Truth, lies and the internet

[Steve]

During the investigation for this website into Michael Jackson’s life we are confronted with a forest of information of all kinds. Some official, but mostly independent; private, or what i would call “underground”. In the beginning, just fascinated by the amount of interesting information on MJ, spending nights in front of the screen, digging deeper and deeper into a world of mystery, we soon felt unsure about how far we could go. Some of the information we had in our hands was almost too much to believe, too strange, too disturbing to pass on to other people. What if most of it is just made up? What if we waste our time researching lies, or, most alarmingly, disrespect Michael, who sadly passed away just a few months ago?
Talking to Polly, i had the idea to start a discussion about the internet here in this forum. What is the information we find on the internet worth? How can we know what’s true and what’s a lie? Who decides what is true? How much does the information that we get from the internet and media effect us in our behavior?
Does truth exist after all? Or is information worth only as much as we make of it? Is there any use in it at all if we hear something only, but never experience it for ourselves?
I think the internet can teach us a lot about ourselves. If we learn that nothing we read on the internet is necessarily true because anyone can write whatever they want and publish it. This brings us further to the point were we can see that even in the mainstream media, there is no difference. They are people, with interests, with allegations, with good and bad days. And they write things. And we read what they write. We never check who is the person who sells us the information. We never research and look at the environment or the history behind the writer. Because we can’t. The amount of information we are used to receiving every day makes it impossible to investigate into every case separately. So we just trust that what we read is honest. A comfortable position.
But if we take a sharp look at it, it brings up a painful truth. The news we read removes us more from our self. It makes us look at something outside of us, fascinated like a child staring at a clown. We are trapped in a giant circus, many of us for life.
Information is fun, it is colorful, it is safe. Look at others flying trough the air! exotic animals! a clown getting bashed up! And we sit on our favorite seat in row 1. With a beer and a bag of popcorn. A big show for the lost little soul.
The internet is a great tool. And it’s fun. But it is a one-way road as well. Eventually we will be left alone with a bunch of information, realizing that other peoples’ opinions can’t solve our personal problems. Life is more than just looking at what other people do. Life is a challenge, and the only one who can win each challenge is ourselves.
So, to come back to my original question, what is true? What is false? What is reality? What are we going to do with information that challenges us? Are we pushing it away because it’s uncomfortable, or do we take it in because it’s exciting and creepy? Or because we want to learn more? What does it say about ourselves?
You are the only thing that’s guaranteed real! You! I think this is a good point to start when it comes to the question of reality and the internet. We can never know! But what we can know is us, and if we have solved this personal quest, the rest will follow automatically. If we know our self, we know everyone.
mjfiles will keep posting all kinds of information, regardless how bizarre it seems.

[Steve]

What we believe is true was put into our minds before we had the chance to make our own mind. This video snipped is taken out of the famous documentary movie "Zeitgeist":

[zeromarcy]

i do not trust people who i do not know

[Thessa]

i do not trust people who i do not know

Why using the internet then?
If you only trust people you do know, you can phone them as well instead using forums/boards where you don't know any body at all.

Thessa.

[brianpi]

Hi Thessa....I agree with you 100%.....this is why anyone can go to my Blog and see my ID's, business cards, news paper etc. ...[brian n. everett pi]...If you are going to make a big claim, you must let the people that read it have a chance to see who you are....[at least a little bit].......Like I have said in the past..."I could only of created my story with the use of a time machine"..... Zeromarcy let us know how your relationship with Teto Jackson started....this might help us to understand why you are sure that MJ was totaly "hetro".....this could change things?

[do ut des]

What we believe is true was put into our minds before we had the chance to make our own mind. This video snipped is taken out of the famous documentary movie "Zeitgeist":

Yes, Steve. Another example is about what/how/and why happened the 9/11!

If you have the will, time and if you truly want to know the dark truth about what world conspiracies (mainly in USA) really are, read this: http://911blogger.com/node/14103

and then see this: http://vimeo.com/7112762

And afterwards think about the tip of the iceberg, called Michael Jackson!