Spin - it isn’t just for liars anymore.
A crooked wisdom reader named Ellen recently commented on one of my posts and said, in part:
“...the stuff that you put out and encourage people to think about and comment on is really important in a world where hype and spin is so prevalent.”
While I’m pretty sure I’ve stepped in some truth here and there, more often than not I discovered that what I thought was “the truth”, wasn’t.
Not long ago this type of statement would have left me dancing on my desk. But this time, after I finished dancing, I got down from my desk and felt compelled to take a shower and explain myself. This post is my attempt at the latter.
It isn’t that I don’t appreciate compliments like this - I do - but they always leave me feeling like I’ve pulled one over on my readers.
I have long admired Andre’ Gide’s admonition, “Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it.” And while I’ve had my periods of arrogance - and am likely to have a few thousand more - I’m very clear which group I’m in. Hint: it’s not the one that comes with screaming fans and fancy cars.
While I’m pretty sure I’ve stepped in some truth here and there, more often than not I discovered that what I thought was “the truth”, wasn’t. Of course, I didn’t learn this until after I tried to bestow my “genius” upon the world. Take this dammit. It’s good for you!
This doesn’t mean I don’t believe in the existence of, and/or the importance of, facts. I do. In fact, (pun intended), I’m a big fan of them.
But like most of my other heroes - Ayn Rand, Robert Anton Wilson, Groucho Marx, Mighty Mouse, etc. - they are all too human. Or, to be more accurate, they’re only as good as the humans that employ them. Case in point…
We can often “lie” using facts - and only using facts - just as easily as we can lie without them. Stress these facts, ignore those, and voila! We just created a brand new truth.
In the classic film Table for Five
At one point, the stepfather, a high-priced, cutthroat attorney, threatens to sue for custody and says he will win because he could, “make Mother Theresa look unfit to run a children’s home without telling a single lie.”
And for once, I believe every word a “lawyer” is saying.
My point is, we can often “lie” using facts - and only using facts - just as easily as we can lie without them. Stress these facts, ignore those, and voila! We just created a brand new truth. But it gets worse.
I believe that we - and by “we” I mean all of us, not just “the bad people” - do “lie” using facts every time we open our mouths. I believe it is, by definition, impossible to do otherwise.
Consider this description of “propaganda” from Wikipedia:
Propaganda is a concerted set of messages aimed at influencing the opinions or behavior of large numbers of people. Instead of impartially providing information, propaganda in its most basic sense presents information in order to influence its audience. The most effective propaganda is often completely truthful, but some propaganda presents facts selectively to encourage a particular synthesis, or gives loaded messages in order to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. The desired result is a change of the cognitive narrative of the subject in the target audience.
Pay attention to the two sections I underlined.
First, according to this description one component of propaganda is the intent to influence. Doesn’t that sum up all communication? When we communicate aren’t we doing so for a reason? Even when we’re just shootin’ the shit, giving directions, or making small talk, we’re doing so for a reason. And I say that that reason is to influence something. To have some sort of an effect on a given situation. To change things.
If you don’t believe me, I invite you to prove me wrong by identifying one piece of information a person can communicate without having an intention to influence. Could you do it? I doubt it. But even if you could, would you tell me? If so, why? What would be your intention? Think about that for a moment.
Ultimately, all communication has a purpose and complete communication is impossible. Thus, all communication is spin.
And second, notice that the description says, “...some propaganda presents facts selectively.” I don’t think this is quite accurate. I’d change the wording a bit and say, ”All communication is the presentation of selective facts.” Yes, all. And yes, communication, not just propaganda. Not that there’s much difference, mind you.
As many philosophers, psychologists and other troublemakers have pointed out for years, it is impossible to say everything about anything. Despite our best intentions, when we take an oath to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” we’re lying.
But that isn’t the problem. The problem is that almost none of us realize this. Instead, we think we’re walking around telling “the truth” when we’re really - at best - just telling a portion of it.
With the exception of my daughter’s best friend, at some point we are all going to shut up and let our words stand for themselves. And the point at which we’ll shut up is the point at which we think we’ve included enough detail to suit our purpose of the communication itself.
Don’t kid yourself; if you make the effort to communicate something, there is a reason for it - even if you don’t know what that reason is.
So why am I telling you all this? No reason.
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Actually there are four things I hope I’ve accomplished by writing this post. Probably more. But here are those I’m aware of:
First, I hope it stretched your mind a bit. But not too much, of course. Believe me, I know what that feels like.
