Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Truth or George Orwell's 1984?


I've noticed recently how much TV drama seems to center around the premise that the internet can change the world. For example Midnight Man from the UK, in the gripping final scenes, the truth prevails because secret information is uploaded to the internet.  In books as well, this theme has been explored for example in Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta and David Baldacci's The Whole Truth. In the latter novel, it  is 'perception management' where people grow rich from manipulating truth on the net. It could also be referred to as truth management or we could recall George Orwell's 1984 for a vision of the future where truth is managed by being manipulated.
In fact when I read what BP is doing right now, I know that the future as envisioned by various authors is here right now.Or is it?  The power of the internet to spread information as well as misinformation is too much of an opportunity to be missed. 

"According to ABC News, BP has purchased several phrases on search engines such as Google and Yahoo so that online users get directed to the company’s official website first."

There are the detractors of Wikipedia for example who feel that the internet will result in the proliferation of misinformation as opposed to books. To that I would say what about Mein Kampf? What about the Protocol of the Elders of Zion? What about the books of Velikovsky? What about Erik von Daniken and The Chariots of the Gods?
Misinformation has always been around. The internet will always be around and will become increasingly pervasive in our lives.
It is up to each and every one of us to be cynical and inquisitive enough to search for the truth because it is out there. The latest bit of misinformation to hit the headlines is the circumstances surrounding Helen Thomas and the flotilla trying to break the Gaza blockade.
Don't believe what I say or even worse believe what Helen Thomas says. Do your research and you will find the truth on the internet as well as in books and other sources of information.
In fact there is no absolute truth as such, just a myriad of facts that require analysis and understanding.
That's why there is always such a diverse range of opinions on any subject.

2 comments:

ButterSnatch said...

I'll be right back...

Let me go check Google and see if I should agree with you or not.

Lexcen said...

http://fedupintolerant.com/

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