So I've only recently started into second semester at my school, and I've got to say, my favorite class is Journalism. As of late, we've been discussing "the tripod of Journalism Ethics," which includes Objectivity, Credibility, and something else I can't remember at this very second. We've been talking about credibility, and I've really started to analyze this term to death. It keeps cropping up all over the place and it's sparked my interest. Credibility.
Today we watched this movie, "Shattered Glass," starring super sketchy Hayden Christensen (if you don't know who he is, you're clearly not a Star Wars fan, and we can't be friends). Basically, it's a true story about this guy named Stephen Glass, and the entire movie centers around the importance of credibility when it comes to being a journalist. And let me assure you, credibility is a huge thing when it comes to your writing, and pretty much everything else you do. And this movie gets me thinking, you never know when people are really lying to you. How can you really know that someone is who they say they are? Everytime someone opened their mouth to speak to me today, I'd just be in my head thinking who the hell is this person? Do I know them as well as I think I do?
The answer is no. You pretty much have to go on faith with everyone you let into your life. With your family, and closest friends especially. They could be lying to you - maybe you really aren't their child, maybe they're talking smack about you the second you turn your back. You really don't know. They probably aren't anywhere as credible as you give them credit for. And that's the problem. You have to take it all with a leap of faith that they're telling you the truth. And I'm probably over-analyzing this and everything but like, seriously, you have no idea whether or not my name is actually Megan. You assume it's my name because I said so, but is it really? Yeah, it is, I'll show you my birth certificate if you really want proof. But that's not the point. The point is, you constantly have to be your toes and paying attention to the little details in every situation, ever. You always have to be aware. But, then again, maybe we should just take that leap of faith.
Journalism is screwing with my head.
It’s weird that you should say (or type this) as I've been thinking about credibility lately too. I believe my thoughts are partly due to the new TV show Lie to Me- it's interesting really. It delves into a little bit of how to detect when people are lying- certain facial expressions or nonverbal cues that they might tend to exhibit. I think it’d be irrelevant to say that one certain gesture signifies every time that someone is a liar, but it is interesting to learn about how different people function in situations that require the truth be stretched a little/lot (Ex: criminals covering up a crime).
ReplyDeleteI think that there is a certain part of everyone (okay, most people) that makes us want to believe others. And that little part of us is the way it is because of past experiences. People sharing others’ secrets in the past might lead them to develop trust issues- “Why should I share anything personal about myself if it is just going to turn into a rumor?” Or maybe I have had only good experiences regarding trusting others, and so I might be more inclined to share personal details- and in doing so, trusting those who I am sharing them with.
I’m not sure what makes me feel as others are more credible than they actually may be. What is it that makes people place their trust with a person they have never met (the president) so much that they would vote for them to run our country? I think in that case it’s charisma and other personal qualities, but with other people all I can reason is, “they haven’t given me a reason NOT to trust them,” you know?
It’s hard to think that people could be lying to you at any moment, and you probably will never even know it. It might only be white lies, but still, that’s lying and should be regarded just as poorly. I know even I am guilty of throwing a few white lies into a story to make it seem more interesting… I don’t think about when I am doing it, it just happens. It’s scary how lying can be such a second nature to people, and that’s one of the thinks that makes me think about it even more. Though, to second guess how well I know people, well, that’s just weird. I’d rather trust people until I am given a reason why I should not.