Fake News, Alternative Facts and Random Facts

Fake News, Alternative Facts and Random Facts

For those of you who have never met me I’ll tell you a little bit about myself. I am five feet ten inches tall, weigh 135 pounds, have an hour glass figure and an IQ of 180. Some of you who know me may say, “What! That’s not true”. Well I say it’s not a lie, I’m just using alternative facts. If politicians can do it why can’t I?

And just what is fake news? I’m not really sure. Is it just a modern day version of let the buyer beware but about current events? And that reminds me that we have truth in advertising laws. Some people think advertisers sometimes try to con us or at least stretch the truth a little. I guess that could depend on interpretation. Last week I heard a couple ads that caught my attention.

McDonald’s has an ad on the radio where this guy is trying to sell a real, fast breakfast. He doesn’t have time to fix breakfast at home because he’s busy, busy, busy and in a big hurry. He brushes his teeth, shaves and showers… then says, “gotta run, literally, training for a marathon.” I’ve walk/jogged 15 mini marathons. I have never seen a runner who took a shower before they went out to run their miles. Is that alternative facts? Everything he said could be true just out of order. Does that matter?

Another ad I saw on TV is an automobile manufacture commercial. I don’t remember if it was Ford or Chevy. A company spokesman is talking to some folks about the benefits of his company’s vehicles. An announcer says, “These are not actors. They are real people”. Are actors fake people? Is that fake news?

I heard some really interesting information the other day on social media or unsocial media. I don’t remember what kind of media it was. Anyway, someone said that there is actually a purpose for birds chirping in the morning besides being a pleasant sound for humans to hear. When birds chirp in the morning the sounds help open up plant spores. That aids the plants in being able to absorb the moisture of morning dew, which helps them grow.

I don’t know if that’s true or not. Is that alternative facts, fake news or just a random fact?

Another thing I heard on the radio was that one of our former presidents was able to write with both hands at the same time in two different languages. Is that a random fact? Or is it fake news to get people’s attention? I don’t know. But if it is true I am really impressed with that guy.

It’s kind of hard to follow the news anymore and make sense of it. The networks will report that something negative happened regarding one political party. A representative from that party says that’s fake news; it didn’t happen. And sometimes our president says things that are later shown to be not quite true but his representative says it was just alternative facts. It’s hard to stay current on what’s happening in the world today and believe you have accurate information to feel like you really know what’s going on. Do we need truth in social media laws? It can give you a headache.

I think I’ll just live in my own little alternative fact world. It’s a happy place. Did I tell you that my family is related to the British Royalty and I was engaged once to a Noble Duke? I broke it off because he talked funny.

Keep Smiling.

Linda Messmer can be reached at 812-448-8725.