we don't have as much a fake news problem as we have a lack of critical thinking problem

I'm not saying we don't have fake news, we do, I'm saying our inability to think about subjects critically, especially those we don't agree with lends itself to perpetuation of fake news
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here's where I'm at

for 4+ years, the same who screamed fake news at "liberal news" because of their anti-conservative bias (which does exist), were really eager to jump on the claim that Biden wanted to limit red meat intake via Fox News

as a conservative, when this started breaking over Twitter end of last week, I started looking for the source, because even I know Fox News has an agenda

I don't have to support or even like Biden to know there's probably more to the story than what Fox News reports.

I'm also self-aware enough that a measure as drastic as what was reported would have made more than Fox News headlines if it was true. It doesn't matter where you stand on climate or political sides, USA is known for "meat and potato" diet - any drastic change would be headlines.

Which brings me back to the critical thinking component - it's not that fake news doesn't exist or there isn't bias in news reporting, because both of those are true, but at same time, our ability to use reasoning and logic, regardless of narrative has to be there...

maybe even more so knowing the former two exist.

I get it, with "climate change" & "green new deal" talks maybe it's easy to believe Biden will limit red meat to what was reported, but are we really just going to settle for "easy" low-hanging fruit when it comes to narratives?

Are we at the point where we are forfeiting all personal responsibility of information?

This is a dichotomy I'm really struggling with - how can at the same time we say fake news exists, we simultaneously believe news without critical thought or searching for multiple sources?

It's like we want to save our cake and eat it too. Because I really don't want to believe for one minute we truly think only "the other side" is guilty of fake news?? That it's not across the board of any news media with an agenda, especially any one which leans strongly R or L.

And what really gets me wasn't the sharing of the screenshot from Fox News... listen, it's social media and inaccurate graphics/memes/altered images are rampant.

It was the vitriol and outright rage directed at orgs we felt weren't doing their job.

So let me get this straight, you're prob already tired/irritated with any one or several beef/cattle organizations (we're all on Twitter and have seen the back and forth); you're prob already thinking they don't use their $ to your best interest...

hell, there are prob lots of things you don't like about any/all of them.

But you want them to use those resources and jump at the bat to respond to fake news?

Stay with me on this - because this is going to be a two sides to the coin bit.

While on one side, I can see there MIGHT have been an opportunity to talk the positives while red meat was making headlines (side note - they already are doing this and have been, and this isn't changing).

But the side of the coin with more weight for me...

is the side where I'm looking at the bigger picture. At the demographics of all of the U.S., not just rural - at the ones who wanted Biden over Trump for president - because THESE are the people I want to connect with, these are the ones I want to see the positives of beef...

And coming out guns blazing on a story that isn't even accurate? Not winning points with them. It's just not. If anything it actually makes us look bad in several people's eyes - it makes us look like we aren't a team player in battling climate change - when that's not the case.

We've made great strides in agriculture and especially animal agriculture to improve sustainability, to decrease emissions, to increase yields without more inputs and using fewer resources. We know cattle are a part of carbon recycling...

And we also know, as a total, we are a really small fish in a really big pond statistically speaking.

We make up less than 2% of the population - and we know we have an echo chamber.

So, I have to repeat myself here and ask, what were we wanting our orgs to achieve...

because yelling into the void when the other side isn't even listening? Not helping.

Making a big splash out of something unverified? Not helping.

Looking like a petulant child who got called on the floor to answer? Not helping.

If we want the public to see all those positive things above we know about ag, cattle and climate, then we need to start looking at ways to have some two-way conversations and building bridges - not just yelling the loudest when a news headlines doesn't jive with us.

Especially not when no one could prove the plan Biden released actually wanted to limit red meat.

Because when it comes to social media and communicating with the public - you better have a set goal and objective in mind before you speak, otherwise it never goes well.

Do we need to have honest conversations about climate change? yes

@jamesdecker2006 already made a great thread the other day on this https://twitter.com/jamesdecker2006/status/1385211505059241984?s=20

So if we want to "gain ground" with public appeal, then we need to start having some honest conversations built on our communities - not just denial and yelling "Biden wants to limit red meat because he's a liberal who hates farmers" - that appeals to no one

Is past time everyone in Ag decided they'd rather have a seat at the table and be recognized instead of saying "but they're working with so and so who's against us"

...so you want them to totally direct the conversations in your place?

Show up. Even when you don't want to. Show up. Even when it's "the other side." Show up.

You know who is showing up at roundtable discussions with those we don't agree with? Those orgs everyone loves to bash or try to manipulate it like they're working with the opposition.

Heaven forbid we show up and take a seat at a table to be voice vs. letting others decide the conversation around us - because if you think they're not talking about us while we aren't there, then think again.

Having conversations about agriculture is very important. Having some critical thinking is equally important. Let's do both.
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