My favorite misattribution: I heard or read that Jane Fonda had attributed "There is no there there" to Dorothy Parker. When the person doing the interview said that Dorothy didn't say that; Gertrude Stein did, Jane came back with a "no. It was Dorothy Parker." Which only shows that we each can be stubbornly right about something that we're actually wrong about. In truth it was Gertrude. AI even confirms that fact. Now you should fact-check me. Maybe Jane didn't say it was Dorothy, but somebody else. And did I read about it or see her mouth the words on some talk show? I'm operating under post-menopausal drift, you know. Thanks for the post anyway. I often just hit the share button on Facebook, which only goes out to my choir of the like-minded. I will do better. And that's no lie. XXX
LOVE this! I'm not fact-checking this, I'm busy on my next piece. But the alarm here is that AI said you were right. AI makes a lot of mistakes, so now we have watch for that, too. Never a dull moment, eh? Thanks for your willingness to change your evil ways. LOVE you, Ann. xo
I remember a time when we all agreed that hearing, knowing, spreading the truth was a very good thing. Sadly, that shifted into spin and disinformation many decades ago. Thank you for being someone who values truth and keeps it alive. 💝
Thanks, Cathy. I have to keep remembering too, the difference between truth and facts. I think I should have used that word more in this story. Facts can be truth, but truth isn't always a fact. xo
It's so important we don't amplify the lies. I've been caught with my finger poised several times recently when the still, small voice whispered: "Check this." Each time the thing I wanted to restack was a distortion or an outright lie. I tend to trust my own clan on the left, but that's a terrible mistake. Instead, check it. I'm so glad you wrote about this.
That's the thing, isn't it? We trust what's being shared with us, and give credit where's it's sometimes not due, because we love our people. But it's just due diligence. For me it's all about reacting to something from an emotional place, instead of using discernment and then making a choice from that more balanced place. I need to do that with so many things in my life. xo
Nan! You hit on one of my pet peeves - people posting memes, stories, articles, etc. without checking their veracity. It's also important to use trusted sources (although many are being defunded like PBS and NPR) and peer reviewed studies. Thank you for helping to curb the dissemination of misinformation!
It probably won't change a thing, and as usual I'm preaching to my choir, but's always nice to be reminded that I have great like-minded friends. Sending you a verified smooch and a hug! xo
I once mentioned to a friend that something or other she'd posted about Mango Mussolini wasn't factual. She didn't care. "Well, he's done a lot of other stupid shit." But from then on, her credibility was questionable. Truth matters.
Truth matters for sure, but "truth" is often different than facts. Facts, especially in this era, matter the most, and we're certainly not hearing much that's based in fact from Mango Mussolini. Did you come up with that moniker? I haven't heard it before. Love to you, Eileen! xo
What I find most interesting (disappointing, disturbing) about this Camus meme is that his actual words are the only essential part of the bogus “quote.” It’s a brilliant statement that gets buried in all that text. So why is Lamott posting it? It’s certainly not great writing. Except for that single sentence.
But I’m not going to burn the three copies of ‘Bird by Bird’ that I used to have around here. (I’d lose one, buy another, give them away, whatever.) Who knows why she posted it. This is Substack, not Facebook. Anyway, just keep on being Nan. Love you! xoxo
I agree, it's not great writing. And Anne Lamott is brilliant at being Anne Lamott. It feels like social media fast food, a nod to fans, and even though the writing isn't great, it's not hers, and I do think it was intended to comfort, and to send love out. And for all we know, she might have a hired hand posting things. Some do have social media helpers. xo
Na, I think you’re right. I have a lot of respect for Anne Lamott, and was not in any way trying to diss her. I could use a social media helper myself. Did not know they existed.
I love Anne Lamott, I know you weren't dissing her. Oh, yeah there people posting for others who've made entire careers out of it. I used to do it when I started my business years ago, but I never loved doing it. xo
I did not think up Mango Mussolini but isn't it so wonderfully descriptive? My personal pet name for him is the Bloviating Buffoon. I'd better stop now before they come for us.
