I remember teaching library science students the subtle distinctions between the definitions of "misinformation" versus "disinformation". The key difference was that disinformation always had a malign intent behind it.
I tend to agree with this post that the terms has been repeated and weaponised to the point of uselessness. The suggested alternative "false claim" seems to have some merit.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - Robert Heinlein
The Lost Fleet series - Jack Campbell
Good morning Nostr from Hong Kong 🇭🇰
Came across this article - "Exploring the Nostr Ecosystem: A Study of Decentralization and Resilience" by academics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.05709v1#
The #Nostr Primer section was particularly helpful.
Librarians are struggling against the tide of misinformation and conspiracy thinking that pervades the current information landscape. It is now fashionable to reject the opinions of mainstream experts and "do your own research".
I found this recent Making Sense podcast episode to be useful in crystallising important points that I sometimes struggle to articulate. For example, no one is saying that arguments should be made or accepted purely on the basis of authority. Rather, we are using authority as a necessary proxy for understanding why something is true. We should make this clear to students when we teach them to favour sources authored by experts.
Also, when someone "does their own research" it usually refers to seeking out non-mainstream opinion, which essentially amounts to trusting these sources as a new authority. It is vanishingly rare for people to actually do original research.
I have always been a fan of Sam Harris's clear thinking, and this piece is a great example of why he is an important public intellectual.
🎧 🔗 Here's the full-length episode (only about 30 mins long)
https://samharris.org/episode/SEF2DB686D6
#infolit #authority #libraries 
As a librarian in Hong Kong, I never fully embraced Twitter for professional networking - it's simply not widely used in our academic community here. I currently use LinkedIn as my main professional networking platform, but like most platforms there are concerns about centralised control and data privacy that are particularly problematic for information professionals.
That's why I'm hopeful about Nostr's potential to connect library professionals globally. The decentralized nature means we're not bound by regional platform preferences or unaccountable corporate decisions.
I'm particularly interested in discussing open access, information literacy, and the impact of AI on academic libraries. If you're a library professional on Nostr, I'd love to connect and explore how we can build a vibrant community here. #libraries #nostr #hongkong
Thank you sir 🫡
Just playing around with Nostr.