A Public Service Announcement
We are gearing up for a crazy political year, at least here in Kansas. I have a feeling that this gubernatorial race will be, far and away, the most hotly contested in my memory. It won't be long, either, before our next presidential campaign is up and running as well.
And, as the politics continue to escalate, I have just a little Public Service Announcement for you from your friendly Library Media Specialist.
Think.
Please think.
As you read that article or share that link, stop for just a minute and think.
Who is presenting this information? What are their biases?
Is it the teachers' union? Anti-tax corporations? Religious groups? A political candidate?
As humans, we are all consumers of information. Information is created and disseminated by other humans, by organizations, and by corporations (both of which are run by.... humans!).
Humans, organizations, and corporations all have bias. We each see the world through the lens of our own experiences and beliefs. There are very, very few truly unbiased people or organizations in our world. It's just how the world works. It's not good or bad. It simply is.
This means that a whole lot of (some would argue all of) the information presented to us will have bias. It's difficult sometimes to admit this, especially when the information takes a slant that supports our position.
We, as consumers of information, have to recognize this fact.
It's great to share that information. We need the information, biased though it may be.
Just, please, when you share it, or when you read what someone else has shared, stop and think.
And in the words of Saint Thomas Aquinas (hammered every so gracefully into every Bethel student's head by the great Dale Schrag),
"Seldom affirm. Never deny. Always distinguish."
And, as the politics continue to escalate, I have just a little Public Service Announcement for you from your friendly Library Media Specialist.
Think.
Please think.
As you read that article or share that link, stop for just a minute and think.
Who is presenting this information? What are their biases?
Is it the teachers' union? Anti-tax corporations? Religious groups? A political candidate?
As humans, we are all consumers of information. Information is created and disseminated by other humans, by organizations, and by corporations (both of which are run by.... humans!).
Humans, organizations, and corporations all have bias. We each see the world through the lens of our own experiences and beliefs. There are very, very few truly unbiased people or organizations in our world. It's just how the world works. It's not good or bad. It simply is.
This means that a whole lot of (some would argue all of) the information presented to us will have bias. It's difficult sometimes to admit this, especially when the information takes a slant that supports our position.
We, as consumers of information, have to recognize this fact.
It's great to share that information. We need the information, biased though it may be.
Just, please, when you share it, or when you read what someone else has shared, stop and think.
And in the words of Saint Thomas Aquinas (hammered every so gracefully into every Bethel student's head by the great Dale Schrag),
"Seldom affirm. Never deny. Always distinguish."
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