Misinformation

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by sa226

Tim Caulfield, for me became one of the most preeminent voices for reason and logic during the pandemic. Scientifically as well as it relates to just the current public discourse.

I'm not even sure how I discovered him. I think he just jumped out as a well spoken, intelligent voice in a sea of nonsense.

He deserves a much larger audience than he has.

He's involved in Science Up First which is working to teach Canadians to identify misinformation and provide resources to counter it.

[Fuzz]

Sisyphus ain't got nothing on Tim.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Sisyphus ain't got nothing on Tim.

yes he must feel like his liver is getting constantly torn out day after day, the thankless task of bringing some light to humanity

[Engine09]

I knew it was coming.

Coworker just did a driveby to let me know that the Los Angeles fires were set on purpose and it's no coincidence that many insurance policies were conveniently cancelled last year. I didn't even have the energy to ask him the details of this intricate plan but he did say it was Biden and Democrats fault for not allowing removal of brush.

These conspiracy nutjobs are so unhinged, is it pure stupidity or a mental health issue?

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Engine09

I knew it was coming.

Coworker just did a driveby to let me know that the Los Angeles fires were set on purpose and it's no coincidence that many insurance policies were conveniently cancelled last year. I didn't even have the energy to ask him the details of this intricate plan but he did say it was Biden and Democrats fault for not allowing removal of brush.

These conspiracy nutjobs are so unhinged, is it pure stupidity or a mental health issue?

crazy people can also be stupid

[WideReceiver]

I haven’t discounted the possibility that the fires may have been caused by arson, but not the other nonsense.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

I haven’t discounted the possibility that the fires may have been caused by arson, but not the other nonsense.

Clearing brush is a huge issue in California. The utilities want to do it to reduce wildfire risk (and charge customers) but the public utilities commission wants to keep rates low and often won't allow them to. I think politics/nimbyism affecting brush clearing is a way more likely contributing factor than arson.

Obviously not at the Biden level, more at the local commissioner level.

That's one of the reasons misinformation becomes successful - it tends to have a grain of truth buried deep in the BS that makes it seem more plausible.

[Jimmy Stang]

There is considerable overlap with those that also believe that "climate change" is also a conspiracy. Despite the volumes of evidence of the earth being hotter and drier than ever, that couldn't be a major factor because that's just a conspiracy in itself.

So they settle on other explanations that are easier for their brains to process, despite a lack of evidence. Evidence itself, after all, comes from scientists, researchers, experts, and other sources that they have been told/conditioned not to trust because they are part of... another conspiracy.

I can't see a way out of it, to be honest. That type of thinking consumes people and is being amplified more than ever by politicians and grifters to take advantage of these "useful idiots". Even if you ignore the hardcore conspiracy theorists, the amount of nonsense being casually brought up in conversation is truly depressing.

[Engine09]

With brush removal I was assuming there was also an environmental factor, you just can't have any yahoo out there trying to do his own clearcutting and "controlled" burning.

But yeah, this conspiracy loon thinks Biden himself made sure that clearing any brush was illegal partly beaucse environmentaists are so incredibly stupid and beacuse it was part of a plan that was put into action when the fires were set.

Oh, I was told it's possible that the purpose of these fires was also to destroy evidence that would have been used again elite Hollywood child abusers. Yep.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

There is considerable overlap with those that also believe that "climate change" is also a conspiracy. Despite the volumes of evidence of the earth being hotter and drier than ever, that couldn't be a major factor because that's just a conspiracy in itself.

So they settle on other explanations that are easier for their brains to process, despite a lack of evidence. Evidence itself, after all, comes from scientists, researchers, experts, and other sources that they have been told/conditioned not to trust because they are part of... another conspiracy.

I can't see a way out of it, to be honest. That type of thinking consumes people and is being amplified more than ever by politicians and grifters to take advantage of these "useful idiots". Even if you ignore the hardcore conspiracy theorists, the amount of nonsense being casually brought up in conversation is truly depressing.

It sure doesn't help when our elected politicians magnify the bull#### for their own gains. But it works, because the number of morons is increasing at such a rate that the truth then becomes one side of a debate, and is no longer the truth on its own. Both sides is the crier call of bull####.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Engine09

I knew it was coming.

Coworker just did a driveby to let me know that the Los Angeles fires were set on purpose and it's no coincidence that many insurance policies were conveniently cancelled last year. I didn't even have the energy to ask him the details of this intricate plan but he did say it was Biden and Democrats fault for not allowing removal of brush.

