I want to talk about values. A 🧵
It’s hard to know what to say when it becomes evident that friends have fallen down mis or disinformation rabbit holes. I get how it happens, the algorithms are working actively to pull you into the content you engaged with. 1/
It’s hard to know what to say when it becomes evident that friends have fallen down mis or disinformation rabbit holes. I get how it happens, the algorithms are working actively to pull you into the content you engaged with. 1/
The more of it you look at, the more of it you will see in your feed. Maybe that bolsters the belief that it is true.
But almost all of them are well educated people who are capable of understanding data or at least asking for assistance in disseminating information. Yet many /2
But almost all of them are well educated people who are capable of understanding data or at least asking for assistance in disseminating information. Yet many /2
don’t, they engage with pseudo science and take it as facts. We pulled an immunologist into our COVID support group specifically to do this task for us, as we knew so many people were getting fooled by what seemed credible. Frequency of exposure to the same old misinformation /3
lines (like the fallacy that the vaccine is experimental), seems to egg them on into believing that there is smoke where there is fire. There is not.
I’ve observed that they’re almost always middle class. They’re almost always privileged. They’re almost always into wellness. /4
I’ve observed that they’re almost always middle class. They’re almost always privileged. They’re almost always into wellness. /4
They’re almost always (and usually) compassionate people who care about others and want what’s best for their families and state they care about their communities. They’re usually open minded, but somehow have become linked into ideas that are harmful and represent the exact /5
opposite of what they normally value. They’re quick to say that it is their right. And it is. A departure from your core values is a big call though.
Why is it a departure? Many seem to believe that it's a demonstration of their values in action. But it's not. In this moment /6
Why is it a departure? Many seem to believe that it's a demonstration of their values in action. But it's not. In this moment /6
in time when we fight for the collective good, ie protecting those who can’t protect themselves & as we try to find a way for as many of us as possible to make it out of this as unscathed as possible - it requires everyone to do things that make them uncomfortable or possibly /7
even scared. I’ve been scared a lot this last year. Not just from being sick, you’ve likely heard enough about that. But anxiety has become a regular companion. I’ve walked away from much of social media to avoid getting into chats that end up with me worrying about another /8
friend who seems to be dismissing what countless scientists have collectively reviewed and instead listened to dodgy cherry picked non facts and tried to weaponise them as “their right”.
Right now we need compassion to listen to those who are scared and guide them to better /9
Right now we need compassion to listen to those who are scared and guide them to better /9
information gently. It’s easy to lash out & dismiss. That won’t get us to 90%. No one listens when they’re belittled or yelled at, they dig their toes in. I’ve failed on this a lot and I keep telling myself I can do better. It’s hard though, with what feels like such a simple /10
thing each of us can do to help the “we” not just the “me”.
Please get vaccinated.
It's how we get our economy back
It's how we get back freedom
It's how we stay well
It's how we get back to all kiwis being in Aotearoa if they want to be.
/end
Please get vaccinated.
It's how we get our economy back
It's how we get back freedom
It's how we stay well
It's how we get back to all kiwis being in Aotearoa if they want to be.
/end
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