#Combating Misinformation

[magnetothemagnificent]

Okay I've seen some posts already about the current bird flu situation stating that the virus has an over 50% death rate. That information is wrong, and it's just unnecessary fear mongering that we really don't need right now.

According to the WHO, there's a case fatality rate (CFR) of 54%. A case fatality rate is simply the percentage of deaths out of the number of *confirmed* cases. Since January 1 2003 until November 2024 there were only 261 total cases recorded by the WHO in the entire world, and out of those cases, 142 were fatal. Notice the very small sample size and the fact that these are only confirmed cases. In most people, bird flu is indistinguishable from any other cold or flu or even asymptomatic, so they *wouldn't be tested*. There hasn't been a widespread testing initiative for bird flu yet, so we don't actually know the data of how many people *actually* have it. We only know the cases of people with infections that were severe and unique enough that doctors thought to test them specifically for bird flu. A case fatality rate is *not* a prognosis.

Bird flu *is* serious. And you definitely should be careful, especially if you make contact with wild or domestic outdoor birds (this means that if you have a chicken coop or dovecote or something similar, even if it's only a few outdoor birds, you need to be careful), but we really don't need to be fear-mongering and making people think that they have an over 50% chance of dying if they get it. Misinformation from all sides is bad.

Actual reports about the virus:

[briteredoctober]

Getting Sick of Hearing About Imaginary Beheaded Babies

Biden's administration admitted he lied about seeing pictures/confirming the event in his national briefing: https://news.yahoo.com/biden-not-seen-pictures-beheaded-135936703.html The IDF admitted that the claim has not been verified, and that only one news site ever reported it: https://theintercept.com/2023/10/11/israel-hamas-disinformation/ That site was i24, which is a Tel Aviv-based paper with a history of exaggerated and heavily propagandized coverage. They have no reliable source or evidence, either. All info traces back to one single 'journalist,' Nicole Zedeck, who has given multiple contradictory accounts. Her first account, she claims to be sourcing her information from on-the-ground IDF troops in the Zion unit (who are also under fire for other false claims): https://www.albawaba.com/node/who-was-behind-false-claim-hamas-beheading-children-1537549 After the IDF refused to back up her claim (shockingly, and even though Netanyahu did use it in his speech) and the US administration admitted they had seen no photographs or video, her story then shifted this morning to her having been a first-hand witness to these atrocities (I guess she forgot to hit record?): https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/who-is-nicole-zedeck-journalist-at-centre-of-40-babies-beheaded-story-refuses-to-back-down/ar-AA1i6nbJ

[kingsonne-zedecks]

In My Opinion

The American education system really did the country a disservice with how they taught people to write "persuasively" and how to write in a "formal" and "academic" style. I'm sure many people remember being instructed to avoid using phrases such as "I think," "In my opinion," I believe," etc. I personally remember being specifically instructed to state my opinions as if they were fact when writing a persuasive essay or speech for standardized testing.

The thing is, opinions are not facts, and most people struggle to recognize that in multiple harmful ways. "A lie repeated" doesn't just apply to propaganda, it applies to personal beliefs as well. The more people state something as fact, the more they become personally convinced of its truth.

Opinions become statements become truths become foundational aspects of the self.

Its known that attacking someone's beliefs is more likely to entrench them further into those beliefs than to draw them out. An attack on a belief is an attack on the self, and must be defended against. When opinions are treated as truths everything becomes more extreme.

I feel like this is a pretty well understood problem, but it's not the one that inspired this post. This style of writing and thinking contributes dangerously to the spread of misinformation. People don't generally start their posts and comments with "It is my personal belief..." We've been taught that this is redundant; if you didn't believe it, you wouldn't be saying it.

But this isn't occurring in a vacuum. These aren't graded papers. People are reading your opinions, your feelings, presented as fact. Hyperbole and context get lost in the telephone game of retweets, reblogs, and reposts. We are at the most risk when these are things we agree with, things that fit with our world view. We hit like and share and accept the statements made by another as truth.

We lose an aspect of the process that wasn't drilled as heavily as "don't use first person." Every claim and statement made should be backed by a source. Hardly anyone does that, these aren't graded posts after all, and the statement is true isn't it? Isn't that enough?

I'd expect that for many this is an unconscious style of writing, it is habit engrained by years of schooling. While writing this I personally had to be conscious of my phrasing because these are just my thoughts. They are drawn from things I have read and been exposed to over years of life, they are drawn from my experiences. I have no sources, but these thoughts ring true to me.

I could have written this post the way I was taught. That these things are immutable facts, and it is the responsibility of someone else to refute them if they are not. But I don't think that is the way we should interact with others. It's okay to believe things, and to hold to those beliefs strongly. But it's important to be able to change your opinion and way of thinking when faced with contradictory facts, and that is easier when you remember that your beliefs are not by nature guaranteed to be flawless.

