Main Stream Media(MSM) or Fringe – what’s your choice?
Conspiracy theories and lies propagate from all levels of society from leaders, so called experts, shifty sellers of news you want to hear but isn’t true, and even your own neighbours, friends and family. The definition of msm is “Mainstream Media, a term that usually refers to the common current trend of thought held by the majority, meaning that “mainstream” things are those that are currently popular with most people.
How Wikipedia describes it “mainstream media (MSM) is a term and abbreviation used to refer collectively to the various large mass news media that influence many people and both reflect and shape prevailing currents of thought.[1] The term is used to contrast with alternative media.” It is most often applied in the arts (i.e., music, literature, and performance).”
Far left and right groups mostly subscribe to Alternative Media “Not to be confused with Independent media.” “Alternative media tend to be activist by nature. Social movements in areas such as human rights, the environmental movement, and civil rights produce alternative media to further their goals, spread awareness, and inspire participation and support.” Fringe media will pick their own little known authors from whatever proves their beliefs. There are now many so called magazines, newspapers and other sources of information that pander to the narrow interests of a few. Conspiracy theorists will pick from anything that feeds into their cognitive dissonance. Every one lies and everyone believes they’re reading the truth. It’s a mess.
I see a little about how this happened by looking at the intense social world we’ve built for ourselves. No boundaries, no rules and no one to enforce it. The ‘freedom of speech’ movement is a powerful force that may well be our undoing as a society. It’s good to be able to reach out and talk to people you haven’t seen in years. Awesome to see pictures of folk you haven’t been able to visit because of the pandemic and keep in touch. If only it remained that simple.
What do we do then? How do we know what to choose and what to believe? We trust our gut, not our online neighbours, not a taxi driver from Boston, not someone who is a self proclaimed expert. Don’t share something just because your friend shared it and you liked it. Become a critical thinker. Ask questions Where? did it come from. Why? is this being sent to me. What? is the subject matter and Who? is the author as well as searching for information on that particular article.
Use the 10 second rule on everything – before you share. Research and don’t trust just anything you receive because your friend must be right.
Where are we going, how did we get here and where will it lead? All questions that we don’t know the answer to and may never know. We have only our common sense to believe in the processes in place that have protected us for 200 hundred years
Update – now June 2025.
The world has not changed much with the exception of continuing a spiral into finding ourselves. A chunk of society is losing the ability to be civil or polite. Social media has driven us into instant answers, instant gratification, nastiness without consequence and harder to find good stuff.
I am still looking for / striving for positive everyday values and am working on turning any nasty thing I feel like saying into something different and more understanding of the other persons point of view. We don’t have to have the same views but we do need to show decency, civility and understanding in our lives.