Keep Calm + Distrust + Verify 👑💋
How I Learned To Stop Worrying + Sissy That Walk
“We no longer need fact-checkers.
We need reality-checkers.”
Mike Allen (Axios AM)
“Misinformation is incorrect or misleading information. Misinformation and disinformation are not interchangeable terms: Misinformation can exist with or without specific malicious intent whereas disinformation is distinct in that the information is deliberately deceptive and propagated.”
Wikipedia
While researching this morning’s newsletter, I ran into so much misinformation—and disinformation—I wanted to pull out the rest of my hair. So instead of losing what little locks I have left, I decided to keep calm and channel my frustrations into something fun—by creating my very own superhero(ine).
With the help of an AI generator, meet Missy Information, the Queen of Keep Calm, Distrust, and Verify. Dressed to impress and armed with sass and smarts, she’s here to sashay away my media-fueled frustrations.
Long story short, Missy once tried joining the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, but her application was rejected—for citing too many sources. The Sisters love a good truth bomb, but Missy was serving up too much information, 24/7.
No big deal. Missy doesn’t need a “ladies” club to shine. One day, she’ll be as popular as Glinda and as wicked as Elphaba combined. But first…Missy’s got much work to do. Missy is determined to spread love and light in a world where lies travel faster than the speed of 5G.
The truth may set us free, but figuring out what the truth even is will definitely piss us off. And Missy? She might not be the prettiest belle at the ball—or pageant—but she doesn’t care. The truth hurts…and she’s 100% that bitch!
So what’s this random drag fantasy all about? This morning, I’ve seen misinformation about the wildfires, misreports about Anita Bryant’s death—ding dong, the witch is gone…but died December 16th, not yesterday—and one too many inaccurate “on this day” posts.
Too much misinformation before breakfast ruins my appetite.
It’s impossible to double-check everything, but I do my best to share only what I’ve verified as factual—or make it very clear when I’m leaning into creative nonfiction or op-ed territory. Like with Missy Information, my unreal superhero(ine). Ain’t nobody got time for that much preening and prep work.
Ultimately, we need more critical thinking education, platforms that prioritize accuracy over engagement, and leaders who don’t twist facts for convenience.
I may not be able to defeat misinformation, but I can channel my inner Missy Information to make it harder to spark and spread.
For some reason, imagining myself in a fierce wig, with a runway-worthy walk, makes it easier for me to keep calm while I distrust and verify.
Reality deserves the crown, sash, and spotlight again.
Thanks for reading and subscribing!
Clint
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Everything Is Literally On Fire & Zuck Stops Fact-Checking (Internet Today) 📺
Seniors Hacking The Lottery + Living Their Best Lives (60 Minutes) 📺
ON THIS DAY
BIRTHDAYS = HIGHLIGHTS
1930 = Roy E. Disney = American businessman
1939 = Sal Mineo = American actor 🌈
1943 = Jim Croce = American singer-songwriter
1945 = Rod Stewart = British singer-songwriter
1949 = George Foreman = American boxer, actor, and businessman
1953 = Pat Benatar = American singer-songwriter
EVENTS = HIGHLIGHTS
49 BC = Julius Caesar defies the Roman Senate and crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war and his appointment as Roman dictator for life.
1776 = Thomas Paine publishes his pamphlet Common Sense.
1927 = Fritz Lang's futuristic film Metropolis is released in Germany.
1978 = Thirty-five men in Bethesda, MD, who are married to women and have attractions to men, meet and create the Gay Married Men’s Association.
PHOTOS + QUOTES OF THE DAY
“I don't think people expect Bruce Springsteen to come out in a pink satin jacket, but Rod Stewart, they do. And I like doing it; I don't wear it just because I think I have to. I'm a very flamboyant person.”
Rod Stewart
“I wish I knew what I know now before.”
Rod Stewart
“I tried therapy. This had never appealed to me. For me, it was a bit like a Chinese meal: very filling at the time, but then an hour later you're hungry again.”
Rod Stewart
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Whatever it takes to deal with the frustration! I like your creation, hope (s)he shows up often. I'm an avid researcher of news, and it's doggoned difficult to verify stuff. Even people who appear to have facts in hand (and there are many) often don't cite their sources so you're left wondering how the "f" they know what they're saying. On the right and the left and altogether outside that paradigm.
You have hit the nail on the head!! AI is uncontrolled at this point, and sometimes it is difficult to recognize when it is being used. From what I have observed so far, there are many AI 'creators' who are not too good at their AI products making spotting it easy. As you have noted, understanding what is 'real' and what is 'AI real' requires a lot of effort. Who to trust and who to not trust for me is my current problem because of the time and effort it takes to verify what I see, hear and read online.
My biggest concern is that our new Hitler will have truth eliminated in favor of what he thinks people will believe because he says it is true and more importantly to him what makes him look good. He is so insecure about himself he does what is the classic thing: yell at anyone who challenges him and does his best to destroy whoever or whatever dared to challenge the veracity of his comments.
There are people out there who see though this shit and hopefully the number of them will continue to grow fast enough to prevent us becoming 1984 for real.