A recent example of half-truths and twisting an issue...?

Question

A question was just asked about a teenager not being allowed to wear her purity ring to school and how that was an attack on religion. However, the questioner failed to mention that jewelry of any kind was banned as part of that school's uniform policy. This is a prime example of how misinformation or only giving part of the info is used to promote certain beliefs. How does this blatant fraud make you feel? Do you see this kind of tactic in use regarding various beliefs? How can people know what to believe or combat false beliefs when such tactics are used?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlmIiyhTHMlsDfk7_8TPovjd7BR.?qid=20070625142327AA8pQ5e

Answer 1

Yes, I agree. And welcome to the world of major news networks! Guess who owns them? You wouldn't like it, but a large % of people KNOW and yet remain complacent. Why do we get a whole different layout, diff/ articles and watered down truths, or the complete REMOVAL of truths that are occurring in the Mid East and around the world? We do in fact get the "superficial stories" while the rest of the world KNOWS how the state of things REALLY ARE in the world.

Bottom-line fact:
Misrepresentation, downright lies, and lies by omission are keeping the US of A completely dumbed down.

IMO.
7

Answer 2

A half truth is partial truth, relayed with the other facet which completes it unmentioned, resulting in a message that paints a grossly inaccurate picture in the listeners mind that falls short of actuality. A half truth is as much as a half lie, except that such a term is never used. Really a question of language, considering the effect which each of the words 'truth' and 'lies' has on an observer. 'Truth' has a positive note to it while 'lies' suggest the opposite. Therefore, usage of the word 'truth' in 'half truth' implies the positive intentions behind it, which makes sense in most contexts. The integrity of truth and the deceitfulness of a lie is halved by the intention behind the act that contradicts the very nature of it.

Answer 3

And here's another example of this.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aowy_njmS7Yuql3dcxkaQrLsy6IX?qid=20070625131139AAV4SBn&show=7#profile-info-1STa1TIIaa

I think it's up to us to try to find both sides of every story. This particular question doesn't mention that the Supreme court didn't agree with the Atheist/Agnostic group that Faith Based Initiatives were a bad thing with the potential for abuse, nor did the questioner seem to know or understand that Faith Based initiatives are being contested by Theists, too, not just Atheists. Therefore his assumptions and question were moot.

Answer 4

Your point is well taken.

I attended a Catholic school for all twelve grades. Jewelry was forbidden--religious as well as secular, as it was considered 'out of uniform' to wear jewelry.

Communicating twisted concepts to support religious nonsense makes me suspicious of people claiming that their right to 'express' their religious beliefs has been infringed.

The tradition of the school uniform is more strict even than the military uniform--no ribbons, medals, or other differentiating symbols are allowed.

Calling attention to oneself, sending any kind of signals or communicating ANYTHING except that one attends a certain school and has achieved membership of a specific class (say, freshman, sophomore, etc.) is the ONLY thing allowed for children wearing true school uniforms, regardless of the school affiliation.

Thank you for pointing this out!

Answer 5

I figured it wasn't the whole story.
If no one can wear jewelry then she isn't special. There is nothing personal attack or otherwise for her to not wear her ring. She just wants attention. Go figure. A teenage girl finding a way to make it all about her????
Also, look at who posted the question? Can't be all surprised that she twisted something to make it work to her own agenda.

Answer 6

ditto to Jillbean's answer "typing"...

oh, that was just a placeholder? OK, here's another answer:
They use that tactic all the time. Unfortunately, most of their fellow sheeples follow blindly without looking up the real story, and so misinformation spreads. Its also a common tactic of the Republican Party. Coincidence?

Answer 7

Truly, truly sad.

"Certain" beliefs should read "Any" belief, though. Haekel's fraudulent embryionic drawings were in the science textbooks back when I was in high-school, treated by the books as fact. Deception is everywhere.

Answer 8

LOL...yeah, I just answered that.

Well, this questioner referred to it as an "attack on Christians." I suppose she needed to lie about the basic facts of the case in order to justify that language.

To me, the real problem about this kind of thing is that it's like a visible indicator of a girl's private sex life. It's a latter-day Scarlet Letter. It's a way of her little Christian goody-two-shoes friends to keep tabs on whether she's let anybody pop her freshness seal, as if it's any of their damned businesses.

Answer 9

It's just disgusting. I noticed how she deliberately left that part out. But that poster is so dense I keep deleting my answers to her questions because it's like talking to a wall. Her ignorance combined with arrogance just makes me sputter... I can't express it enough.

She just paints her opinion on the situation no matter what it is and considers the matter closed. Just like the state of her mind.

In speech this would be where I resort to profanity out of frustration.

Answer 10

I thought it was odd that someone would be banned for a ring. It is important to have all information before planning a stand or creating a view on something