I’m sure a lot of people are sick of my posts lately. Because they’re not my usual lighthearted, sarcastic, and comical posts. And I’m very sorry. I’ve been on my soapbox a lot lately. Because I’m tired. So very tired. Tired of conspiracy theories, half-truths, and blatant lies. People 👏🏻 are 👏🏻 dying 👏🏻 at 👏🏻 an 👏🏻 alarming 👏🏻 rate! 👏🏻

But some people care more about disproving reports from scientists and medical professionals and trying to convince themselves and others that the reality we are seeing and experiencing simply DOES NOT EXIST. It is heartbreaking. It is disgusting. And it is physically, mentally, and emotionally EXHAUSTING.

So, I started wondering, what happened to us? How did we get here? In the age of technology, with a world of information at our fingertips, why are we drowning in a sea of misinformation— and disinformation?

It actually started very small. Did you know that just 12 people (known as The ‘Disinformation Dozen‘) are responsible for authoring approximately 65% of the misleading claims, debunked myths, and outright lies about vaccines and other popular conspiracy theories that proliferate on social media? 🤯

But why? Who are these people? And what are their motives? 🤔 They are self proclaimed activists, pseudoscience entrepreneurs, osteopathic & homeopathic specialists, chiropractors, and one is even an OB/GYN. Motives: $$$ – They pedal a variety of books, videos, courses, dietary supplements, and other merchandise that just doesn’t sell as well when we don’t buy into their claims.

Their main complaint when their content is flagged or an account is removed for violating guidelines? I’ll give you a hint. It’s not that they’re worried about public welfare. It’s that the loss of their ‘donate’ or ‘buy now’ buttons is costing them hundreds of thousands of dollars. 😒

These individuals are very clever. Their information usually begins with a fragment of truth. One of their favorite sources may surprise you. It’s VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System), run by the United States Health and Human Services. This factual database tracks ALL adverse events related to vaccines. The literal purpose of the database is public transparency. To help consumers make informed decisions.

Contrary to popular belief, no one is trying to hide vaccine side effects, injuries or adverse reactions. They are all public record, available for anyone to view.

So, this real and accurate information is one source, per se’… But much like playing telephone, what was originally published scarcely resembles what gets posted and shared, and the longer it circulates, the less truth there is.

This is where the controversial social media campaigns began. They started to fact-check, remove content, add disclaimers to posts, and even temporarily or permanently ban accounts in an effort to combat a secondary pandemic: misinformation.

Now, you might be thinking it’s wrong to censor people just because they disagree with you. What about the first amendment? I hear you. Really, I do. So please hear me. This is NOT about a difference of opinion. Let me explain.

I don’t like coffee. {Sorry} Lot’s of people think coffee is amazing. That’s their OPINION. Do you see how neither of us agreeing or disagreeing about that is in any way harmful to anyone? {save for the stock prices at Starbucks} I am also a cat person. Some people prefer the company of dogs, birds, fish, rabbits, gerbils, Guinea pigs, sugar gliders, lizards, snakes, questionably obtained exotic pets, or an assortment of other creatures. Pet, feed, cuddle, and spoil whatever makes you happy. {I respectfully request that you do not introduce it to me if it has a forked tongue, 🦎 more than 4 legs 🕷 or less than 2. 🐍 😬} I also don’t care whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent, or voted for Kanye. 🤷🏻‍♀️

See? But the more I read, the more I get the feeling that a lot of people were either out sick or just not paying attention the day they covered facts vs. opinions. So, here’s a little refresher. By definition, an opinion is 1.) a belief or judgment that rests on grounds INSUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE CERTAINTY. 2.) a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.

An opinion CANNOT be right or wrong. Because it’s subjective, based entirely on personal preferences, beliefs, and feelings. If you heard someone tell a kid he was wrong because he said his favorite color was green. You’d be like, “How’s he wrong? That’s his opinion. Take a lap, Jim Bob.” Because that’s not how opinions work.

So, I hope you understand when I tell you I do not care if we share the same opinions. It’s great to have things in common with other people. But I don’t expect or want to live in a boring echo chamber, where everyone thinks exactly like me on every matter. That sounds dreadful. How would we ever learn or grow if we were all surrounded by people who just blindly agreed about everything and there were no alternative perspectives to consider?

I welcome civil conversation, open dialogue, differing thoughts, opinions, and beliefs. We can have professional relationships, and close friendships, despite and often because of diverse opinions. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. That’s our right. It’s one of the best things about the human experience.

But we also need to realize that none of us exists in a vacuum. One person’s rights END where another’s BEGIN. Thus, what I do NOT feel we are entitled to do is share OPINIONS that can endanger other people because they’ve been MISREPRESENTED as facts.

Moreover, the First Amendment is designed to further the pursuit of TRUTH, not to protect those who willfully and egregiously engage in slander or libel, especially those who display actual malice by knowingly publishing false information or publishing information with reckless disregard for the truth.

So, when doing research to decide if the vaccine or ANYTHING ELSE is the right choice for you, please consider the source of the information you reference, as well as its credibility and motivations. And look at facts, rather than opinions. 💗