News: How to tell fact from fiction?

You know something is a fact because you just know it's true, right? On top of that: you read it on Facebook ánd it was on Fox. So, if the media confirm your believes they just have to be true!

If a thousand people say something, but science proves otherwise, some believe it's science that must be wrong.

But point is: there is no such thing as 'the media'. I'm sure you love your friends and relatives but can you rely on their sources? Turns out: not always. Here's what to do if you REALLY want to know what's going on:

https://dose.com/how-to-read-news-when-trump-is-president-32223dabe1c4#.wtpp2h1xv

An example of how fake news is created is in this story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/business/media/how-fake-news-spreads.html
A young man saw a couple of buses, just assumed they carried anti-Trump protesters to a rally in Austin, posted the message (including pictures he made) on Twitter and later claimed he was 'too busy' to factcheck every bit of news he makes up. So, if he really is that busy, where does he get the time from to make up news, take pictures and post all that on Twitter? Not to mention the time he needs for all those interviews afterwards.

In the meantime some more fear and false facts were spread.

The world is on fire and we should vote for politicians who's sole purpose in life is to bring the rest of us back to  'the good old days'! Never did our future look so grim!' Right? Wrong!

                                                        

Perhaps these facts did not convince you. Why is that? Would you rather believe someone who says we're doomed unless we vote for him or her to lead us to a better place, a better economy, a better life? By the way: it's not your 'gut feeling' telling you it's all going down the drain. No, it's a populist.

Here are some more facts (click) to tell you all's not that bad.

Donald Trump became president because his followers believe every single thing he says. His proven best way to trick his people is to repeat his lies over and over again. It's just a pychological trick: when you hear something often you automatically start believing it to be true. Even if it is the complete opposite of what that same person has told you before. Here's an example (click).

What I also don't get: why did the FBI spend so much time and money om investigating accusations made against Hillary Clinton but waited until after Donald Trump was elected president before they started investigating (click) his ties with US' arch enemy Russia?

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Want to read my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Why do people hurt other people?

While Picasso was living in Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II, one German officer allegedly asked him, upon seeing a photo of Guernica in his apartment, "Did you do that?" Picasso responded, "No, you did."

Which brings me to the point: why do people hurt other people? Especially since they know nobody wants to get hurt.

A lot of people (especially men) are afraid to show their emotions. They think it's a sign of weakness to show others you can be hurt. I think it's a sign of strength to show you're human because humans make formidable opponents.

It's emotions that drive us. So yes, I cried when Trevor Bolder died, bass player in my favourite band, Uriah Heep. He also was an original member of the late David Bowie's 'Spiders from Mars'.

So yes, you may express yourself when you're hurt and yes, you may ask others the reason for them to hurt you.

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

A lot of good going on!

With all turmoil going on in the world and in our personal lives, it's a relief to see there's still a lot of good going on.

Take Puddles for instance, with his sad kind of humour. I love it!



And a whole lot of people are apparently so very bored that they don't only have time to read this blogpost but also stories like: 'Is this photo proof of a soul rising up from a dead body? (click) Is it just smoke or maybe just a clever use of Photoshop?' I don't think it's sad that people share and comment these stories but I think it's a great accomplishment from humanity as a whole that we've transcended from a species who's main concern is survival to individuals who's main concern is 'What's for dinner?'

How do you see this trend of boredom being a natural state of being? Let me know in the comments section of this blog!

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG