What You See

Glenn Stewart Coles, 9251 Yonge Street, Suite 8-924, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, L4C 9T3

Text Box: As individuals, we receive information in many different ways. Our eyes gather visual data as we continually look around ourselves throughout the day. While we are reasonably aware of our surroundings, there are many details that we overlook. We also experience viscosity, in which particular items stand out more than others. Studies in perception reveal that the human eye can be fooled. Illusions of depth will stop a baby from crawling. Well-designed art can appear to flip back and forth between subjects, such as a drawing that looks like both a candlestick and two faces. When questioned about details of an event, observers often tell different stories, each insisting their truth. What we think we see and what is really there are different due to our unique perception. Our eyes also receive information about subjects that are not within our visual field. By reading the letters on a page, ideas and concepts are transferred quickly. Every time you read a newspaper, scan a web page, or digest a book, you are accepting information that affects your knowledge. Using a belief system that has been developing all of your life, the scanned information is interpreted, sorted and stored. While some material is discarded, the majority of what we read, see and hear reaches our internal database. How do we distinguish between what is true and what is not true? Children are trained to identify truth and fiction by considering the source of information. If the story is from a newspaper or televised news show, it is true. If the story is from a book, it may or may not be true. If the story is from a cartoon or comic book, it is definitely untrue. While we learn to distinguish between fact and fiction, our morals and beliefs are influenced by all sources of input. When Batman said it was a good thing to brush my teeth I accepted his advice, even knowing that the suggestion really came from Adam West and a scriptwriter. So basically I have learned that all legitimate news is true, and that the suggestions of fictional characters can also be true. The problem is that none of it is true. Everything published has the objective of influence. Every news story has a slant; every quotation contains the beliefs of a speaker or writer. While we accept the facts of each story, we also tend to accept the mood of presentation. What we read in the news directly influences our beliefs and behavior. What if the news we read is not true? The Internet reveals a difference between mainstream news and underground news. There are many theories about 911 conspiracies that aren’t mentioned in mainstream media, and some of them are shockingly convincing. But are they true? Is the news true? Can we believe what we read? And knowing about modern film technology, can we even believe what we see? During World War II, the French Resistance continued an underground rebellion while maintaining a peaceful surface. Formed into small groups referred to as ‘maquis’, the Resistance shared information and influenced thought through the circulation of underground newspapers. Today we have the Internet, a means of quickly publishing anything. Just remember that determining the truth is up to you, and there are many sources attempting to manipulate your perceptions. © Copyright Glenn Stewart Coles, 2007 First Published May 13, 2007

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