Oh, I'm not stopping, I'm just getting started. I have a new inspiration after reading about Mango Mussolini...if I have the energy (and time) I might get on it. xo
I try to be really careful to check quotes (when I use them), and I've run into many familiar ones that I discover may or may not be frequently misattributed (like your Einstein example) or are often linked with several people. I think there is a lot of misinformation out there, much of it unknowingly reshared and recirculated. It's good to be aware of the issue, but most people who reshare... aren't going to stop and check. The "reshare" cycle definitely has a life of its own.
I agree. And most of it is unknowing enthusiasm sparked by joy or fear or anger, but we really can cause harm, and it’s getting harder to tease out facts from fiction. The reshare cycle can be terrific or not. And I know I can’t control outcomes from these behaviors but I can offer my experience and maybe open some eyes. I have no doubt you’re careful and mindful. when you do lots of things, Amy. xo
Keep love bombing us Nan! BTW, I was cancelled for life by Facebook because I wrote a banal post about deleting my account because Mark Zuckerberg had made the decision not to fact check the platform. Talk about irony!!
I only shared a fake quote ONCE, because it came from a trustworthy person, and I was so horrified when I discovered it had been mis-attributed that I now vet quotes from MULTIPLE sources before posting them.
Accuracy and diligence are so very important in this world. Truth and verification are paramount for both our intellectual and moral integrity.
And truth versus facts? They're different, aren't they. I look for more than one source which is getting harder all the time because of AI bullshit. xo
I hate AI with the power of a thousand suns, and the handful of times I have found it useful does not remotely begin to scratch the surface of the damage it is causing, the damage it will cause, and the damage we can't even fathom yet.
I agree with you a gazillion percent (I am aware of that being not a thing, but I use for the sake of hyperbole, a skill I have in spades. AI. GAH. ACK. Blecch.
Guilty! I used the Camus-via-Anne non-quote as a prompt for our poetry group. Got a few good poems out of it so not all bad! Interesting because I wondered why I was seeing an Anne post as a non-follower so FB musta figured out I’m a writer and pushed her post to those 30k likers. Great Nan post, Nan. Thank you. I’ll forward this to my poetry pals.
Thanks for fessing up! Admitting we have a problem is the first step toward full recovery....Can you tell I've got 12-Step background? This wasn't on FB, it was here on Substack. And yes, it was something that comforted me after the election, which I'm sure was shared out of the spirit of wishing one another our sadness and hope. Did this get shared to FB too, by AL? Thanks for forwarding, Bar. xo
Caught again? Did I see it on FB or SS?? Not sure. I don’t linger on SS, just post there so I woulda said FB, but who knows. Don’t linger long there either… just read your post aloud to my sweetie. Now he’s a fan. Excellent.
She may have posted in both places. And I highly recommend lingering on Substack. The notes are great (most of the time), it's more civil, and more intellectually engaging. I've been trying to step away from the toxicity of Meta for months, and will be taking my leave by the end of this week. I'll miss the people, but I can't stand the hypocrisy of Zuckerberg. Free speech my ass. And wait? You read it aloud? Instead of watching my video? That's fine! Teasing. And your sweetie? He's got excellent taste. He chose you...xo
I was duped a few times, realizing the quotes, situations or memes I sent out were not true. Now Snopes is my first line of attack. The truth is the only thing we have to hang on to least we be like him. I enjoy reading your truthful, painfully honest essays. Thank you!
Hey, Alice! I'm glad you've adopted this most important practice of verifying what we share. And yes indeed, the truth is so important to hold on to. But what about the difference between truth and facts? There is a distinction. So maybe we have to be careful about using the word "truth." We're talking about facts. And, always, thank you for reading. I love having you here. xo
Nan- congrats on coining EMT. Your thoughtful writing raises the question that we should always ask before posting—WHY!
Why am I sharing this information- maybe because it contains useful content, maybe because it is entertaining, or maybe it is to be provocative—There are many valid reasons. But unless you are sharing to spread joy and make the world a better place, then maybe just skip the send button. I call it IP-(Intentional Posting).
