Cranking Up the Disinformation Machine

It is perhaps inevitable that, when the order which society has become accustomed to enjoying is under attack, the change is derided as something nonsensical. Such a derision is reactive; the argument against the change is flimsy and fallacious, but it can be attractive for one who does not wish the greater order in one's life to change a jot.

As can be expected, those news organs which sell their wares to the general public can be fully expected to say what the public wants to hear. We're certain the public enjoys hearing what they want to hear, but that does not change the situation: the 'news' which is consumed is disinformation. Not only does it not say what is going on in the world, but it typically conveys the precise opposite.

This piece from Forbes is perhaps a perfect gem of disinformation. It is thankfully filed as an opinion piece, but that does not excuse the self-justifying information and wishful thinking that Joel Kotkin indulges. We will shred his article specifically on the Curmudgeon Report, but here we would like to look at this phenomenon of derision in a general sense.

We have no doubt that disinformation will become increasingly prevalent in the coming years, especially as the 2007 Depression deepens. The sources of the disinformation will probably cease being 'commentary,' and start becoming formal news. Government information agencies are already fairly fanciful, but out-and-out fallacy is not out of the question by any means.

Simply put, we have a suspicion that the normal sources for news and information are likely going to become unreliable. The will for self-deception of the majority of people is a powerful thing, and any for-profit news agencies (or public services, for that matter) are unlikely to publish that which does not 'sell.'

Such prevalence of disinformation is going to make investing, choosing jobs, relocating to new cities, and countless other activities extremely difficult. The best one will be able to hope for is to learn how to gather raw data on a subject, and then synthesise it to make useful information upon which decisions can be based. Those who wish to thrive must become independent from many things, and this includes independence from the wishful-thinking disinformation trap.