Second, I hope it made you laugh a bit. After all, I take these ideas seriously enough for the both of us so there’s no sense in you losing your mind as well.
I say, if we’re going to spin - and if we’re going to open our mouths we’re going to spin - we might as well be honest about it.
Third, I hope I’ve given you a little more insight into what I’m trying to do around here. While I am very clear that there is a line between truth and bullshit, I’m also clear that the line is always moving and we can never be too sure which side we’re on at any given moment.
And finally, I wanted to make sure Ellen, my reader who inspired this post, didn’t faint when she learned I’m writing a book about the positive aspects of spin. Yes. Spin.
I’m writing this book because I think it is critically important for us to be honest - with ourselves and with each other - about the possibility that our words may not always be as pure and benign as we might like to believe.
Ultimately, all communication has a purpose and complete communication is impossible. Thus, all communication is spin.
And despite the spin we’ve been fed about spin, spin is useful for far more than covering our butts; it can be used - and is already being used - to transform the quality of our lives, past, present, and future.
Those who will not admit this are far more dangerous than those who do. And, those who do not embrace this are far less effective than those who do.
The trouble is, the only ones currently embracing this idea are the scoundrels. While they’re using it to shape the world more to their liking, the rest of us are beating each other over the heads with our truths. But hey, at least we can pat ourselves on the back for being honest, right? Wrong. We can pat ourselves on the back for being ignorant, but somehow that’s not quite as gratifying.
I say, if we’re going to spin - and if we’re going to open our mouths we’re going to spin - we might as well be honest about it.
Of course, I could be wrong about this. In fact, something tells me that one day I’ll be sitting on my back porch scraping this off my shoe with all my other truths. But that’s not such a bad thing; you should see my collection.
Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 07:46 PM
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A couple of things before you go
I’d like to say a couple of things before you go.
What’s that? You’re not going anywhere? Don’t be so sure.
About a year ago I decided to start worrying less about what others might think about my writing and more about what I wanted to get out of my writing.
As a result, two things happened.
First, I rediscovered my passion for writing. And second, my readership plummeted. Okay, plummeted is an overstatement as it implies I had a large readership to begin with - which I did not - but I it sure feels like it plummeted.
Anyway, here’s a screenshot from Alexa showing my overall traffic for the last 3 years:
And I’m not only losing visitors, but mailing list subscribers as well. Here’s a screenshot from FeedBlitz for the last 7 days:
Notice I’ve lost 7 subscribers and only gained 1 (maybe 2 if that yellow guy ever confirms his opt in request). Again, these numbers are only from the last 7 days but they’re typical of how things have been going lately.
So don’t be so sure about your sticking around here. Maybe they know something you don’t. Or maybe, something else is going on.
My judgment is probably impaired from all the Diet Pepsi Max I’ve been drinking lately, but I’m excited about this. Really.
Though the trend numbers don’t look good at this point, judging from some of the feedback I’ve been getting both on and off this blog something very interesting is happening.
Whereas my readers used to stop by and give me nice little pats on the head - no cash, mind you, just pats - now they’re actually doing something as a result of what I’ve written.
Granted, many of them are leaving and some are even kicking me on their way out. But many of you that are sticking around are also taking action by sending me some of the most encouraging - and sometimes even embarrassing - feedback I’ve ever received.
Mark Twain said he could live a week off of a good compliment. If that’s true, I’m good for a couple of more years at least. And for that, I cannot thank you enough.
Still, if the love affair fades and the trend continues as is, that’s fine, too. As I said, I’ve rediscovered my passion for writing and that’s something I was afraid I might never get back.
Either way, I plan to keep blogging here until every reader has been served. Or until the Diet Pepsi Max wears off. Whichever comes first.
Oh, I was going to tell you one more thing. See that little button below that says “Behind the Blog”? Click it.
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 at 06:56 PM
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I take it back
This morning my wife and I saw a picture of the prostitute involved in the downfall of New York Governor Elliot Spitzer.
I’m ashamed to admit this, but my initial reaction was, “Wow. At least he’s not a complete idiot.”
Then my wife pointed out that the picture wasn’t of the prostitute but of Spitzer’s wife.
“Well then, I take it back. He is a complete idiot.”
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 09:13 AM
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The truth will set you free, but only if you hold it right
Lately I’ve engaged in conversations with two very different types of people: hardcore skeptics and True Believers.
