ljrockarts:
We really do live in an amazing time. Never have we as a species had more access to more information than we do right now. We also, unfortunately have easy access to a lot of bad data and misinformation (ie: bullshit) than we have ever had. It's never been easier to get truthful messages out to the world, but its equally as easy to propagandize and gaslight people.
In some ways, at least some of us are being pushed back to a century-plus old world of only knowing what actual local people around us know. At least me in terms of what i can
trust. If i get it directly in-person from someone i know, or electronically via either an encrypted channel else one i have reason to believe is not compromised, i’ll believe it. Most news sources i do not, including some i trusted for decades that now seem wholly off the rails.
While our public library system (here in the US at least) is largely a social program run by state and local governments,
Mmmm, i’d have to do some research and check with my mom, but pretty sure that a number of libraries were local non-government non-profit community benefit entities. At least half a century or more ago.
I'm not hating on Google; I use it often myself. But in the current climate, we must still do our due diligence to see that we can verify from multiple sources that the things that we "Google" are indeed the whole truth. I'll be happy to see if in the future we can build a more just, truthful and informative internet - one that works for the common good more than it works for commerce.
I’ll hate on Google for y’all: i hate them, and use as few Google/Alphabet services as possible.
For search i use Duck Duck Go. Several years ago doing side-by-side comparisons, there was only 1 search out of 20 where Google had something that DDG did not, and it wasn’t all that important a search to me.
The due diligence is an excellent point, applicable regardless of source.
Being self aware and being mindful is so important. When we find ourselves having an emotional reaction to something, its so important that we ask ourselves why we think we are feeling what we feel. Where do these feelings come from? Before we just react and act out, we should know why and we should be able to anticipate what the consequences of our actions will be.
^ Outstanding point and critical for the survival of polite, free societies. When someone wants me to Act Now (online petition, share, etc.) i make myself stop. Deep breath, check sources, think about the bigger picture. Roughly half the time i may want to proceed. The other half no, for differing reasons. Sometimes it seems like a good idea on the surface, but is not well thought out.