I don't know if I completely agree with the IP definition. I think it's important to share all kinds of information, because maybe it's not just about spreading joy...and who's to judge what makes the world a better place. I don't think we should avoid posting things that might be construed as dark or inflammatory. We also need to stay informed, and that doesn't always feel good. Hope you're well, Mike. xo
It's good to have a partner in eliminating this particular "crime." I've got a Sheriff's badge I can send you. Warning though, we don't wear masks, because we're proud crusaders for the cause of veracity. xo
I love your beautiful voice, thank you so much for your generosity of spirit that dovetails with my heart felt beliefs of kindness and respect and accountability
Important, courageous and thought-provoking stuff! I like how this essay goes to unexpected places. It raises the questions of why are accuracy and truth important? And what is reality anyway in this time of ARTIFICIAL "intelligence"?
Artificial intelligence really could be considered an oxymoron (I love that "moron" is contained within oxymoron). The piece also looks at the question of truth versus facts...the quote that Anne Lamott posted may have been the truth for her, it was for me when I first read it. The fact was that it wasn't a Camus quote. I also wish the media would stop finding pleasant euphemism for all the LIES, and start calling them LIES, not misstatements, misrepresentations, "stretched the truth," etc. Such cowards. xo
Oh my yes! The evolution of shares as co-opted by a system that has taught us to be good little monkeys and push the button for a dopamine reward. It does take time to verify. And emotional resilience. Because so many of the things I want to like and share aren’t true and that frequently hurts my heart
I hear you, yes, indeed. I was such a share button pusher...I had to learn, and then I really did become a superhero for accuracy. Or super-annoying. Of both. I'm okay with that!
And, even with the daily posting of the Screaming Memes, it's always possible to err, as I found out! Thanks for reading and commenting. xo
My favorite misattribution: I heard or read that Jane Fonda had attributed "There is no there there" to Dorothy Parker. When the person doing the interview said that Dorothy didn't say that; Gertrude Stein did, Jane came back with a "no. It was Dorothy Parker." Which only shows that we each can be stubbornly right about something that we're actually wrong about. In truth it was Gertrude. AI even confirms that fact. Now you should fact-check me. Maybe Jane didn't say it was Dorothy, but somebody else. And did I read about it or see her mouth the words on some talk show? I'm operating under post-menopausal drift, you know. Thanks for the post anyway. I often just hit the share button on Facebook, which only goes out to my choir of the like-minded. I will do better. And that's no lie. XXX
LOVE this! I'm not fact-checking this, I'm busy on my next piece. But the alarm here is that AI said you were right. AI makes a lot of mistakes, so now we have watch for that, too. Never a dull moment, eh? Thanks for your willingness to change your evil ways. LOVE you, Ann. xo
I remember a time when we all agreed that hearing, knowing, spreading the truth was a very good thing. Sadly, that shifted into spin and disinformation many decades ago. Thank you for being someone who values truth and keeps it alive. 💝
Thanks, Cathy. I have to keep remembering too, the difference between truth and facts. I think I should have used that word more in this story. Facts can be truth, but truth isn't always a fact. xo
And then there are alternate facts. Remember those?! 🥺
That's what I'm hoping to guard against, especially. xo
It's so important we don't amplify the lies. I've been caught with my finger poised several times recently when the still, small voice whispered: "Check this." Each time the thing I wanted to restack was a distortion or an outright lie. I tend to trust my own clan on the left, but that's a terrible mistake. Instead, check it. I'm so glad you wrote about this.
That's the thing, isn't it? We trust what's being shared with us, and give credit where's it's sometimes not due, because we love our people. But it's just due diligence. For me it's all about reacting to something from an emotional place, instead of using discernment and then making a choice from that more balanced place. I need to do that with so many things in my life. xo
So true. It's a form of sobriety.
Precisely. You're so smart. xo
Nan! You hit on one of my pet peeves - people posting memes, stories, articles, etc. without checking their veracity. It's also important to use trusted sources (although many are being defunded like PBS and NPR) and peer reviewed studies. Thank you for helping to curb the dissemination of misinformation!
