And that’s how fake news spreads

Who’s Your Source

A friend of a friend posted something dumb, a claim that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg wants to ban the Lord’s Prayer, followed by said prayer.

One of her friends told her it was fake news, a debunked story.

She asked why she shouldn’t post it anyway, since so many find comfort in the prayer.

When her friend replied that she shouldn’t post it because the first part is a lie, she said, “lol.”

A glance at her page, one I’d never gone to, confirmed the worst: she’s a Republican who bashes liberals and the mainstream media, who thinks misinformation on Covid shouldn’t be banned by Facebook, presumably because she believes the disinformation.

I unfriended her.

But I can’t stop thinking about it.

I thought about all the times my friends and I have fallen for an outdated or untrue story.

But each time, we’ve thanked the person who fact-checked us, apologized, and either edited the post or taken it down.

Not this woman. Not this particular Republican. Not this particular Christian.

Another of her friends added a separate comment, responding to the lie: “Amen.”

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  • Judith Sprague Nov 24, 2020 Link

    That’s exactly why there’s so much hatred and division. People tend to believe and spread conspiracy theories rather than the truth. Isn’t that considered “bearing false witness “?

  • James Dec 12, 2020 Link

    MAGA. Made America Go Asinine. The koolaid that makes Republicans that continue too follow this Pinocchio Puppeteer are just that, asinine.
    But God’s son Jesus says all are capable of the Kingdom so long as they repent. I have no hatred of them I am too am not perfect.
    God bless our U.S.A.!

  • Mary Jan 8, 2022 Link

    I had to look it up before I posted anything, and yes, it is not true, but it is also not true that she posted this because she is a Republican, I have seen both Republican and Democrats post this. So let not make it about anything but a few people who post things that they shouldn’t without checking it out first.

  • Waldo Jan 11, 2022 Link

    Good that you unfriended her. I know it hurts to hear the ideas and opinions of others. This must be your safe space.

  • Mitch Jan 11, 2022 Link

    I agree everyone should fact check and I’m
    Not denying anything about this person as to who she is or what she believes. I don’t know.
    But to lump her up as “one of those” and be somewhat distasteful to her is unnecessary. There are people on all sides and ends of the spectrum. Every person across the world, whatever race, belief, views or values we have, are all guilty.
    We should call them out in a mature and non-arrogant way. Because let’s face…we ALL have our tendencies. And if you don’t think so you are just as bad as the person you were ranting about.

  • Valerie Feb 5, 2022 Link

    The root problem isn’t “this republican “. It is ALL of the people who put ideological affiliation above truth. Instead of seeking edification through logical debate, too many people seek to score points with those who are already in agreement. I am not excusing the woman who posted this crap, knowing it was a lie. I am saying that boiling it down to party affiliation is turning a blind eye to the fact this happens on all points on the political spectrum and if you don’t see it there is a good chance you skipped the fact check and reposted something that seemed like what you would expect from the other side. Or you did a quick search and found something that echoed your assumptions and ran with it. Drop the need to assign a “side ” to the incident. This woman did a crappy thing. The crappy thing is the problem. Not her political affiliation.

  • Dr Karma Feb 14, 2022 Link

    There are definitely good and bad people on both sides. But one party officially endorses fake news. The parties are not equally guilty of this right now.

  • Dr Karma Feb 14, 2022 Link

    I was disrespectful to her because I don’t respect her. We definitely all have our tendencies, but when I’ve posted something that wasn’t true (as we all have), and people pointed it out, I have taken my posts down. She just laughed and left it up.

  • Dr Karma Feb 14, 2022 Link

    Note too that I never said all Republicans do this. I said “this particular” Republican and Christian. I was careful in my word choice because I know not all Republicans or Christians behave as this woman did.

  • Dr Karma Feb 14, 2022 Link

    I don’t think you know what “opinion” means if you think the fake news she posted was that. I’m specifically averse to people outright lying about stuff like this, and I don’t want to be friends with those who do.

  • Dr Karma Feb 14, 2022 Link

    Both sides fall for disinformation sometimes, but as I said to another commenter, one party officially endorses outright lies right now.