[af_vet_1981]

The term “fake news” has been the object of great discussion and debate. In general, it refers to the spreading of disinformation on line or in the traditional media. It has to do with false information based on non-existent or distorted data meant to deceive and manipulate the reader. Spreading fake news can serve to advance specific goals, influence political decisions, and serve economic interests.

The effectiveness of fake news is primarily due to its ability to mimic real news, to seem plausible. Secondly, this false but believable news is “captious”, inasmuch as it grasps people’s attention by appealing to stereotypes and common social prejudices, and exploiting instantaneous emotions like anxiety, contempt, anger and frustration. The ability to spread such fake news often relies on a manipulative use of the social networks and the way they function. Untrue stories can spread so quickly that even authoritative denials fail to contain the damage.

The difficulty of unmasking and eliminating fake news is due also to the fact that many people interact in homogeneous digital environments impervious to differing perspectives and opinions. Disinformation thus thrives on the absence of healthy confrontation with other sources of information that could effectively challenge prejudices and generate constructive dialogue; instead, it risks turning people into unwilling accomplices in spreading biased and baseless ideas. The tragedy of disinformation is that it discredits others, presenting them as enemies, to the point of demonizing them and fomenting conflict. Fake news is a sign of intolerant and hypersensitive attitudes, and leads only to the spread of arrogance and hatred. That is the end result of untruth.

[ebb tide]

Although you don’t reference it, you are quoting Jorge Bergoglio. I don’t trust anything he says.

Look up Francis’ Little Book of Insults. This is the same man who said, “Inside the Holy Trinity they’re all arguing behind closed doors”.

The same man who said Jesus Christ pretended to be angry with the money changers in the temple; the same man who said the Blessed Mother may have despaired during Christ’s Passion. The same man who said the multiplication of the loaves and fish was not a miracle, but just an example of “sharing” (sounds like a good communist).

When Francis comes out and personally states he did not ever tell Scalfari that evil souls are annihilated instead of going to hell, please let me know. In the meantime stop bitching about “fake news”, starting bitching to Bergoglio for a clarification on Hell. While you’re at it, why don’t you demand Bergoglio answers the dubia (it’s been 558 days now)?