Fear of Information

What is “misinformation” and “disinformation”? I understand what a lie is, or what malicious intent to deceive is. But what is someone talking or writing about something that they themselves sincerely believe is true? Should that person be silenced? Even if what they believe is true, is not. Is that misinformation? Clearly, that is exactly what is happening these days, people are being silenced for speaking about things they believe, and the information they may be passing along about those things is being labeled “mis” or “dis” information. If they know they are lying and making stuff up, that is something else, but if they actually believe what they are talking about, should these people be censored? Lots of people fit this criterion. They believe in their words for a variety of reasons, some credible reasons, some not so credible. But isn’t it up to the listener to determine if something someone is saying it true? Or even believable?

How about the quacks, the racists, or the hate mongers. Many of these sorts of people DO believe in what they spout, Hitler certainly did, but what they talk about could be a boatload of hooey. Should these people be silenced? I don’t think so. Certainly not in a society that calls itself free. Free speech is just that, free speech. Personally, I don’t think anyone should be forcibly silenced, even the liars—not even the dishonest people who are spouting off crap they know is not true. Not because they have the right to deceive, but because there is no way to trust a system that declares it can sort the liars from the folks who honestly believe what they are saying. Not because it is impossible to expose liars, but because anyone you give the authority to do that job cannot always be trusted to do it honestly and with integrity. It is too easy to abuse that power, and thus we must leave it up to ourselves to make the distinction.