Not What We Think We See

Sometimes what we think we know is not what it really is.  It is easy to be deceived by appearances and the whole industry of "fake news" -- especially on social media -- is built around that ease of deception.

What is known as Artificial Intelligence makes the process of deception much easier.  What is actually Machine Learning is utilized to generate much of the propaganda that we see.  It is often created by foreign enemies, but also by political movements that are seeking to sway people to a specific agenda.  It happens on both sides of the political spectrum in an effort to promote political positions and garner power, but is often magnified by forces seeking to destroy our country by pitting opposing sides of an issue against each other in such a way that what might have been a civil discussion regarding different approaches to an issue becomes a chasm between different groups.  The old saying of "divide and conquer" is extremely relevant to the current situation.

Everyone is guilty of participating.  If you post or share a post that is generated in this war of propaganda, you are guilty of being part of it.  Social media makes it feel safer than a face-to-face conversation with someone of opposing views, but it is probably more conducive to divisiveness than a personal discussion where understanding is potentially achievable.  After all, most problems are seen by all sides of an issue as in need of resolution, but the approach is often very different.  In the anonymity of social media we look only at those things which coincide with our personal beliefs and make no effort at understanding the position or belief that may be held by others.  It is destroying families, neighborhoods and society in general.

We should all keep in mind that what we see and hear sometimes needs a little interpretation and effort to understand.  Just like the plant in the photo below -- Narrow-leaved-blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium).  It looks like a flower such as is typically found on a forb, but it is actually a grass.  It is commonly cultivated as an ornamental.