I was raised in the knowledge that “seeing is believing”. Something that someone else saw might be suspect, and hearsay was definitely a no-no as far as credibility went. But if you saw something with your very own eyes, well, by gosh, that had to be true. Didn’t it? And that went for photographs, too. The camera does not lie.
Then came digital photography, computers, Photoshop, and other even more advanced ways to modify and alter images and suddenly “poof!”, nothing can be trusted anymore. Not only is it an absolute piece of cake to remove telephone poles from a landscape, or a zit from somebody’s cheek, it’s just as easy to place yourself on top of Mount Everest, at a banquet table with Penelope Cruz, or a political rally with Jane Fonda and John Kerry that never even took place. What can we believe anymore?
The answer, as it turns out is… nothing! The more and more we live in a digital instead of an analog world, the more we are subject to the manipulation of the information we receive. Not only photographs and visual images can be altered, but audial ones as well. Phone solicitors have been caught recording seemingly innocent questions and then rearranging and splicing the words to make it sound as if the respondent had agreed to purchase a particular product or service. Now add identity theft, privacy leaks on social networks, and just plain dishonesty, and we find ourselves living in a world of smoke and mirrors, deceit and deception.
But here’s the thing. It’s always been this way. Only the degree of sophistication has changed. From the very first time one of our predecessors made an animal sound in order to lure a dinner in his direction, to the alchemist who claimed he could turn iron into gold, the snake oil salesman, and the original Ponzi, himself. What lies outside of us must be open to question.
Truth comes from within. The inexplicable knowing of something so personal, so integrated into our fabric that there can be no question at all, at least not for us. Will someone else accept it? Probably not, and that’s how it should be. For our internal is their external, unless, of course, they can experience for themselves. That’s when truth can be shared and becomes one and the same for all parties.
Till it does, be careful what you believe as true. Especially if it comes from someone who says his way is the only way. That’s the greatest clue that something’s been altered. But don’t just believe me. Check it out for yourself.
peace………………..ag
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