These conspiracy nutjobs are so unhinged, is it pure stupidity or a mental health issue?

I like how the news stating one of the newest fires was *being investigated* due to suspicion of arson immediately led to "I KNEW IT! They all were deliberately set!"

The readiness of these people to jump to conclusions is something to behold.

And even if that specific fire was set on purpose, and we're a long way from being able to draw even that conclusion, it still doesn't mean the others were.

The internet makes me so embarrassed for humanity.

[WideReceiver]

Under the topic of misinformation, someone is insisting that we only get back 20% of our CPP contributions, which I don’t think is true. Roughly how much do we get returned?

[Sainters7]

Watching good friends go down that rabbit hole in real time is depressing. Him being a conspiracy theorist was amusing a decade ago. I never thought it would get this mainstream with people. To him, it confirms all of it. He used to laugh at himself about it when you teased him, but he's so much more confident about them now post-Covid. Of course he's a massive Trumper too.

You can't even reason with him, he immediately shuts it down with another conspiracy. So just avoid those talks altogether and have fun, right? Nope, he's obsessed, it's coming up regardless. It just consumes them.

And with increasingly convincing AI videos /voice work combined with politicians leaning hard into conspiracies and lies for votes, I think it's only going to get worse (and harder to believe real videos, especially if you're on the ideological other side). Crazy times..

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

Under the topic of misinformation, someone is insisting that we only get back 20% of our CPP contributions, which I don’t think is true. Roughly how much do we get returned?

It's nothing close to that low. Its a pretty dynamic target and there's a nearly unlimited amount of variables. If you were to contribute today's maximum for 42 years and average 8% growth...the money would grow to around 1.3 million which if stuffed in a bag that day would let you withdraw 3700 a month for 30 years. So based on today's maximum and what people contributed...it's a lot closer to 100 than it is to 20.

I used to see BS stuff like if you contribute $1500 a year for 25 years and got average growth you would have $3000 a month for 20 years, why does CPP knly pay $875 a month...do the math, it isn't even close.

That said...I was really annoyed when I had a CPP2 deduction last year after the CPP was maxed out.

[puffnstuff]

Meta deciding to quit fact checking on facebook and rely instead on 'community notes' should be no cause for concern right? Whats the worst that could happen?

[Fuzz]

Zuck the #### just made a hard right.


Do your best at deactivating any Meta account, it at leasts sends a small message that you are not monetizable anymore, and money seems to be the only language they understand anymore.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Watching good friends go down that rabbit hole in real time is depressing. Him being a conspiracy theorist was amusing a decade ago. I never thought it would get this mainstream with people. To him, it confirms all of it. He used to laugh at himself about it when you teased him, but he's so much more confident about them now post-Covid. Of course he's a massive Trumper too.

You can't even reason with him, he immediately shuts it down with another conspiracy. So just avoid those talks altogether and have fun, right? Nope, he's obsessed, it's coming up regardless. It just consumes them.

And with increasingly convincing AI videos /voice work combined with politicians leaning hard into conspiracies and lies for votes, I think it's only going to get worse (and harder to believe real videos, especially if you're on the ideological other side). Crazy times..

It's fine to be skeptical about a few things, and you might even be right, but for so many people being a skeptic becomes part of their personality. Once they think they are getting a peek behind the curtain then of course nothing can be trusted. A big part of it is the algorithms on YouTube and elsewhere. Once you start looking down the rabbit hole you are led deeper and deeper by their suggestions.

As bad as Twitter and Facebook are, YouTube is the real killer here. It's always 'I saw this video', and if they saw that video then they had suggestions for a dozen more like it or worse. Honestly, at some point shutting down all social media might be the only answer.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

That said...I was really annoyed when I had a CPP2 deduction last year after the CPP was maxed out.

Good news, your CPP2 contribution is doubling in 2025!

[Geraldsh]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

Under the topic of misinformation, someone is insisting that we only get back 20% of our CPP contributions, which I don’t think is true. Roughly how much do we get returned?

Live long and prosper.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Engine09

With brush removal I was assuming there was also an environmental factor, you just can't have any yahoo out there trying to do his own clearcutting and "controlled" burning.

But yeah, this conspiracy loon thinks Biden himself made sure that clearing any brush was illegal partly beaucse environmentaists are so incredibly stupid and beacuse it was part of a plan that was put into action when the fires were set.

Oh, I was told it's possible that the purpose of these fires was also to destroy evidence that would have been used again elite Hollywood child abusers. Yep.

This is the first I've heard of this. Sounds like just 1 or a few wack jobs and not widespread misinformation.