Cyndi's Two Cents

Nonsense sharing is at an all time high

I am often amazed by what I see when scrolling through my social media accounts.  I am friends with or follow a wide variety of people from rural and urban areas who may or may not have any link at all to agriculture. I love the freedom of speech and opportunity for dialogue such forums present, but the absolute nonsense that is shared and forwarded and retweeted oft times raises my ire.

I recently read a post by an acquaintance complaining about how young girls are developing breasts at an earlier age due to the vast amounts of hormones being pumped into milk, meat and eggs.  This woman is someone I have known most of my life.  She comes from a small, agricultural community where her family’s roots are very firmly planted in the soil.  This grandmother of pre-pubescent children had seen a post by an aspiring television doctor shilling some far-fetched malarkey and she believed it.  Then she shared it with all of her Facebook friends.

A nurse practitioner friend of mine whose history mirrors that of the aforementioned grandmother recently posted a litany of complaints against foods that have been raised using any sort of fertilizer or crop inputs.  She’s a farmer’s daughter and the sister of a farmer and might I add, both farmed using good stewardship practices.

“Only eat organic!” she exclaimed.

It infuriates me when people pitch nonsense with an absolute intent to deceive in order to increase ratings and win favor among the uninformed and activist masses.  It is even more alarming when these myths are presented as truth by people we ought to be able to trust.  The two women I mentioned are really good people sharing something as truth that has either been disproven or has yet to be substantiated.

The avalanche of comments and “likes” and links to other related posts within a few short hours after these postings was astounding . . .and disheartening. Having an opinion on an issue doesn’t make someone an expert any more than staying at a Holiday Inn Express qualifies me to perform brain surgery.

From honeybees to GMO’s, raw milk to antibiotics – you’ll find many a self-proclaimed expert on these and many other subjects on social media as well as on other digital locations.  You’ll also find them on many a local and national radio and television program and in print publications.  They also show up in your local churches, schools and businesses.

Gossip and telling tall tales and spreading misinformation is as old as the hills.  It is only in recent decades that well-paid leaders of activist groups have set their sights on agriculture, spreading misinformation with cruel passion for personal gain.

Most people have no malice for the ultimate victim(s) of ludicrous claims planted by anti-agriculture, anti-American, anti-science, greed-motivated zealots.  I believe most people are good.  Gullible, but good.

Do me a favor.  This week, before you like, share or repeat one piece of gossip you read, see or hear, do a little digging.