RCA
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2017
- Professional Status
- Certified General Appraiser
- State
- California
The statement that "fact-checking is worthless in its own right" is not the same as saying "fact-checking is worthless."
Ask ChatGPT, ixxxt:
ME: what does it mean to say that "fact-checking is worthless in its own right."
ChatGPT: The statement "fact-checking is worthless in its own right" suggests that the act of verifying facts, without any further action or context, holds little value. This perspective might arise from a few considerations:
Purpose of Fact-Checking: Fact-checking is typically aimed at confirming the accuracy of information to ensure reliability and trustworthiness in communication. However, if the results of fact-checking are not used to inform or adjust behavior, influence policy, educate the public, or correct misinformation, then the act of just checking facts might be seen as ineffective or insufficient on its own.
Impact on Public Perception: If fact-checking is perceived as biased or selectively applied, it may not have the intended effect of educating or correcting misconceptions among the public. Instead, it could be viewed as just another tool for partisan argument, which may lead some to question its intrinsic worth.
Changes in Public Behavior: Fact-checking alone does not automatically lead to changes in how people think or behave. Without accompanying efforts to address the underlying reasons why misinformation is believed or spread (such as biases, lack of media literacy, or social influences), the practice of fact-checking might not achieve meaningful outcomes.
Overemphasis on Technical Accuracy: Focusing strictly on the factual correctness of statements without considering their implications, context, or the nuances of language can sometimes miss the broader picture. For instance, a statement might be factually correct but misleading in its framing or implications.
Thus, the claim that "fact-checking is worthless in its own right" could be interpreted as a critique of the limited scope of just verifying facts without integrating it into broader educational, corrective, or strategic frameworks that ensure the effective use of accurate information in public discourse.
