Comments on: Searching for Truth (ACLU, FBI, and Hoods, oh my!) http://www.webword.com/wp/2004/12/21/searching-for-truth-aclu-fbi-and-hoods-oh-my/ The usability blog of John S. Rhodes Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:19:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Anonymous http://www.webword.com/wp/2004/12/21/searching-for-truth-aclu-fbi-and-hoods-oh-my/#comment-9522 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2004/12/21/searching-for-truth-aclu-fbi-and-hoods-oh-my/#comment-9522 People think information is about absolute truth. uh-uh. Information is about power and spin. It isn't only about the claim, you can just as well use a flimsy memo to make an allegation. Even in pushing for a memo which might not exist, you prove you are "doing your job." Funding and donations keep coming in, and so there is some point in even the pointless exercise. What happens if this particular memo doesn't exist? Better still, because no matter what the target of allegations says, it makes them look like the the allegation is "true."<br /> <br /> This, kiddies, is information as it is practiced. Not the fantasyland hype of technologists and therists. And it's also why truth and information are spelt diffr'nt. Most people select the data that makes their world view the correct one, then they call that information. What's true for blue is propoganda for red, and vice-versy. People think information is about absolute truth. uh-uh. Information is about power and spin. It isn’t only about the claim, you can just as well use a flimsy memo to make an allegation. Even in pushing for a memo which might not exist, you prove you are “doing your job.” Funding and donations keep coming in, and so there is some point in even the pointless exercise. What happens if this particular memo doesn’t exist? Better still, because no matter what the target of allegations says, it makes them look like the the allegation is “true.”

This, kiddies, is information as it is practiced. Not the fantasyland hype of technologists and therists. And it’s also why truth and information are spelt diffr’nt. Most people select the data that makes their world view the correct one, then they call that information. What’s true for blue is propoganda for red, and vice-versy.

]]>