“Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real” (Unknown)
1/8/20
When I was about four-years-old, there was a canned-vegetable commercial on television featuring the “Jolly Green Giant”. Like some gargantuan of the garden, he towered over a farm silo. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri7RRVabHz0) His likeness was on cans of vegetables stored in our basement. Terrified, I’d never allow myself to go into the cellar on my own…especially at night. I was certain the giant would spring off the shelf, grab me and stuff me into one of his cans. For added security, I made sure to check under my bed at least once before my mother covered me up.
The irrational fears of childhood lessen as we grow older. That’s not to say we don’t come across legitimate stress-inducing situations. Our nervous system reacts to those potentially dangerous events with a “fight or flight” mechanism. We depend upon our brain to size up the situation at hand and act accordingly. Confronted with a rattlesnake ten feet in front of us, it probably would be wise to walk around it. The harassment of a friend at lunch might push us to intervene on their behalf. Each of these situations depends upon what we’re witnessing in front of us. Remember playing the game “Telephone” as a child? Even before social media, as a story was relayed from one person to the next, it was apt to change dramatically. We must act upon factual information, not mere perception.
However, there are irrational fears that may continue well into adulthood based upon perception and not authentic facts. We may form opinions about people based upon what others have told us or what we’ve seen on social media. A recent study noted that 60% of adults on social media admitted sharing false information (https://www.cnet.com/news/fake-news-more-likely-to-spread-on-social-media-study-finds/).
Of the 120,000 Japanese interned in the United States during World War II, 62% were American citizens. A much lower percentage of the 11,000 interned Germans were American citizens. However, time would prove the vast majority of these folks weren’t any threat. Yes, there were some Nazi rabble-rousers, but not one of those 11,000 Germans were ever convicted of a felony or treasonous act. Americans reacted to sensationalized newspaper and radio accounts. Many of the internees of German ancestry were interned on nothing more than innuendo, or hearsay.
What’s this mean for us today? With so much false information being spread by various groups and interests, always check the source of a social media post. Just because a friend sent it, doesn’t necessarily make it true. Investigate to see if other reputable news sources are reporting on this alleged event. Other worthwhile tips on verifying fake news may be found here: https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/first-amendment-center/primers/fake-news-primer/
Critical thinking—using your brain, instead of being driven by sheer emotion—is extremely important in curbing undue fear and living in a better world.
1/8/20
When I was about four-years-old, there was a canned-vegetable commercial on television featuring the “Jolly Green Giant”. Like some gargantuan of the garden, he towered over a farm silo. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri7RRVabHz0) His likeness was on cans of vegetables stored in our basement. Terrified, I’d never allow myself to go into the cellar on my own…especially at night. I was certain the giant would spring off the shelf, grab me and stuff me into one of his cans. For added security, I made sure to check under my bed at least once before my mother covered me up.
The irrational fears of childhood lessen as we grow older. That’s not to say we don’t come across legitimate stress-inducing situations. Our nervous system reacts to those potentially dangerous events with a “fight or flight” mechanism. We depend upon our brain to size up the situation at hand and act accordingly. Confronted with a rattlesnake ten feet in front of us, it probably would be wise to walk around it. The harassment of a friend at lunch might push us to intervene on their behalf. Each of these situations depends upon what we’re witnessing in front of us. Remember playing the game “Telephone” as a child? Even before social media, as a story was relayed from one person to the next, it was apt to change dramatically. We must act upon factual information, not mere perception.
However, there are irrational fears that may continue well into adulthood based upon perception and not authentic facts. We may form opinions about people based upon what others have told us or what we’ve seen on social media. A recent study noted that 60% of adults on social media admitted sharing false information (https://www.cnet.com/news/fake-news-more-likely-to-spread-on-social-media-study-finds/).
Of the 120,000 Japanese interned in the United States during World War II, 62% were American citizens. A much lower percentage of the 11,000 interned Germans were American citizens. However, time would prove the vast majority of these folks weren’t any threat. Yes, there were some Nazi rabble-rousers, but not one of those 11,000 Germans were ever convicted of a felony or treasonous act. Americans reacted to sensationalized newspaper and radio accounts. Many of the internees of German ancestry were interned on nothing more than innuendo, or hearsay.
