Saturday, January 18, 2014
The "Trust" Factor
In today's society everything can be looked up. Simply put, things like Google Search to auto-text, takes the guess work out of our everyday lives. The question of, how do we know what we know, can be taken further into why do we trust what we know. We trust that Google will get us home, find us food, and even make our phone calls. We "trust" because the masses trust. The masses is also how we know what we know. Technology has taken the news straight to our cell phones, tablets, and laptops. Personally, I know my mobile apps have allowed me new avenues to learn information. Instagram alone has opened my eyes up to nature, culinary arts, fashion, etc. Today I even ran across something that caught my eye and not once did I question it's accuracy. I saw that today was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday and immediately believed it to be true. What reaffirmed my belief was that as I scrolled down my feed, I saw the same thing another 11 times! The masses have clearly spoken in that they all believe today to be his birthday and thus I too. This is a prime example of how we know what we know and sadly to say this is what we've come down to as a generation. I can't believe that I haven't opened an encyclopedia since grade school. Even with this evolution and counting on the masses for truth in what we see, I do believe that for the most part what I see is true. Even though I always research anyway, it's a testament to where and what we've become as a society.
P.S. This post was actually started on January 15, 2014.
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What you say is very true - if the masses say it is so, it must be so! I know that I, like you, will see a post on Facebook or a story on CNN.com or somewhere else, and once I see it a few more times, I don't question its validity. I determine it is a true story because it has been deemed true by others.
ReplyDeleteDo you think this makes us, as a society, seem more gullible? That we would just take the majority rule on a topic, and not search out the facts on our own? I'd like to think not, but I can see where others might agree that we are lemmings following each other off the cliff of news items...
Great post! I like when someone's blog gets me thinking.
I do believe that we are a society that has grown to be more gullible. It is sad to say but we just dont question anything anymore. Google and every other search engine has taken the question from us. If you think about it, this has also had negative effects on how we communicate with each other. We dont ask others anymore, we look to technology for anwers.
DeleteFantastic post! I love your priceless quote: "We trust that Google will get us home, find our food, and even make our phone calls."
ReplyDeleteAt some point, do you think Google will begin to shape our opinions through subliminal messages? It's a frightening thought.
I already thought Google shapes our opinions and with advertisements coming from all angles, Im sure our thoughts are being shaped right now!
DeleteI like how you recognize that society today seems to be enthralled in technology and social media to provide us with accurate information, news, nature, and other fine things in life. Technology and SM are like that -they offers us a lot and we do believe what they offer as truth because of the masses. It was great to see your statement about your not having opened up an encyclopedia in years! So true for many! Great post!
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