It probably won't change a thing, and as usual I'm preaching to my choir, but's always nice to be reminded that I have great like-minded friends. Sending you a verified smooch and a hug! xo
Thank you for this thoughtful piece.
I once mentioned to a friend that something or other she'd posted about Mango Mussolini wasn't factual. She didn't care. "Well, he's done a lot of other stupid shit." But from then on, her credibility was questionable. Truth matters.
Truth matters for sure, but "truth" is often different than facts. Facts, especially in this era, matter the most, and we're certainly not hearing much that's based in fact from Mango Mussolini. Did you come up with that moniker? I haven't heard it before. Love to you, Eileen! xo
What I find most interesting (disappointing, disturbing) about this Camus meme is that his actual words are the only essential part of the bogus “quote.” It’s a brilliant statement that gets buried in all that text. So why is Lamott posting it? It’s certainly not great writing. Except for that single sentence.
But I’m not going to burn the three copies of ‘Bird by Bird’ that I used to have around here. (I’d lose one, buy another, give them away, whatever.) Who knows why she posted it. This is Substack, not Facebook. Anyway, just keep on being Nan. Love you! xoxo
I agree, it's not great writing. And Anne Lamott is brilliant at being Anne Lamott. It feels like social media fast food, a nod to fans, and even though the writing isn't great, it's not hers, and I do think it was intended to comfort, and to send love out. And for all we know, she might have a hired hand posting things. Some do have social media helpers. xo
Na, I think you’re right. I have a lot of respect for Anne Lamott, and was not in any way trying to diss her. I could use a social media helper myself. Did not know they existed.
I love Anne Lamott, I know you weren't dissing her. Oh, yeah there people posting for others who've made entire careers out of it. I used to do it when I started my business years ago, but I never loved doing it. xo
I did not think up Mango Mussolini but isn't it so wonderfully descriptive? My personal pet name for him is the Bloviating Buffoon. I'd better stop now before they come for us.
Oh, I'm not stopping, I'm just getting started. I have a new inspiration after reading about Mango Mussolini...if I have the energy (and time) I might get on it. xo
I try to be really careful to check quotes (when I use them), and I've run into many familiar ones that I discover may or may not be frequently misattributed (like your Einstein example) or are often linked with several people. I think there is a lot of misinformation out there, much of it unknowingly reshared and recirculated. It's good to be aware of the issue, but most people who reshare... aren't going to stop and check. The "reshare" cycle definitely has a life of its own.
I agree. And most of it is unknowing enthusiasm sparked by joy or fear or anger, but we really can cause harm, and it’s getting harder to tease out facts from fiction. The reshare cycle can be terrific or not. And I know I can’t control outcomes from these behaviors but I can offer my experience and maybe open some eyes. I have no doubt you’re careful and mindful. when you do lots of things, Amy. xo
Keep love bombing us Nan! BTW, I was cancelled for life by Facebook because I wrote a banal post about deleting my account because Mark Zuckerberg had made the decision not to fact check the platform. Talk about irony!!
You told me about the FB banning. That's a feather in your cap, sweetie pie. I'm leaving asap. ARRRGGGGHH. xo
I only shared a fake quote ONCE, because it came from a trustworthy person, and I was so horrified when I discovered it had been mis-attributed that I now vet quotes from MULTIPLE sources before posting them.
Accuracy and diligence are so very important in this world. Truth and verification are paramount for both our intellectual and moral integrity.
And truth versus facts? They're different, aren't they. I look for more than one source which is getting harder all the time because of AI bullshit. xo
I hate AI with the power of a thousand suns, and the handful of times I have found it useful does not remotely begin to scratch the surface of the damage it is causing, the damage it will cause, and the damage we can't even fathom yet.
I agree with you a gazillion percent (I am aware of that being not a thing, but I use for the sake of hyperbole, a skill I have in spades. AI. GAH. ACK. Blecch.
Missile metaphors for the win 🥇
Thanks, missy! I mean, missile-y...xoxoxo
Guilty! I used the Camus-via-Anne non-quote as a prompt for our poetry group. Got a few good poems out of it so not all bad! Interesting because I wondered why I was seeing an Anne post as a non-follower so FB musta figured out I’m a writer and pushed her post to those 30k likers. Great Nan post, Nan. Thank you. I’ll forward this to my poetry pals.