[kingsonne-zedecks]

OP has requested that anyone bringing up factual legal requirements for Continuing Medical Education "gargle their nuts"

I will do so with sources. Because the existence of a problem does not justify the spreading of misinformation.

Here is a compilation or requirements by state for CME requirements by state.

A brief look through these requirements will show that only 3 states do not require any degree of CME by licensed doctors. While some states require more, the average appears to be 20 hours a year or 40 hours every two years. Nearly all states with CME requirements require passing those courses in order to be relicensed.

Medical neglect, ignorance, and malpractice are far too common and dramatically harm many lives every year. Its a massive problem and one that disproportionately effects women and people of color. Its not a problem that can be fixed though if we focus on the wrong things.

This post has 78k notes on it as of right now. How many of the people who have interacted with this post go about their days angry and believing that the cause of the problems they've faced in the health care system are because of the absence of a process that literally already exists?

There are so many things to be mad at, from medical misogyny, to a lack of accurate representation in medical studies, to a lack of diversity among doctors themselves,, to the way things are taught in medical schools, and prevailing attitudes among physicians.

Hell, you can even be mad and say that relicensing is too easy. That's a perfectly reasonable thing to say. Maybe doctors should have to repass the entire medical exam every two years rather than just their CME. But misinformation helps no one.

I'm so extremely serious when I say doctors should be put through an extremely extensive reliscensing process every 10 years. Doctors should have their knowledge scrutinized against current medical research and be de-barred at even the tiniest discrepancy. Too many old doctors absolutely refuse to stay up to date on research and dismiss patients because of their personal experiences. Too many people die every year because doctors don't take us seriously and refuse to listen to people who KNOW something is wrong. Too many people are told their problems are nothing and come back in a year or more with serious illnesses and doctors are just like "lol everyone makes mistakes" but doctors mistakes routinely cost people their lives! I'm tired of medical malpractice being swept away under the guise of "mistakes were made."

[omegaphilosophia]

Integrating AI to Improve Politics: Opportunities and Challenges

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of politics, from enhancing decision-making processes to increasing transparency and engagement. Here are several ways AI can be integrated into politics to bring about improvements:

1. Data Analysis and Decision-Making

AI can analyze large volumes of data to identify trends, patterns, and correlations that human analysts might miss. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, policymakers can make more informed decisions based on empirical evidence and predictive models. For instance, AI can be used to predict the outcomes of different policy options, helping governments to choose the most effective strategies.

2. Enhancing Transparency and Accountability

AI can help increase government transparency and accountability by monitoring and analyzing public spending, detecting anomalies, and identifying potential cases of corruption or misuse of funds. By providing real-time insights into governmental activities, AI can enable citizens to hold their representatives accountable and ensure that public resources are used efficiently.

3. Improving Public Services

AI can streamline public services by automating routine tasks, optimizing resource allocation, and improving service delivery. For example, AI-powered chatbots can provide citizens with instant responses to their inquiries, while AI-driven systems can optimize healthcare, education, and transportation services to better meet the needs of the population.

4. Enhancing Public Engagement

AI can facilitate greater public engagement in the political process by analyzing social media and other online platforms to gauge public opinion, identify key issues, and predict voter behavior. This information can help politicians and policymakers to better understand the concerns of their constituents and to develop policies that reflect the needs and preferences of the public.

5. Combating Misinformation

AI can play a crucial role in identifying and combating misinformation and fake news. By using natural language processing (NLP) algorithms, AI can detect misleading content, verify facts, and provide users with accurate information. This can help to create a more informed electorate and reduce the impact of misinformation on political discourse.

6. Enhancing Security and Cyber Defense

AI can bolster national security and cyber defense by detecting and responding to cyber threats in real-time. Machine learning algorithms can identify unusual patterns of behavior that may indicate a cyber attack and can help to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive data from being compromised.

7. Facilitating International Diplomacy

AI can assist in international diplomacy by analyzing geopolitical trends, predicting potential conflicts, and identifying opportunities for cooperation. AI can also support negotiations by providing real-time translation services, summarizing key points, and identifying areas of agreement and disagreement.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

While AI has the potential to improve politics in numerous ways, there are also significant challenges and ethical considerations to address:

Bias and Fairness: AI systems can perpetuate or even exacerbate existing biases if they are trained on biased data. Ensuring that AI is fair and unbiased is crucial to its successful integration into politics.

Privacy: The use of AI in politics raises important questions about privacy and data security. Safeguarding citizens' personal information and ensuring that data is used responsibly is essential.

Accountability: Determining accountability for decisions made or influenced by AI can be complex. Establishing clear guidelines and regulations for the use of AI in politics is necessary to ensure transparency and accountability.

Public Trust: Building and maintaining public trust in AI-driven political processes is critical. Governments and political entities must be transparent about how AI is used and must demonstrate its benefits to gain public support.

