Fight misinformation with DRAMA
EMS and the internet have something in common: both are super-efficient generators of sketchy or downright false information. In both places bad intel spreads like an STD causing inflammation and embarrassment. One would like to think that humans would have enough wit to filter what was true from what was not, but whether you call it fake news, lies, or simple deception, there are scores of individuals who will, without any thought, propagate rumors and falsehoods either out of malice or out of shear ignorance. While we certainly can’t stop the malicious, we can help the ignorant.
Regardless of where it appears - in the workplace, at school, or on the internet - following the Hulsman Five-Step Program “DRAMA” will help break anyone of the misinformation addiction.
DRAMA stands for: Date, Read, Analyze, Mediate, and Announce. These five steps, when followed by any person, can make the difference between an intelligent response, and a Hurculean display of ignorance. I urge everyone, regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic class, or political affiliation, to follow these five simple steps with all information that happens to appear before him or her. Here’s the breakdown!
DATE: To begin, take a look and see what the date of the original story is. If it’s more than six months old, chances are good that you’re not seeing the most recent information. There may have already been a resolution to the issue. If it’s a rumor or spoken story, try and track down when the events purportedly happened.
Example: Recently a friend shared a post about a high school banning students from wearing clothing depicting the American flag. The post was actually from last year and a VERY brief google search revealed that shortly after the letter banning certain apparel went home in 2017, the high school in question clarified that American flag depictions were NOT banned; the flag ITSELF was not to be worn for clothing as this practice is both disrespectful, and illegal. (US Flag Code, Section 8d) https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/4/8
READ: Not just the headlines, but THE WHOLE ARTICLE. Some media outlets and most extremist writers create sensational headlines and count on people to read nothing else. This practice is a great way to get propaganda to spread quickly. When you read the article, you’ll often find that the actual facts have been, sometimes egregiously, misrepresented by the headlines.
Example: Another friend of mine once shared an article entitled “Man Gets Prison Sentence For Collecting Rainwater On His Own Property.” Sounds ridiculous, right? That’s because it’s not really all that accurate. In reading the article, one learns that the “rainwater” was water being pulled from the natural watershed, and the “prison sentence” was actually a fine and a 30 day jail sentence. This sentence was due to other circumstances not mentioned in the article (see next paragraph: “Analyze”) Again, if the story is a rumor or spoken, dig for more information from the person saying it.
ANALYZE: Take a moment, temper your outrage, and google research the post. Type in the names of the company or persons involved, the area that the event supposedly happened in, or whatever other information you can get. Find at least four sources including at least one mainstream news source (CBS, NBC, ABC, BBC, CNN, even Fox. Local city newspapers are also good sources). See what these sources have to say about the event. You might be surprised as to what was left out of the original post!
(Spoken word info: it’s best to go DIRECTLY to whomever can verify or disprove what you’re being told. This could be a manager, or the person who is the subject of the story.)
Example: The previously mentioned rainwater prison sentence was actually a situation in which an Oregon man named Gary Harrington had been diverting natural channels which ran across his property for the illegal retention of some 13 million gallons of water in his man-made reservoirs. This act removed water from the natural watershed and potentially affected ecosystems and other people down-stream. After nearly a decade of protracted legal battles and refusal to empty the illegal reservoirs, Mr. Harrington did eventually pay a $1500 fine and serve 30 days in jail.
MEDIATE: After analyzing all info from all sources, temporarily find a middle position from which you can calmly weigh all the facts you have collected. In this way you can make an educated decision about what you believe to be true, and figure out how you feel about that truth.
ANNOUNCE: If you are still outraged, triggered, or otherwise aggrieved, you can post your displeasure secure in the knowledge that you now know what the hell you’re talking about. If you are no longer outraged or have discovered things to not be quite what they first seemed, PLEASE post something to educate others who may be falling victim to this misinformation as well. Either way, announce your findings!
If you follow this D.R.A.M.A. format, you’ll frequently avoid... drama! You’ll not find yourself on the short end of the intellectual yardstick, and you may even get to drop some knowledge on someone.
Feel free to share the DRAMA system with anybody you can. Do your part to help the truth shine free!
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