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I have a deep mistrust of the things government officials say without verifying them. It's one of the main reasons I'm a journalist. I am, to be frank, a mistrusting asshole when it comes to the words of those who are in power, and those who seek to retain that power.
So I'm not sure what to think about Facebook removing misinformation regarding our fires based solely on the word of the government. It's a strange position I find myself in. Obviously, there is no truth to the rumors of a mass Antifa campaign to light fires throughout the state.
Agencies and journalists were warning of extreme wildfire danger coming a week before it all went down. The front page of my newspaper was plastered with dire warnings of historic wildfires almost a full week before they happened. There was an obvious windstorm.
I personally witnessed three fires started by downed powerlines. There is no truth of a mass Antifa campaign to light fires. If you believe that they were, I'm sorry but you're a damn fool that's so caught up in your partisanship as to abandon common sense.
But anyway, to get back to my point: Facebook Comms Andy Stone said that "based on confirmation from law enforcement" this misinformation was to be removed. I get it - perhaps this will free up much-needed firefighting resources.
I sure hope it does.
But it also raises for me the role that Facebook and the word of law enforcement play in our society.
I don't trust the word of police officers. I just don't. A corrupt cop murdered my great-grandfather for refusing to pay him bribes during the Prohibition.
But it also raises for me the role that Facebook and the word of law enforcement play in our society.
I don't trust the word of police officers. I just don't. A corrupt cop murdered my great-grandfather for refusing to pay him bribes during the Prohibition.
A cop lied about me, filing a report claiming I was an adult when he knew that I was 14 years old when he humiliated me in front of half the town of Vernonia and told me I'd be arrested and charged if I came back to a city park that summer.
In other ways, my family has been let down by our "justice" system. And I'm white, endowed with a privilege not enjoyed by many. I've seen too many well-vetted reports from major newspapers of lies, falsified reports, and malfeasance from LE to take what they say at face value.
So by applauding Facebook for removing content on the word of law enforcement, I'm very conflicted. I don't know what to think. Would I be OK with, say, Belarus requiring Facebook to take something down based on the word of their law enforcement? Probably not.
The U.S. isn't Belarus. But the U.S. government, at the state and federal level, is not often just, is not often fair, and does not often rise to the values proclaimed in her founding documents. And do we really want Facebook to be the arbiter of what is true and what is not?
I realize this is a departure from my usual hyperlocal journalism and cat photos; I usually keep my major opinions to myself, but, here we are. I hope everyone is staying safe, staying sane as much as they can, and there, but for the grace of God, go I.
I do not have answers. I have not made up my mind on this. If you have a thought, feel free to leave a comment. I can't promise to respond, but I will read it.