The integration of AI into politics offers significant opportunities for enhancing decision-making, transparency, public engagement, and security. However, it also presents challenges that must be carefully managed to ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly. By addressing these challenges, AI can become a powerful tool for improving political processes and outcomes, ultimately leading to better governance and a more informed and engaged citizenry.

[canichangemyblogname]

Hello all!

You all know how important I think it is to combat misinformation, and there are some unsettling sentiments and arguments I've come across on this site (and others) regarding the Hamas attack on October 7th. I think it is one of my duties as a citizen of this world and as someone who supports a free Palestinian people to help combat misinformation.

There are opportunists online claiming the attack did not happen or denying confirmed details of the attacks, like the number of dead, the paragliders, and whether or not they actually took hostages and how many hostages there were and are. They're suggesting the whole thing was "sensationalized" and "exaggerated" by the Israeli state and "Western" news outlets. This is patently false. The attack was very real and very bloody and very deadly.

Reuters took the time to properly verify video footage of the attacks across Southern Israel, where Hamas killed over 1,400 civilians and took some 200-250 people captive.

WARNING ⚠️ about the article and source below: it contains extremely graphic and disturbing videos and photos. Discretion is advised.

Al Jazeera and Reuters both broke down the attack nearly hour-by-hour and included maps, showing the breadth and length of the attack.

Oct. 7th was the bloodiest day for Israeli citizens in Israel's history. More Jews were killed on October 7th than any day since the Holocaust. Denial of this is nothing short of antisemitic.

[kingsonne-zedecks]

Reblogging to fight misinformation and panic.

Clostridium botulinum: A bacteria that needs low oxygen, low acid, low salt conditions to thrive. Most commonly found in improperly handled home canned goods. Generally low acid, low salt foods that have been canned (turning them into anaerobic containers). Most canned goods have enough acidity to prevent growth of clostridium botulinum. Those that don't need to be pressure canned in order to reach a higher heat than boiling water, at which heat the bacteria is destroyed.

Botulinum toxin: An odorless, tasteless, neurotoxin produced as a byproduct of clostridium botulinum.

Botulism: The food borne illness caused by exposure to botulinum. About 110 cases occur each year in the US. About 80% of those are from home canned goods. About 8% of cases are fatal.

Specific correction on this post. Botulinum doesn't generally offgas. That is nearly certainly any other food borne bacteria. Don't eat it because it will make you sick. Also don't panic, it's not poison, it's not going to kill you to be around, opening it will just expose you to bad smells.

Yes toss it. It's gross, and that's enough.

Also, yes avoid viral food trends that create low acid anaerobic environments. No avocados in water, don't store your garlic confit in the oil, don't home can without doing research into proper techniques for each food you can. The Ball Book of canning/preserving is a gold standard resource.

Sources below the line

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/foodborne-illness-and-disease/pathogens/clostridium-botulinum

Hey kids, wanna learn what signs of botulism look like?

[ghost-in-the-corner]

as a way to combat disinformation, I made a quick and easy research tutorial from Wikipedia

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

Me when people claim Hyacinthus was a child during his relationship with Apollo:

[sysmedsaresexist]

"there have been countless studies on it and distinct personalities dont show up until mid 30s" thank god i wont have a personality until im 35

.

[kleeboy]

*disillusioned by the state of the neurodivergent community voice* was anyone gonna tell me most autistic people meet the criteria for at least one personality disorder or did I have to learn that by myself

[rebisgender]

istg every time my mom talks about trans women it makes me want to run away aaaaaaa

[peppered-ronis]

obsessed with it being, of all youtubers, todd in the shadows who came through with the steel folding chair

[zipquips]

vent in tags

[ninjakittycomics]

(text from my tweet chain reads as follows):

Another of “his” decisions comes and angers many.

Another blow to our world’s town square.

Consider though… if he could have pulled the plug because this site was his to play with, He’d have done so long ago.

What does he gain?

WHY is he so desperate for us all to leave?

I’m staying.

This place is home to thousands upon thousands of people’s jobs.

It’s home to our governments, it’s home to our emergency notification systems, it’s home to our medical notification systems, our unions, our voting resources...

I urge you to stay too.

Contact your governments, local and federal. All levels, all countries that use this.

It’s obvious he’s trying to wreck our ability to talk.

Why?

And more importantly, why let him get away with it?

We can do this. Stick with it, and poke loudly.

Keep going.

(end original tweet chain)

Anyone here who has a twitter, I'm urging you to keep using it. treat it like this hellsite (affectionate) has rolled out a temporary wtf feature and we gotta poke hard and loud to get it rolled back.

He can't destroy it, so he's trying to send people flying.

Where are my spite-activists? How do we keep our messages between union workers and voters and job holders and other people alive? How do we wrench this highly important platform from him?

or if we can't, how can we get a precedent set so that something like this is harder to achieve in the future.

cuz we have the best chance at setting a precedent here with all of the world governments that talk on it. We have a strong chance. How do we get it all to come together?