Kate Stewart: The truth is out there somewhere

What does one do when even "the truth" isn't actually the truth?

I'm both amused and perplexed when I see people spouting supposed truths, based on "expert" research and studies, or those that share links to MSM posts as if they were the Gospel.

And should MSM be held accountable for what they do, or perhaps more importantly, what they don't report? Absolutely they should.

Take the constant Trump thumping, as I call it. If the guy farted in public he'd be accused of crimes against the environment, single-handedly enlarging the hole in the ozone layer and all but crucified for his contribution to an excessive carbon footprint.

Dish out the dirt on him all you like, I couldn't give a monkey's uncle, but just be sure, that in the interests of fair and unbiased reporting, you dish the dirt on his opponents and his critics too, because there is plenty of it to be found, for the real seekers of truth.

No one likes to admit that they are wrong, but ironically the truth is we can't all be right.

Nobody wants to be confronted with an irrefutable adverse fact about anyone or anything they passionately advocate for.

It's human nature for our defence mechanism to kick in ... to protect not only our belief but our own credibility and ego.

Just because you read something on a supposedly reputable site or hear about it on the nightly news doesn't make it so.

We have become so quick to judge and react negatively. Our minds are made up within mere minutes, if not seconds.

It speaks volumes about us as a people - and not in a good way. We've become so quick to criticise and more often than not, we do so without the complete facts, as opposed to those that suit our narrative.

Honestly, we've never criticised each other more. It's a bloody joke.
There are always two sides to a story and as they say, the truth is more often discovered in the middle.
Our failing as human beings is that need to take a side. We align ourselves with a cause and automatically declare anything to the contrary as a lie.

Are we that incapable of being open-minded and impartial?

Like anyone else, I have moral and political leanings, but not to the point where I will defend the undefendable or mindlessly agree with everything that is expertly packaged and presented to me as a truth.

If I think it's BS, I'll call them on it and go one further - I'm even prepared to say when I get it wrong.

Another example that proves my point is the court system.

Pay an "expert witness" enough for their testimony and they'll manufacture anything you want to hear. For every "renowned specialist" in their field you'll find another who is prepared to say the opposite.
As is the case with research papers and studies. Find and promote the one that best serves your cause and just ignore or mock those that don't.

The truth, once an absolute, has now become objective and ominously grey, like the very subtle but all-important difference between not guilty and innocent.

How many of us can really look in the mirror and honestly say that we have done our due diligence ... researched all the facts and explored all the arguments, even though it may mean unearthing a truth that we may not want to believe or admit?
I'm all for supporting a cause but not just because.

An authentic fact finder will want to discover its roots, motives and ultimate agenda.
Our brains are what supposedly separates us from other animals. It's time we engaged them by thinking for ourselves, like we once did, in the good old days.

The truth is out there, we just need to be brave, curious and open-minded enough to discover it.

Our society has lost so much humanity over the past few decades, even though we want to believe we are more accepting, tolerant, diverse, well resourced and connected than ever before.

Actually, we have become more intolerant, judgemental, ill-equipped, disconnected and divided than we have ever been.

That's the truth ... in my book, anyway.

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