msaada mkubwa zaidi wa chama kwa mgombea au mwanasiasa, tunaweza kuleta ukweli kwa nuru. Hapa kuna vidokezo vya jinsi ya kufanya hivyo: Kumbuka: Soma zaidi ya vichwa vya habari na angalia ushahidi. Katika mitandao ya kijamii, inaweza kuwa na kishawishi cha kushiriki au kutuma tena hadithi bila kuziandika kwa uangalifu. Siku hizi ni muhimu hasa kuwa makini kueneza habari ambazo zinaungwa mkono vizuri na ushahidi. Ni vyanzo gani vya habari katika hadithi hiyo? Mwandishi huyo alifikiaje mkataa huo? Kuongeza hadithi ambazo ni wazi kuhusu ushahidi na kweli. #2: Fanya kazi kwa ujasiri na ueleze ukweli. Unapoona uwongo ukienea, huenda ukawa na mwelekeo wa kubishana. Lakini kurudia uwongo ili kuuficha kunaweza kuupa uzito zaidi na nguvu <unk> na haiwezekani kumshawishi mtu yeyote anayeamini hata hivyo. Chunguza ukweli lakini usirudie uwongo. Badala yake, sema hadithi ya kweli yenye kuthibitisha. Tip #3: Kumbuka kusudi la uongo. Uwongo unapozunguka-zunguka, ni jambo la maana kuuliza ni kwa nini. """Uongo wa utawala wa Trump kuhusu udanganyifu wa wapiga kura, kwa mfano, umekusudiwa kuharibu imani katika demokrasia na kutoa haki ya kukandamiza wapiga kura." Badala ya kufuta hadithi hiyo, zingatia tatizo la kweli, ambalo ni kukandamiza wapiga kura. Kwa ujumla, udanganyifu kutoka kwa utawala unaonekana kuundwa kusababisha imani katika taasisi zetu na kutufanya tuwe na shaka juu ya maoni yetu wenyewe ya nini ni kweli na nini ni uwongo. "Hii ndiyo sababu tunahitaji kubaki tumejitolea kusema ukweli, na kubaki tukizingatia kujenga jamii yenye amani na haki zaidi."""