Trump Derangement Syndrome is real. Looks at how the media (Washington Post, New York Times, The Atlantic, etc) handled the MAGA hat wearing high schoolers interacting with the Native American veteran. The media has moved past destroying just adults. It is kids now. The media is itching to concoct a story of Trump fueled hated by white, Christian males...that they go as far as completely ignoring all video evidence and eyewitness accounts. The mere sight of white conservatives fuel so much visceral hate from the left.
It is horrifying to see how fast the Catholic diocese condemned this and is willing to punish kids without actual investigation. I'd like to see how fast they responded to accusations of pedophile, rapist priests in their diocese. Probably not at all.
I don't doubt that some in the media have it in for Christians, Conservatives, or anyone marching against abortion in the March For Life. I also think that some of them realized their mistake after additional video came out, but continued to rail against the kids for a variety of factors too long to list here.
But the MSM weren't the only ones snowed by the initial video. Plenty of dyed-in-the-wool Conservatives also condemned the kids before additional video was uncovered.
This mistake shouldn't have ever occurred, but this is one of the principal downsides of social media and the internet. This is not a phenomenon unique to the MSM or liberals. Unfortunately, I see similar behavior occur quite frequently among supposed Conservative personalities, news sources, etc. There's a simple reason (outside of how social media encourages rumor spreading and mobs) for why this keeps happening. It's called Cognitive Bias.
Most of us are biased toward information and news content in SOME way. A lot of people make their judgments and decisions long before they actually review the actual content of a story. There's a significant chunk of people out there who only read the headlines, only read information/news that confirms to their worldview, etc.
Partisanship and the increased social divide in this country has only increased the isolation that many Americans are willingly putting themselves into. Whether liberal or Conservative, an unfortunate number of people have voluntarily chosen to live their lives in an information bubble. They don't read content from a wide array of sources - - they choose to only read content and information that reinforces the narrative that already believe to be true. It's as much of a problem for the New Yorker that only reads liberals/progressive news sources as it is for the MAGA guy who sticks to reading news sources that have a Pro-Trump right-wing viewpoint.
We're fooling ourselves if we think this is isolated to one side or the other. On a daily basis, I find myself almost going insane as I read the inherently biased opinions and thoughts of BOTH SIDES, that are so enmeshed in their cognitive bias and slanted news bubble, that they cannot even conceive of someone holding a different opinion, unless that person is a "right-wing nutjob" or a "libtard."
Granted, the Covington Catholic story was an especially egregious case of bias and hostility towards Conservative Christians. But, shortly before it occurred, we had the hysterical news stories pushed by certain sites that claimed "prayer rugs" were found near the border. That, too, was an excellent example of cognitive bias and media rumor that pushed a false narrative to millions of people.
When the Covington Catholic story first broke, I held my tongue because I saw so many breathless takes and inflammatory claims without any context provided. I know I'm an outlier, but I don't do outrage mobs or rush to judgment no matter the content or story. Not even when it pertains to Trump.
This is such a prevalent problem in today's world that I look for multiple confirmations, firsthand accounts, and hard evidence presented alongside context and possible contradictions. If that's not available then I wait before forming an opinion. Especially when things sound "too good to be true."
I pride myself on reading multiple sources and also looking at contradictory sources - - including the dreaded "other side." I want to understand how they see things, any problems they've indentified, and obviously see any hard evidence that they've uncovered that rebuts or casts doubt on a claim or story.
I'm not foolish enough to believe that most people are going to be that careful, or even that able to control their cognitive bias. All I can do is try my best to not be a part of that problem. So, before you share that outrageous news story, click re-tweet, or email the latest outrage to your family/friends, do a little digging first. Can you verify it elsewhere? Is anyone reputable casting doubt on its claims? Does it sound too good to be true? Does it appeal to your view of the world, or how you see the "other side?"
As tragic as the Covington Catholic story is, it isn't even the first example this year of people's lives being ruined by embellished, false, or fabricated claims. This is the world we now live in, and unless you do your part, it will get worse.
