Debunking Misinformation

a social psychology game

The police department in Aurora, Colorado has just delivered a museum-quality piece of official gaslighting, and see for yourself which sentence starts making you laugh out loud:

See, irresponsible people have posted dangerous misinformation on social media, falsely claiming that thousands of Venezuelan immigrants took over a shopping mall in town and engaged in violent and aggressive acts. This is false, and we caution people not to post misleading information online. In fact, what happened is that several thousand Venezuelan immigrants gathered at a shopping center, preventing other people from using the shopping center or the streets in the surrounding area, and there was, well, quite a bit of gunfire. We hope this addresses the unfortunate misinformation about a large and aggressive gathering.

Media response:

If you watch that video at the link, you can enjoy the pleasure of seeing a TV news reporter scolding a member of the Aurora City Council — a mean Republican! — for irresponsibly amplifying misinformation on social media. For example, she told people there was a large and unruly gathering. Elected officials shouldn’t make false claims like that!

Meanwhile:

Sample piece of debunking from that story:

Coffman acknowledged that residents of two or three apartment buildings in the city are being intimidated by a Venezuelan gang but said that Aurora Police are handling the situation and making arrests. Police said the gang's activity is "isolated."

Silly public hysteria is creating the false impression that migrant gangs are taking over apartment buildings in Aurora. In fact, what’s happening is merely that “residents of two or three apartment buildings in the city are being intimidated by a Venezuelan gang.” See the difference?

People are falsely claiming [X] on social media. This is very irresponsible, and this kind of misinformation is very dangerous. In fact, what happened is [X].

1. Claim of “misinformation,” followed by

2. Direct and explicit confirmation of the thing framed as misinformation

Many social media users are posting irresponsible and dangerous misinformation that I removed my pants at a civic function, invited the mayor’s wife to “take an all-night ride on the love train,” and passed out in a tub of ambrosia salad. In fact, what happened is that I removed my pants at a civic function, invited the mayor’s wife to “take an all-night ride on the love train,” and passed out in a tub of ambrosia salad. I hope this message serves to debunk the unfortunate social media misinformation that may have misled people as to the nature of the recent events at the senior center.

Christopher Lasch, writing twenty years ago about Walter Lippman’s conception of the public:

The public engages in rumor-spreading and ignorant gossipmongering, passing around their dumb and ill-informed gibberish; then responsible officials and trained journalists provide the reliable information that prevents people from thinking the wrong thing. The public falsely claims that thousands of Venezuelan immigrants took over a shopping mall in town and engaged in violent and aggressive acts; then officials and the media explain that no, in fact what happened is that thousands of wonderful Venezuelan migrants peacefully gathered at a shopping mall in town and engaged in just some light to moderate gunfire. Here, let Denver Mayor Mike Johnston explain what you should actually know, and click this link to play the video:

The appearance of the thing seems to undermine our preferred narrative, but what you should know is that, despite the unfortunate events that have been misconstrued, our preferred narrative should prevail, because we are saying that the preferred narrative is the proper thing to say and think.

The kind of information that tends to circumvent debate. Mainstream journalism, coupled with officialdom, is a barrier to discussion, and means to be. “The newcomers.” How warm and wonderful. They’ll probably bring over a casserole! See, now you can be soothed by their presence, because you know not to believe the misinformation.

“I’m Olaf, and I like warm hugs.”