Misinformation LOVES impatience. Consider the quality, not the source. On thoughts, truths, and aging. Ban social media bans. Listen to trauma. Help someone. Accept a little boredom.
Freedom is responsibility with a sexier name.
– Seth Godin
If you’re paying attention to my reading list, you might note it’s not growing as fast as in years past. It’s been an … interesting … year so far. I find myself more in rest and recovery mode than I do anything else, so that’s what I’m allowing myself to do. More naps, and more World of Warcraft. 
1. “Lazy, not biased.”
Misinformation Spreads at the Speed of Impatience – Hana Lee Goldin, MLIS – (Card Catalog)
It’s not that we’re not capable of critical thinking, it’s that we’re not inclined to do it.
Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping after it; so that when men come to be undeceived, it is too late; the jest is over, and the tale has had its effect.
That’s a quote attributed to Jonathan Switch from the early 1700’s. The only thing that’s really changed is the speed at which falsehood flies, it would seem. And it’s that speed that’s the problem:
… the speed of our information environments can prevent critical thinking from activating in the first place.
We’re simply in too much of a hurry to share/comment/whatever to take the time to critically think about what it is we’re spreading. And the systems we use are designed to maximize rapid-fire thought-free engagement.
Do this: SLOW DOWN and think.
#critical-thinking #information-literacy
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2. “The outrage just aged out”
In 5 years, nobody will give a damn about AI-detectors. – JA Westenberg – (Blog)
As the title of the essay suggests, Westenberg believes AI is on the same path as any new and largely disruptive technology; eventually it’ll be common place background noise. AI will be a tool, like a pen, typewriter, or word-processor. That something was written by, or its writing was assisted by AI, will eventually no longer matter.
I’m inclined to agree. If some writing speaks to you, moves you, answers a conundrum for you, does it really matter how that writing was generated?
AI detection is
… a proxy for something else they actually care about – usually one of three things:
- Did this person put in the right amount of effort to produce thing?
- Is thing any good?
- Can I trust the person who created thing?
“Is this thing any good” is probably what matters the most (since it kind of envelops the other two as well). If it’s good, why care? And yes, there’s always a person behind the effort, driving the tool that is AI, and deciding if the results are what was intended.
If a blog post meaningfully changes your life, gives you the strength to get sober, inspires you to create – I don’t think you’ll care about the provenance as much as what you gained from reading it.
I suspect that eventually we’ll get there.
Do this: Judge the content first. Then the source.
3. “The only truth about old age is your truth.”
You Are Not Your Thoughts – Gary Buzzard – (Enjoy the Moment)
The topic of the essay is, of course, its title: the difficult realization that you and your thoughts are separate things. The takeaway above got my attention, but what followed really made it real fro me:
The truth about your sore legs, knees, and hips. The truth about your fear. The truth about all the things you have to give up in old age. The pain, loneliness, simple joys, and friendships. Your spouse’s smile. The sunrise.
Everyone’s truth is different. But understanding your own can help navigate the path you’re on.
Do this: Recognize your truths.
4. “Creepy guesses about who we are”
How and Why to Fight Back Against Social Media Bans – Molly Buckley, a legislative analyst at the EFF, via Taylor Lorenz – (User Mag)
Social media bans are a horrible, horrible idea. The Buckley details how they go wrong, and how they turn us into even more of a surveillance state, without necessarily even working.
For example, in Australia, where a social media ban has been in effect since late 2025, a majority of young people can still access social media, those who can’t have lost their access to the news, and crisis helplines are reporting skyrocketing numbers of calls from youth left stranded without online community or resources.
I’m in no way saying that Social Media doesn’t have serious issues, it does. This is not the solution.
Do this: Fight back, while you can.
5. “Everyone expresses condolences – but no one wants to simply listen.”
Abyss – Julie Reshe – (Aeon)
This is a difficult read. The subtitle: “The testimonies of Ukraine’s war widows reveal the mortal risk of love and the possibility of dying while alive: a black pain”. The themes are universal: the pain of loss, and the pain of living with the loss.
Most people assume that it’s something to be “fixed”.
… when trauma speaks, when depression talks, we assume that’s not the real, happy you. You are presumed to be exaggerating, misreporting your own experience.
The fact is trauma is real and true and deserves to be heard.
Do this: Listen
6. “Did I help anyone today, even in a small way?”
Your life matters (even if you’re not famous) – Darius Foroux – (Blog)
No mater what today’s comparison culture might lead you to believe, you do not need to be famous, or have a large audience, to have an impact.
Impact moves through proximity, not popularity.
It’s the people we touch, the people we’re close to, on whom we leave the greatest mark.
Feeling like you matter has almost nothing to do with fame or status. It comes down to whether you make a real difference to the people actually in your life.
This is a very difficult message to get across, particularly to younger folks who are being bombarded by “influencers” (many of whom are fake to begin with) tantalizing them with the “influencer lifestyle”. Even if possible, it’s only for a very few. Everyone can make a difference closer to home.
Do this: Act locally.
7. “Humans hate boredom.”
How to Be Less Busy and More Happy (gift link) – Arthur C. Brooks – (The Atlantic)
My parents were never bored. I might catch them doing nothing — say sitting in a chair looking out a window — but when I asked they simply said they were “thinking”. I sometimes wonder if that was an equivalent to meditation for them. Today that would appear as “doing nothing”, and somehow be seen as a waste of time.
It’s anything but.
… too much discretionary time is scarier than too little, and we overcorrect …
The result is a packed calendar and a constant feeling of being behind.
Do this: Dial it back a little.
Random Links
- The 5 Most Common Delusions Worldwide – Not what I expected.
What I’m reading now
- The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook: Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 3 – Matt Dinniman
- Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences – Neal Allen, Anne Lamott
- The Way of Kings: Book One of the Stormlight Archive – Brandon Sanderson
- The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke – (Audio)
- The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark – Carl Sagan
My Reading List – everything I’ve read since 2021.
My Sources Page – the common sources I scan/read regularly.
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