Every day, you likely read through headlines making reference to the dangers of fake news. I hear the term so often, there are times I get tired of hearing about it.
Having been trained as a therapist, my education included training in propaganda, brain washing and mind control methods along with ways of dealing with them. I learned how they work, how to recognize them and deal with them. Fake news is just another one of those techniques.
At the time I took those classes, my mind assumed that such methods were only used by totalitarian dictatorships and communist nations. I never expected encountering the same techniques in my daily life.
I also have experience from my days on the high school newspaper on what good and sloppy journalism are. Writing a good article and headline requires thought and effort. Many of what I encounter is more about quantity of content rather than quality. It amounts to sloppy journalistic practices.
Those experiences give me some unique insights on reading news presented to me.
What I don’t know is whether today’s fake news is intentional programming or just lazy journalism. A recent example is the headline I encountered stating, “Psychologists Agree: It May Be Time to Rethink Your Monogamous Relationship“.
The headline makes you think that a majority of psychologists are rethinking monogamy. It plants seeds of doubt in your mind about whether monogamy is a realistic to hope for in your marriage.
The headline may even have you thinking that the experts have their doubts about monogamy in your marriage. If you are struggling with this in your marriage, it may take you to a tipping point.
Then there are the headlines “The Rise and Fall of Monogamy“, “Signs an open relationship may be right for you”, and “Why you may want to rethink monogamy.” These articles fill the pages of publications geared toward those who suffer from FOMO and selfishness.
They play up how your spouse can’t meet all your needs or how you deserve something better. Such ideas plant seeds of dissatisfaction. They appeal to sexual gratification and indulgence.
If you read such a headline in a sloppy, non-critical, non-attentive mindset, you would easily be led in thinking that monogamy is on the way out. Your desire for fitting in and not being considered weird are used against you.
This is very different from the content which addresses how the majority of couples want monogamy. The article talks more about the challenges you face in deciding to remain true to your marriage vows.
So, is this fake news about affairs or just sloppy writing? I’ll let you decide on that. There are many in journalistic circles who will say or do anything for good circulation numbers. The more readers, the more eyes on their ads and the more revenue they capture.
If it is propaganda or programming, the antidote lies is critical thinking and taking steps that improve your commitment to monogamy in your marriage.
What I can tell you is that you can improve your marriage. In the “30 Days to a Better Marriage Program” which helps you take simple steps that improve the relationship you have.
Keeping It Real,
Jeff
