U.S. State Department gives advice for identifying misinformation!

[dzika]

U.S. State Department gives advice for identifying misinformation!

1. Conspiracy theories are always wrong
   
2. Lies are circulated on the internet
   
3. Repeated allegations are false
   
4. Conspiracy theories are always wrong
   
5. The government doesn't lie, just ask us

---

Identifying Misinformation

How can a journalist or a news consumer tell if a story is true or false? There are no exact rules, but the following clues may help indicate if a story or allegation is true.

First, does the story claim that vast, powerful, evil forces are secretly manipulating events? If so, this fits the profile of a conspiracy theory, which is rarely true, even though such theories have great appeal and are often widely believed. In reality, events usually have much less exciting explanations.

Second, is the story startlingly good, bad, amazing, horrifying, or otherwise seemingly “too good” or “too terrible” to be true? If so, it may be an “urban legend.” Urban legends, which often circulate by word of mouth, e-mail, or the Internet, are false claims that are widely believed because they put a common fear, hope, suspicion, or other emotion into story form.

For example, after the September 11 attacks, a story arose that someone had survived the World Trade Center collapse by “surfing” a piece of concrete from the 80th floor to the ground. Nothing so extraordinary occurred, but many initially believed this, out of desperate hope that some people trapped in the towers miraculously survived their collapse.

Third, be aware of widely repeated allegations that are false, but which many continue to believe. The AIDS virus was not invented in a laboratory. Americans do not adopt children from other countries to use them in organ transplants. Likewise, there are many exaggerated fears about depleted uranium, probably because people mistakenly associate it with weapons-grade uranium or fuel-grade uranium, which are much more dangerous substances.

Fourth, consider the source. Conspiracy theorists often circulate false or skewed information. Ideological extremists frequently spread false stories.

Fifth, research the claim further and, if you wish, ask us. We can’t respond to all requests for information, but if a request is reasonable and we have the time, we will do our best to provide accurate, authoritative information.

http://usinfo.state.gov/media/media_resources/misinformation.html?id=nl20050309

[bullimiami]

1. here is my advice. it it comes from this administration...

it is probably a lie.


why the fuck do we have to keep paying these assholes for bourbon when they keep pouring us this swill.

[Oreo]

8. They use depleted uranium as an example of misinformation?

Here's a good set of BBC reports on the dangers of DU
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/europe/2001/depleted_uranium/default.stm
Fresh evidence has come to light of long-standing military concern about the potential health effects of depleted uranium (DU).

Documents obtained by the BBC suggest that the United States military was concerned about weapons containing DU even before the Gulf War, exactly 10 years ago.

<<MORE>>


And of course... our own military has a page shooting down all of the myths about DU:
Military FAQ on depleted uranium.
http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/faq_17apr.htm

[seventythree]

34. that stuck out to me, too!!!

[bush_is_wacko]

37. Yes, DU is what Putin claims to be selling to Iran and they are all

over that! This is insane!

[Us vs Them]

2. Fifth, research the claim further and, if you wish, ask us.

Awesome! I wonder if they know where I left my keys.

[tanyev]

7. I say we take them at their word.

Day after day after day, let's ask them questions.

Where is Osama?
Where are the weapons of mass destruction?
Who profited from the stock trading in the days before 9/11?
Why was the capture of Saddam fictionalized?
How can al-Zarqawi be causing so many problems when he is dead and missing one leg?

And so forth. The possibilites are endless.

Why, this could be as much fun as the Sloganator!

[Us vs Them]

9. Exactly.

I mean, they did provide us with such a friendly little link, right?

[XemaSab]

11. You forgot

"Where was I when my glasses fell out of the pocket of my jacket while traversing Kings County?" :-(

[Roland99]

3. Wonder how that formula would look if applied to the WMD claims?

[BrklynLiberal]

4. This page comes straight out of George Orwell's 1984, right?

If it wasn't so sickeningly scary, it would be funny.

Oceania was at war with Eurasia now, but just four years ago, these two had formed an alliance against Eastasia. Winston remembered this clearly, but it made no difference what he or any other individual remembered, for the Party said that Eurasia had always been the Enemy and what the Party said was the Truth. This, thought Winston, was the most frightening aspect of the party regime-that it could obliterate memory, turn lies into Truth and alter the Past. The Party slogan was “Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past.” This was where “doublethink” came into play, minds were trained to hold contradictory positions simultaneously and unquestioningly- for example you had to believe at one and the same time that Democracy was impossible and that the Party was the guardian of democracy. Winston could remember a time when the Party did not rule, when Big Brother had not become all-powerful; but according to the Party they had always existed and this lie was repeated ad infinitum until it “became” the truth. This, Winston thought was a far more terrible weapon in the hands of the Party than torture or execution.

[Stand and Fight]

5. Oh God...

The humanity of it all is staggering, but the insanity is just killer! :eyes:

[Dhalgren]

6. Unbelievable! This has got to be a joke, right?

George Orwell? Paging George Orwell...

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Nominate for greatest.

[understandinglife]

12. 6th. If labeled "usinfo.state.gov" KNOW IT IS A LIE. (nt)

[ck4829]

13. "Ideological extremists frequently spread false stories"

Well, I guess that means Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell have just been discredited.