What’s this mean for us today? With so much false information being spread by various groups and interests, always check the source of a social media post. Just because a friend sent it, doesn’t necessarily make it true. Investigate to see if other reputable news sources are reporting on this alleged event. Other worthwhile tips on verifying fake news may be found here: https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/first-amendment-center/primers/fake-news-primer/
Critical thinking—using your brain, instead of being driven by sheer emotion—is extremely important in curbing undue fear and living in a better world.
The Consistency of Human Nature
9/14/20
One of my earliest childhood memories is that of contracting the measles at age four. It was 1957, and our family physician visited me at home. I distinctly remember him injecting my behind with a syringe (whose needle looked as large as a straw). However, in hindsight, I know I wasn’t vaccinated. I’m not sure what was in that syringe, but I already had the red spots all over my body…and a vaccine was still a few years in the future.
During my lifetime, I’ve received quite a few vaccines for a variety of potentially deadly diseases. I’ve never regretted receiving any of them. Since Edward Jenner developed a vaccine for smallpox over two hundred years ago, science has undertaken a perpetual, onward march toward eradicating disease, one illness at a time. In the 1980’s, by age 18 a child would have had 12 vaccinations to curtail some known diseases. At present, there are 54 vaccinations designed to eliminate the risk of some sixteen diseases known to potentially afflict children. While not perfect, they've been proved to dramatically reduce the risk of contracting the disease among the general population.
In Revelations From the Dead: Chronicles of the Night Waster, Priscilla Shaffer, desperate to save a third child from the terminal clutches of consumption, risks potential ostracization (at the least) and eternal damnation (at the worst) to save Jonathan through a bizarre superstition. She felt she had no choice. In 1837, science had not yet answered the dilemma posed by that disease, much as folks today wonder when a cure for Covid-19 will be discovered.
In this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, science is again pressed to play catch-up. At present, it can only offer guidelines on remaining as safe as possible in the absence of a vaccine. When it does arrive, it probably won’t be 100% effective…even the best vaccines aren’t absolute. The common thread between 1837 and 2020 is human nature. It will fill the intervening void. No, there probably won’t be superstitious cures (or will there????). However, individual opinions, political persuasions, and past experiences have already proven that society will venture off in several divergent directions regardless of what the best of science has to offer for safeguards until a vaccination is created.
One of my earliest childhood memories is that of contracting the measles at age four. It was 1957, and our family physician visited me at home. I distinctly remember him injecting my behind with a syringe (whose needle looked as large as a straw). However, in hindsight, I know I wasn’t vaccinated. I’m not sure what was in that syringe, but I already had the red spots all over my body…and a vaccine was still a few years in the future.
During my lifetime, I’ve received quite a few vaccines for a variety of potentially deadly diseases. I’ve never regretted receiving any of them. Since Edward Jenner developed a vaccine for smallpox over two hundred years ago, science has undertaken a perpetual, onward march toward eradicating disease, one illness at a time. In the 1980’s, by age 18 a child would have had 12 vaccinations to curtail some known diseases. At present, there are 54 vaccinations designed to eliminate the risk of some sixteen diseases known to potentially afflict children. While not perfect, they've been proved to dramatically reduce the risk of contracting the disease among the general population.
In Revelations From the Dead: Chronicles of the Night Waster, Priscilla Shaffer, desperate to save a third child from the terminal clutches of consumption, risks potential ostracization (at the least) and eternal damnation (at the worst) to save Jonathan through a bizarre superstition. She felt she had no choice. In 1837, science had not yet answered the dilemma posed by that disease, much as folks today wonder when a cure for Covid-19 will be discovered.
In this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, science is again pressed to play catch-up. At present, it can only offer guidelines on remaining as safe as possible in the absence of a vaccine. When it does arrive, it probably won’t be 100% effective…even the best vaccines aren’t absolute. The common thread between 1837 and 2020 is human nature. It will fill the intervening void. No, there probably won’t be superstitious cures (or will there????). However, individual opinions, political persuasions, and past experiences have already proven that society will venture off in several divergent directions regardless of what the best of science has to offer for safeguards until a vaccination is created.