Input | Output |
---|---|
Link | Youtube |
Published | 2023/07/17 |
Theme | |
Status | article incomplete |
Beau says:
Be cautious of misleading headlines quoting out of context, as they distort the truth and hinder accurate information consumption.
Information Consumers
The full transcript provides detailed insights into the spread of misinformation through inaccurate headlines and urges the audience to critically analyze news sources for a more accurate understanding of current events.
#Misinformation #InformationConsumption #MediaLiteracy #CriticalThinking #Headlines
Well, howdy there internet people, it's Beau again.
So today we are going to talk a little bit
about information consumption.
And we're going to get to do something a little bit unique
because we'll use a real world example,
something that is happening right now
related to a topic that most people watching this channel
are following, and we can show how bad information spreads,
how inaccurate information spreads,
bad narratives are formed using one specific tactic that we have talked
about before on the channel. Anytime we do those videos on how to be a better
consumer of information, I always talk about quotes as headlines. When a news
organization uses a quote from another person or a paraphrasing of that quote
as the headline and how that often leads to bad information because, well, the news
outlet is insulated. They don't have to accept responsibility for the accuracy
of that statement because they're just quoting somebody else. So oftentimes the
headline, which is what most people see, the thing that forms that initial
reaction is wrong. And that's happening right now with something that I think
most people are paying attention to. Putin says Russia has sufficient cluster
munitions and may retaliate if Ukraine uses them. Okay, here's the quote that
this is being pulled from. Russia has a sufficient supply of various types of
cluster munitions. If they are used against us, we reserve the right to
mirror actions. Okay here's another headline Putin says Russia will use
cluster bombs in Ukraine if it has to. Ukraine war Vladimir Putin threatens
cluster bomb retaliation if weapons used against Russian forces. Putin says Russia
has sufficient stockpile of bombs will use if needed. Okay so if you are a
frequent viewer of this channel, you have been following the coverage of this topic on this channel,
you already know where this is going, at least I hope so. For those who don't, let me catch you up.
Russia has been using cluster munitions throughout the war, throughout the war. First documented use
was February 24th, 2022 when they hit a hospital. I say documented use because it was probably used
before then, but the hospital, because it was civilian infrastructure, got
investigated. Russia has used cluster munitions hundreds of times during this
conflict. Hundreds, not an exaggeration. Hundreds of times. They have hit
residential buildings, schools, hospitals, playgrounds, everything. Hundreds of
times. Now, when it comes to citing this, I ran into an issue because the source
that I normally use for stuff like this, it's pretty closely linked to the UN.
And some people may say that they have a bias. I thought of
another one, but that one's pretty closely linked to the State Department.
Thought of another one, that one's pretty closely linked to the Kremlin. But here's
the thing, it doesn't matter. The UN directly, the ICC, the CMC, Human Rights
Watch, it doesn't matter which organization you trust. They all say this
happened. Any of them that cover this topic will say this. So rather than go
through and fight the bias allegations, I have a challenge for you. Find a
a single independent organization that says it didn't happen, one, spoiler, Russia doesn't
even deny it.
The only thing that they deny is when the cluster munitions hit civilian infrastructure
and they don't even bother to deny all of that.
They've been using it the entire time.
So the idea will use if needed.
That certainly implies they're not being used already.
Retaliation, again, implies it's not being used.
If it has to, the implication is there in all of these headlines that Russia hasn't
been using them for a year.
Here's a different headline.
issues new batch of threats and lies in response to Ukraine's receipt of cluster
munitions." That's actually a more accurate headline. When Yahoo News has
the most accurate headline, there's an issue, just saying. You can see how this
works. You can see it in this case. This is a topic. It's current. People are
looking at it right now. This is something that is being hotly debated in
the United States because of the US supplying cluster munitions and just
because I know somebody's gonna bring it up. Yeah, Ukraine's used them too. Ukraine
has used them too. Not to the same extent they have a better track record of
accuracy but they've used them too. So the idea that this is a new development
is literally just a lie. It's not true in any way shape or form but that's the
narrative that is forming in the United States in large part because of
headlines that are made up of quotes. This happens all the time. It's not just
a thing that US media does with foreign leaders. It's not just a thing that they
do with military topics.
This happens all the time.
When you see a quote as a headline, just assume it's not true.
Assume it's completely inaccurate because there is no...
The outlet itself is not responsible for the content of that headline.
They don't have to ensure the quote is accurate.
So there is no fact checking.
And given the fact that most times when a quote is used, it's because the quote is inflammatory,
you just kind of have to assume it's not true.
If you ever wondered what I was talking about when I said using a quote as a headline, this
is it.
It's a very common practice.
This is just one that they're happening to do it with right now.
And it's something that we've already covered on the channel.
And it's a hot topic.
But you will see this more and more as you start to look for it.
And almost without fail, the quote's wrong.
Sometimes it's true, but the outlet doesn't know that it's true yet.
Like it'll turn out to be true later.
But most times when that quote is used, it's there to elicit an emotional reaction.
When you're talking about news, that really, that messes up your ability to consume information
accurately.
So be on the lookout for it.
There's a clear example of it happening and a clear example of how not just is it slightly
misleading, it's entirely inaccurate.
And it's inaccurate even though every single source that you could pull on this would tell
the news outlet that it's inaccurate.
But man, that's a good headline, isn't it?
Anyway, it's just a thought.
Y'all have a good day.
{{Shirt}}
{{EasterEgg}}