Kerby Anderson
Yesterday, I talked about some of the tests Glenn Beck proposes in his new book Propaganda Wars. The first three are the “liar-liar test,” the “what is a woman test,” and the “egg-throwing gorilla test.” If you don’t know what those are, you might consult the transcript for yesterday’s commentary.
His fourth test is the “bias test.” People and institutions are more likely to cite facts that support their ideological or religious views. If a secular, liberal news source reports something favorable to conservatives or Christians, it is likely to be true.
The fifth test he calls the “bloodthirsty tyrant test.” If someone supports or calls for violence, you should not trust the information. The mainstream media has frequently downplayed the violence and threats from Antifa. He argues that if you think your cause is so righteous it justifies burning cities down then you shouldn’t trust that source.
Another test is the “original source test.” This test is more difficult because you shouldn’t always take at face value a statement that isn’t a firsthand account. It takes time and patience to find an original source. Glenn Beck devotes a few pages to show how the false story of 500 people who died in a hospital in Gaza was repeated verbatim by multiple outlets.
A final test is the “crazy uncle test.” Along with Christmas carols and Thanksgiving turkeys, one American holiday tradition is getting trapped in a completely absurd conversation with a crazy uncle. Glenn Beck suggests we treat the entire social media industry as though it is a crazy uncle.
You will need wisdom and a degree of skepticism to navigate the propaganda wars in the 21st century.
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Penna Dexter