Seeing should not always be believing. I delete a lot of emails- even the ones that hint I will not be a good: friend, citizen, Christian . . . if I dare not to forward them on to at least ten others. Some of the emails I do click to experience the AMAZING photos, stories, videos, and so forth. One such titled the “Incredible Instrument !!” displayed a video of a fascinating set of pipes, conveyor belts, gears, wheels with balls shooting out of an assortment of pipes to strike the moving musically tuned bars, discs, chimes, drums and blocks all timed perfectly to make a catchy set of rhythms. The video was introduced with an elaborate fabrication detailing the amount of hours spent by engineers and musicians building it from farm equipment.
The incredible instrument was truly incredible to watch-- BUT it does not actually exist. It is a computer-generated video (which is still an amazing feat to me.) However, it is one of many examples of falsehoods circulated on the internet. It is a reminder to me Seeing is NOT Believing. Why concoct such a lie? I don’t know; but there is veritable flood of half-truths, falsehoods and calculated lies that spread easily with little thought by those who forward them on as to the validity. Last week I read about the miracle cancer-preventing diet supported by Johns Hopkins Medical Center—only Johns Hopkins had denied ever reporting such data. I find it distressing that it is not only commonplace and acceptable to lie and mislead but that so much time and effort are expended in generating and spreading lies. A video about imaginary “incredible instruments” may seem harmless but is any deception justifiable? The healthy diet encouraged by the Johns Hopkins Hoax email may be healthy but does the goal justify the lie?
I fear we are treading on dangerous ground when truth is not valued.
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