Is This True?

We have always emphasized the benefits that advances in communications have brought us. And we believed in the information that has been relayed to us through either text messages or through pass-on e-mails. Over and over again we get the same messages since, I would imagine, we travel through the same social network.

Unfortunately, not all the messages we receive are true or even near the truth. If you will recall the Pangandaman incident at the Valley Golf, all the messages were pointing to the Pangandamans as the bullies at the golf course. The condemnations against the family of the Agrarian Reform Secretary were quick and practically universal. Being a politician, everyone had a mental picture of a bully raising a family of bullies. Hence, everyone took the news as gospel truth. After an investigation by the management of Valley Golf, lo and behold, the other parties were the ones suspended. While the Pangandamans were not entirely exonerated, it turned out that there was provocation on the part of the other party that triggered the fisticuffs.

As it turned out, the other family was actively using the internet and individual members had access to various e-groups. They were able to disseminate the news (at least their version of what had transpired) very quickly. The Pangandamans were not really netizens and as such could not immediately get out their side of the story.

How I wish that there is a “truth-o-meter” in every news we receive. The meter will tell us whether the story or news is credible or not. Whether it has been confirmed or verified. Otherwise, we all get confused if both sides of the story or news have the means to tell their side of the story.