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09/10/19 - Agnotology and Epistemological Fragmentation

The premise of this article analyzes how social media is problematic due to its ability to share misinformation, conceptualized as "agnotology". Social Media is a new phenomenon within the 21st century but humans have gaslit others since time immemorial– it's just easier now with social media. Book Thief is a 2005 novel by Markus Zusak that showcases how fast propaganda is shared throughout an audience, conveyed through the rise of Nazi-ism in the 20th century. A primary difference between Agnotology today and then though is who is sharing the information. Because the internet is used by all, any individual to interest group to foreign government could spread misinformation and lies within a population. Before the internet, mostly the state would gaslight their population in the form of radio broadcasts, newspapers and pamphlets. Agnotology, however not a new concept, is something that each person needs to be aware of. This starts with fact checking for readers who want the truth but many are so indoctrinated in their own ideological framework that they refuse to see truth and reason and instead feed off of lies. The author follows the potential route of someone from free thinking individual to potential white supremecist in what is evident as a slipper slope. Because an individual watches a Prager U video, an informed indvidual would not start the journey to racism and/or white supremecy. There are so many other factors that determine if an individual would be so heavily persuaded by what they find online. The argument remains that agnotology threatens free-thinking but it is mis-leading to think that agnotology is the primary cause of radicalism, and instead is an amplifier for it.

Here are a few of my favorite underwater photographs

Wolf Eel, photographed in Monterey Bay, CA (2019)

Fish Eating Anenomes, photographed in Monterey Bay, CA (2019)

The Topline, photographed in Howe Sound, BC (2019)

Queen of the Deep, photographed in Des Moines, WA (2019)

Sea Lion, photographed in La Jolla, CA (2019)

Kaanapali Beach, photographed in Lahaina, HI (2019)

Here are a few links to my favorite underwater videos

Monterey Montage

Belize

Green Sea Turtle

Sund Rock

Vancouver II

Carribean Reef Sharks