Tell Me Lies

Published in Funeralcare magazine, March 2021

Misinformation is rife in the wide web world. It goes beyond the hyperbolic “Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see” which, pointedly, the internet would have me believe can be attributed to Benjamin Franklin, Edgar Allan Poe, AND Dinah Craik.

The more the internet-of-things makes devices smarter, the more it seems to make those using them less so. Why are we so ready to believe what we read? Not just on social-in-origin media such as Facebook and Twitter, but increasingly on professional-in-origin platforms like LinkedIn, and even information originating from our own trusted networks.

While it might be relatively easy to spot fake news, it can be considerably harder to recognise untruths masquerading as facts within emails, stories and opinion pieces.

The internet tells me that we are lied to between ten and 20 times a day, and I think I believe that. Most of those lies are mostly harmless White Lies, told to protect someone from hurt or preserve their dignity. It is understandable that children lie to avoid punishment, or those in danger lie for self-preservation. There is consideration in lies told to spare embarrassment or avoid a socially awkward situation.

At the opposite end of the spectrum are Black Lies, designed to reflect well on the messenger at the expense of someone else. To add a bit of colour we could rename them Orange after recent stateside events. Then again perhaps not: I spent a lot of time with Orange Guy last year, and despite his proverbial proximity to lies, damn lies, and campaign promises, Kiwi Orange Guy has integrity.

There is nothing honourable about Black Lies. Lies to increase employment opportunities. Lies to win the admiration of others. Lies to distort, control or withhold information. These are about ego rather than community. They can be profoundly damaging, and often fly under our radar. I’ve been on the “ouch” end of many over the years. I suspect that makes me a member of a not-so-exclusive club with zero loyalty benefits. Lies blindside us. One minute we’re on the bus. The next we’re standing in the road wondering what the hell just happened. Somebody lied. No-one on the bus noticed.

Can we get better at noticing? We’ve become pretty adept at reading body language to unmask lies. Is there a way to tell if the written word contains misinformation? The answer is absolutely. Yes indeed. When we apply a logical mindset instead of an emotional one, we can uncover lies in print. Here’s how.

Check facts. Look for evidence. Ask questions:

· What is the purpose of the story? Is it to inform, empower, or entertain, or is it to promote the writer?

· What is the source? Is the author an accredited or experienced spokesperson for the issue? If not, who is?

· What are other sources saying? Are they saying the same thing? Who is saying the same thing? Who is saying something different?

“Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth”. I believe this pearl of wisdom was uttered by Joseph Goebbels, which should be warning enough. Be responsible - don’t repeat it till you’ve tested it.

The structure of the message and the language that is used are also revealing. There are some common tools, words and phrases that people use when they’re fudging it:

· Trusted Source. Quoting an expert source is a great way to get a point across: watch for an unrelated message embedded within.

· Trust Language. Honestly. Truthfully. Certainly. Actually. You may not believe this but…

· Generalising Language. Always. Nobody. Never.

· Foggy Language. But. Without. Tried. Wanted.

· Avoiding Contractions. “Do not” instead of “Don’t”. “Can not” vs “Can’t”. “I have” vs “I’ve”. Someone famous once proclaimed that he “…did not have sexual relations with that woman.” “No” would have sufficed.

· Distancing. Using “the car” instead of “my car”, “we” instead of “I”. Who is the “we”?

· Vague Detail. “We consulted extensively with…”, “Industry supports our assertion that…” Who, when, where and how?

Out of interest, I used the language test on an article I knew to be, ermm, “misleading”. It was indeed revealing. I urge you to try it. It’s fun. Would I lie to you?