The skeptics I spoke to are pretty much skeptical about all New Age ideas while the True Believers are open to most of them but deeply committed to their personal favorites.
The funny thing - to me at least - is that for the first 90% of each conversation I got along splendidly with these people regardless of which group they were in.
I tried to clarify my statements but there was no undoing the damage they had caused; I was no longer one of them - I was the enemy.
The skeptics and I swapped war stories about the absurdity and hypocrisy that seems to run rampant in some New Age circles. And the True Believers and I talked about our appreciation for and experience with many metaphysical concepts.
It was beautiful. But then I went and opened my mouth and destroyed whatever rapport we’d had.
The unforgivable phrase I uttered to the skeptics was, “I don’t believe ideas have to be true to be useful.”
That was all the proof they needed to identify me as a mindless kook.
The unforgivable phrase I uttered to the True Believers was, “Just because an idea may be useful doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s true.”
That was all the proof they needed to identify me as an insensitive prick.
I tried to clarify my statements but there was no undoing the damage they had caused; I was no longer one of them - I was the enemy.
This has become an increasingly common experience in my life and it has - until recently - baffled me.
The trouble with the first approach is that it tends to cut us off from many “nonsensical” ideas we might otherwise find to be valuable. The trouble with the second is that it leads to a vicious cycle of self-justification and denial that cuts us off from reality itself.
I couldn’t figure out how I could share so much in common with such completely different types of people. It seemed I needed to either be a skeptic or a believer. I couldn’t be both. And at different times in my life that’s exactly what I did. I chose sides, took my marching orders and fancied myself amongst the good guys. But soon, I would get antsy and change my mind, swap sides and - inexplicably - still find myself amongst the good guys. (Funny how malleable the terms “good” and “bad” are at times, isn’t it?)
However, in the last year or so I think I’ve gained some clarity into the dynamics behind all of this good guy/bad guy, skeptic/True Believer stuff. And now the mystery doesn’t seem so strange to me after all.
While there are obviously dramatic differences between what these two groups hold to be true, I think there is a subtle difference in the way they hold the truth that makes my ambivalence more understandable.
In my experience…
A hardcore skeptic will declare an idea useless if it is proven to be false.
A True Believer will declare an idea true if they have found it to be useful.
The trouble with the first approach is that it tends to cut us off from many “nonsensical” ideas we might otherwise find to be valuable.
Yes, we may proudly sit back with the truth on our side, but we can only watch as others venture into metaphysical realms in search of ideas that make life, if not more understandable, infinitely more enjoyable.
The trouble with the second approach is that it leads to a vicious cycle of self-justification and denial that cuts us off from reality itself.
Are we all really that afraid of being caught in public entertaining an idea that might not be true?
Yes, we may proudly sit back with smiles on our faces and warm glows in our hearts, but behind the smiles we desperately seek every whisper of an idea that promises to validate our pet ideas and denounce anyone or anything that calls them into question.
To me this all seems like such wasted effort.
Why does an idea have to be declared true before we can embrace it and possibly profit from it? And why do we feel we have to defend and prop up every idea that benefits us as being true?
Are we all really that afraid of being caught in public entertaining an idea that might not be true?
Don’t get me wrong. I think understanding what is true and what is false greatly enhances our chances of survival. And I think we owe it to each other to be as clear as possible about the objective truth or falsity of the ideas and information we exchange.
But come on.
Are children the only ones allowed to knowingly entertain false ideas without risking public humiliation or having to “justify” themselves? If so, no wonder they’re the ones having all the fun.*
I suspect I’ll regret making this post. If so, fine. But I refuse to tie pieces of dogma around my neck just so certain people will play with me.
* These two sentences were defective in their original form and have since been fixed. Thank you Tom. Or should that be, “Thank you (comma) Tom”? What can I say? I wrote most of this piece in the middle of the night and was running on fumes. 
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 09:10 AM
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Me and Twitter
I recently added a Twitter badge to my site (it’s over there on the left) and I’m updating it regularly.
I’m told that Twitter is all the rage. And while I’m not sure why that’s the case just yet, I am finding it curiously addictive. Not only do I enjoy trying to distill my life into 140 characters or less, I like seeing what others are up to as well. Heck, it’s almost like having a real life or something.
While my Twitter entries (aka tweets) won’t rival my blog entries, if you want to keep up with my “fascinating” life a bit more frequently, this one way to do it.
And if you also use Twitter, please post your username here so I can invade your privacy as well. It’s only fair, you know.
Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 10:21 PM
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