Accountability for misinformation

I have long been frustrated by people who spread sensational allegations that are so easily falsified by a little research. A high fraction of anti-vaxxers are the latest in a long line of such, coming easily to mind because their lies are probably currently killing hundreds of Americans every day. Before scaremongering on the back of a handful of third-hand anecdotes, one has a duty to seek and consider credible evidence to the contrary, especially from those qualified either by field of expertise or front-line experience.

There are a couple of dimensions to this. Credulous bigotsinnocents may spread talking points, like that immigrants disproportionately draw on benefits and cause violent crime, while believing them. However, there are also leaders who should know better, people with resources and education, who fail to challenge those lies, preferring to tell other lies in making decisions that kill many Americans, such as by refusing Medicaid expansion money. Especially as one climbs the political ladder, one finds so many assertions made, such as on the expected socioeconomic effects of policy, that they ought to realize are already convincingly refuted by the evidence.

This mix of irrational ignorance and malicious mendacity is no foundation for good. Ongoingly, it hurts so many people needlessly. What is wrong with us? It is hard to think well of humans when one puts them together and ends up with the society we live in. Maybe we can somehow be pushed into being better but, to achieve that, people must be held to account for what they say or repeat. I do not see how that can happen when so many others share, even embrace, the delusion.

How upsetting people think

In attempting to blend in among the humans, I like to try to look out for clues as to how they work inside. A couple of weeks ago, a conversation with an anti-vaxxer (who shall remain anonymous) included a couple of choice comments, one following the other: ( covidiocy. )

Apart from just how much lunacy the above packs so tightly into a small package, I found this curious rant particularly telling: not only do they uninquisitively seem to presume that those urging vaccination are not doing so on any good basis but, further, in both, they suggest that opinion is motivated by hatred. If they are projecting, I wonder if this gives us any clues as to how to actually reach them, or what might help them learn to think more rationally.