Signal versus noise is a great metaphor for what we are seeing in the national discourse today, as well as in the last 20 to 30 years or so. The most illustrative example is to think of tuning a radio. As we search for a station on the radio, we hear lots of noise and static until we reach an FM or AM station that is broadcasting. Then, noise becomes signal.
I continue to be astonished by the amount of noise we encounter on the Internet, television, radio, and even on talk radio. I equate noise with disinformation, misinformation, and even propaganda. None of us has the bandwidth to take all this information in and vet it properly. The pounding of the meme or narrative drum is so insistent and so frequent that we are led astray from fact and truth.
Signal is truth; noise is jibber-jabber, smoke and mirrors, and so-called truthiness. This latter term has reared its ugly head and has taken a hold of our discourse in a world in which facts and evidence no longer matter.
Truth does matter, of course, and, in fact, it is the only thing that does in medicine, science, education, communication, and so many other topics in our society. We must return to that recognition and ensure that “lies, damned lies, and statistics” do not ruin our understanding, thinking, and judgment.
Five Quotes From George Orwell
George Orwell (the author of “1984” and “Animal Farm”) saw the issues of structured society more clearly than many other writers. Here are five quotes that should give you pause:
“The further a society drifts from truth, the more it (society) will hate those who speak it.”
“The people will believe what the media tells them to believe.’
“In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
“Free speech is my right to say what you don’t want to hear.”
“The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten; the lie became the truth.”
The Question Before The Court
The question before the court is a simple one. Are you a teller of truth or are you enchanted by the narratives and memes that stoke the fires of hatred and divisiveness? Let hope you are a believer in truth and a truth-teller.
Links
External: https://www.azquotes.com/author/11147-George_Orwell