Thanks for fessing up! Admitting we have a problem is the first step toward full recovery....Can you tell I've got 12-Step background? This wasn't on FB, it was here on Substack. And yes, it was something that comforted me after the election, which I'm sure was shared out of the spirit of wishing one another our sadness and hope. Did this get shared to FB too, by AL? Thanks for forwarding, Bar. xo
Caught again? Did I see it on FB or SS?? Not sure. I don’t linger on SS, just post there so I woulda said FB, but who knows. Don’t linger long there either… just read your post aloud to my sweetie. Now he’s a fan. Excellent.
She may have posted in both places. And I highly recommend lingering on Substack. The notes are great (most of the time), it's more civil, and more intellectually engaging. I've been trying to step away from the toxicity of Meta for months, and will be taking my leave by the end of this week. I'll miss the people, but I can't stand the hypocrisy of Zuckerberg. Free speech my ass. And wait? You read it aloud? Instead of watching my video? That's fine! Teasing. And your sweetie? He's got excellent taste. He chose you...xo
I was duped a few times, realizing the quotes, situations or memes I sent out were not true. Now Snopes is my first line of attack. The truth is the only thing we have to hang on to least we be like him. I enjoy reading your truthful, painfully honest essays. Thank you!
AND, I just saw that you became a paying subscriber. Thank you so very much. xo
Hey, Alice! I'm glad you've adopted this most important practice of verifying what we share. And yes indeed, the truth is so important to hold on to. But what about the difference between truth and facts? There is a distinction. So maybe we have to be careful about using the word "truth." We're talking about facts. And, always, thank you for reading. I love having you here. xo
Nan- congrats on coining EMT. Your thoughtful writing raises the question that we should always ask before posting—WHY!
Why am I sharing this information- maybe because it contains useful content, maybe because it is entertaining, or maybe it is to be provocative—There are many valid reasons. But unless you are sharing to spread joy and make the world a better place, then maybe just skip the send button. I call it IP-(Intentional Posting).
I don't know if I completely agree with the IP definition. I think it's important to share all kinds of information, because maybe it's not just about spreading joy...and who's to judge what makes the world a better place. I don't think we should avoid posting things that might be construed as dark or inflammatory. We also need to stay informed, and that doesn't always feel good. Hope you're well, Mike. xo
I agree 100 percent. And I'm on truth patrol too. Watch out, you quick draws (shares) on social media!
It's good to have a partner in eliminating this particular "crime." I've got a Sheriff's badge I can send you. Warning though, we don't wear masks, because we're proud crusaders for the cause of veracity. xo
I love your beautiful voice, thank you so much for your generosity of spirit that dovetails with my heart felt beliefs of kindness and respect and accountability
You are so welcome, Carol Ann. You're very kind. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment and acknowledge the work. xo
Important, courageous and thought-provoking stuff! I like how this essay goes to unexpected places. It raises the questions of why are accuracy and truth important? And what is reality anyway in this time of ARTIFICIAL "intelligence"?
Artificial intelligence really could be considered an oxymoron (I love that "moron" is contained within oxymoron). The piece also looks at the question of truth versus facts...the quote that Anne Lamott posted may have been the truth for her, it was for me when I first read it. The fact was that it wasn't a Camus quote. I also wish the media would stop finding pleasant euphemism for all the LIES, and start calling them LIES, not misstatements, misrepresentations, "stretched the truth," etc. Such cowards. xo
Oh my yes! The evolution of shares as co-opted by a system that has taught us to be good little monkeys and push the button for a dopamine reward. It does take time to verify. And emotional resilience. Because so many of the things I want to like and share aren’t true and that frequently hurts my heart
I hear you, yes, indeed. I was such a share button pusher...I had to learn, and then I really did become a superhero for accuracy. Or super-annoying. Of both. I'm okay with that!
And, even with the daily posting of the Screaming Memes, it's always possible to err, as I found out! Thanks for reading and commenting. xo