[SmokingJacket]

19. And everyone on the PNAC list..... nt

[punpirate]

14. I have the feeling...

... because of this "just ask us" business, that one will need a stopwatch to time how long this page will stay up.

The watchword should be, "look at who's running State. Condi wouldn't know the truth if it smacked her on the ass."

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Bwahahahaha. The great purveyers of "truth" tell us what it is.

Our State Department would never lie.

Except about:

Vietnam
Laos
Cambodia
Congo
Angola
Mozambique
Honduras
Cuba
Columbia
Venezuela
Haiti
South Africa
Palestine
Israel

and every other nation of the globe, including ours.

[Mnemosyne]

16. Lies are spread on the internet, unless we find them

on a terrist website, then it's the truth.

[slaveplanet]

17. Whose song is that remembered?

At random, serpentine
Throught fatty coils, emerging
some other thought it's thinking
this light
stands above the
houses
on the ground
this illumination
visited upon the whole land

unmarked helicopters
hovering
the lord is coming soon

here comes the super copter
here comes the noise it makes
the demon was an idea
the demon is awake
scratch mark traced across the
surface of your mind
this hour, now upon us
the hour, now arrived

unmarked helicopters
hovering
the lord is coming soon
unmarked helicopters
hovering
they said it was a weather balloon

but i know the truth
i know the whole shebang
i know the names of men they had to hang
i let her out the trunk
heard what she said at them
they've come to drag us through the double M

it goes black black black black and blacker
it goes black black black black and blacker
it goes black black black black and blacker
it goes black black black black and blacker

unmarked helicopters
hovering
the lord is coming soon
unmarked helicopters
hovering
they said it was a weather balloon
it was a weather balloon
it was a weather balloon
it was a weather balloon
it was a weather balloon
it was a weather balloon

S coughing

[skids]

18. LOL GREAT SUMMARY!

I think you pretty much nailed that! :-)

[walldude]

20. LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are not sure ask us!!! We never lie or make mistakes :puke:

[Helga Scow Stern]

21. Gee, thank us.gov for telling us what to believe and how to think. n/t

[Neverarepublican]

22. Just give us your address

and we will come over and pick you up and take you to a foreign country to discuss it.
If you don't like our answers, or if we don't like you, you can stay as long as we like.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

23. 6. If a Repub administration tells you that 2+2=4, check with calculator

And then count with fingers, just to be sure.

[dzika]

24. This site was advertised in the US State Dept. Newsletter today.

I'm just wondering if any specific recent events caused them to mention this site.

Also, the site links to misinformation that already has been debunked by the State Dept.

Some examples:


NEW MISINFORMATION

• Tsunami Theories
  
• "Illegal" Weapons in Fallujah
  
• Grandfather of G. W. Bush wrote "Life of Mohammed" Book
  
• Is the U.S. Harvesting Organs from Iraqis?
  
• Depleted Uranium

CONSPIRACY THEORIES

• Did the U.S. "Create" Osama bin Laden?
  
• Al Qaeda and September 11th
  
• AIDS as Bioweapon
  
• The 4,000 Jews Rumor

[applegrove]

25. Aids virus was not invented in a labratory - it came from an ape that

was used in a labratory in Africa quite likely. But they do not have final proof and they never will. They have identified the genetics of the original AIDS virus as coming from Apes.

[Dave Reynolds]

26. I sent this:

There is a widely held belief that the elections of 2000 and 2004 were fair, honest, and transparent.

Is this true, or just another nasty rumor?

Thank you,

Dave Reynolds.


Think I will get a response, or will I be renditioned?

[Ms. Clio]

28. Why would you worry about rendition?

It's just used as a threat to make uncooperative suspects talk.

It's not like anybody is really flown on a special jet to another country to be tortured.

That's just more misinformation spread by ideological extremists. Jeez.

[Dave Reynolds]

29. I may make that my next question,

if that's okay with you.

I may as well try to get the straight scoop from my beloved masters...oops I mean elected officials.

[Ms. Clio]

32. Sure thing

I'll watch this space, to see if you get any answers.

Or if you suddenly disappear.

Not that I want to sound like a paranoid conspiracy theorist, or anything.

[Amfortas]

30. LOL!

[AntiFascist]

27. You mean the stories about al-Qaida aren't true?? nt

[Junkdrawer]

31. "The Internet is harder to buy than other media. Ignore it for now."...

"We're working hard to get it under control. We'll let you know when it's safe."

[jayctravis]

33. Is that website a plant?

For the online 1984 computer game?

I love number five...might as well be "If you really want to, ask us, and we are very busy but if your request doesn't have anything to do with conspiracy theories, and if we feel like taking time out of our busy schedule, we'll try to tell you what you should think.

[EFerrari]

35. Thanks! I feel so much better now! lol n/t

[bush_is_wacko]

36. DAMAGE CONTROL! the sheeple are getting upset over the Gannon/Guckert

thing. We must reassure them that WE HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS BECAUSE WE TALK TO GOD ON A DAILY BASIS! Did they install mind altering microchips in their followers heads? this is the most transparent thing I've ever read.