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Bullspotting: Finding Facts in the Age of Misinformation
Bullspotting Finding Facts in the Age of Misinformation Author:Loren Collins Birthers. Truthers. Moon hoaxers. Antivaxxers. Holocaust deniers. Young Earth creationists. These are just a few of the purveyors of misinformation who thrive on the Internet. Never in history has the truth been more accessible and lies so contagious. In this confusing environment, how does an honest person find the facts and avoid the lies? — ... more »m>Bullspotting applies the tools of critical thinking to identify the common features and trends among misinformation campaigns. Using illustrations drawn from conspiracy theorists and reality deniers of every stripe, author Loren Collins reveals how rumors are started as well as the types of rhetorical techniques and logical fallacies often found in misleading or outright false claims.
What distinguishes real conspiracies from conspiracy theories, real science from pseudoscience, and actual history from fantasy? How do rumors and accusations bubble to the surface, and what makes them go viral in our hyperconnected age of instantaneous communication? How does one evaluate the credibility of rumors and quotes or judge the soundness of legal arguments advanced by tax deniers? Readers will learn how to make these critical distinctions and also how to spot "evidence" that has been manufactured or manipulated in some way to create false impressions.
At a time when average citizens are bombarded with false information every day, Bullspotting will prove to be not only a great read but also an indispensable resource.« less