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Good morning. The Senate trial begins today, and you'll have a lot of opportunities for #DetectingDeception. You've been warming up for months, but here are a few last-minute tips.
2/ You won't find the deceptions as much in things people say in the trial as you will in things people say about the trial in news and on social media. There are consequences for being deceptive in legal proceedings, but there may not be for doing it elsewhere.
3/ The incentives are actually pretty high to try to shape the shape the story outside of the trial. As I understand it, impeachment is a political process, which means the outcome may be a mix of what's right and what's helpful politically for some.
4/ That means that whatever the public (voters) *think* about the evidence matters a lot to what happens. So public figures are going to be working overtime to tell you what to think. Weak evidence could mean more efforts to deceive.
5/ I tend to train with team truth, so I think a FAIR trial is the most important thing. Real evidence, presented fairly and considered without bias to make the best decision. You can play a role through what you choose to share.
6/ Look out for inflammatory verbs. Describing people's statements as "drags," "destroys," "claps back at," "torches," and the like is a pretty good sign that this is someone's biased opinion, hidden in emotional language to make you want to share it. Don't be a patsy.
7/ If you need to share misinformation, use a screenshot, not a re-share and remember the truth sandwich:
This falsely said thing
Is wrong because
Thus, it's a wrong statement.
This falsely said thing
Is wrong because
Thus, it's a wrong statement.
8/ Remember to join with people in your life to be accountable for thinking carefully about the things you are hearing.
Who said this?
Why would they say this to this audience in this way?
Is there any good proof offered?
Who said this?
Why would they say this to this audience in this way?
Is there any good proof offered?
9/ Finally, if you want to review some of the common deceptions that have been in the news the last 6 months, the hashtag #DetectingDeception has many examples.
10/ Shady language from folks trying to manipulate you isn't going away. Bonus points for checking out my book that teaches you how to spot it and what to do about it. http://bit.ly/DetectingDeceptionBook
