LOOK FOR THIS WORD
Yesterday I was reading a story in Yahoo News. (Yes. I know they have a slant.) The first sentence contained one word which told me more truth than the remainder of the article. Yahoo News is neither the only news source nor the only slanted source which uses this word, often to great effect on the unaware. BEWARE when you see this word. For a fact you should LOOK for this word any time you scan the “news.”
What is that word? “CAN.”
Yes, it usually means that all the words following it should be put in the trash. It is neither a new word, nor a new use for it. I remember seeing it decades ago. Without this singular word I would be overly concerned about a gazillion things.
“Washing your face CAN cause a stroke.” (Duh! There is not a single thing that cannot trigger a stroke.) So, although my statement is true that does not mean I SHOULD place the risk of stroke from face washing above an extremely low level of probability. The word “can” alerts me to the potential LIE of the statement.
Every human activity has a level of danger or risk. For example, I am painting a door. There are several dangers and risks from that activity. For one, door painting “can” put me at higher risk for drowning. I could fall face first into the can of paint. But do you know of a single instance where that has happened with half of a one-gallon pail of white latex paint? Nope. I researched it. I found one recorded drowning in paint. It was a VAT of paint at Ford Motor Company. A worker fell in because the paint vat was overflowing and he could not see the gap in the walkway. Sad. (However, they reported that he looked nice at the funeral.) [inappropriate?]
We were told by “experts” just a few years ago that “Masking can save lives.” This spring the CDC admitted that masking was practically useless. They know of not a single instance where a mask saved a life. I do not know not of a single instance where it did not save a life. So, we’re even. The problem is that pesky little 3-letter word. It admits there is ONLY a possibility. It admits a significant degree of unknowing. It points to a probable error in the assertions being made. Yet it does so in an innocuous manner.
Less astute readers will errantly assume the statement being made is whole fact. No. The word “can” makes it an assumed fact. The word means “is able to.” It does not mean that “it will.” It does not mean “it must.”
“Sharks can attack humans.” While true when read with understanding of the word “can,” it is not worthy of the assumption that sharks will. It also does not mean that all sharks must attack humans. It merely presents a fact of POSSIBILITY, not PROBABILITY.
So, the recent story in Yahoo News reported that gas stoves “can” emit more benzene than is safe. It reported an insignificant fact because the story reported no information regarding probability of such an event. There also was no information about how much benzene is considered “too high.” On top of that, there was no information given which listed the average benzene level for homes with or without gas stoves.
The word “can” was the only word I needed to see. I knew instantly to look for supporting facts (see the above paragraph). I knew next that this was what I call a “fake news” story. What is “fake news?” My personal definition includes any published article which attempts to change attitudes or opinions without a factual basis. The proof an article’s falseness does not depend on whether you agree or not with the premise (think politics). Too many examples exist.
No, the article shouted “DANGER” but then failed to provide ample evidence to prove danger exists in the real world in which I live. Thus, it was fake news. It was meant to change how people view gas stoves without giving supporting evidence that a change of opinion was warranted. Personally, I do not care whether you own a gas or electric range. I do care about truth however. “Can” points to a potential LIE.
Today in the “news” was a story trying to scare people away from drinking diet soda because it contains artificial sweetener. The “FEAR” is based on a statistically insignificant story last week about a small number (10, I think) of mice who had stupid offspring after being force-fed the ingredient. Even that story forgot to mention exactly HOW MUCH of the ingredient was tested on the mice. Was it 1 gram? Was it a liter? Was it a 5-gallon bucket? It did not say. So, today’s “FEAR” story is based on 10 mice in an insignificant study where we do not know all the facts.
I once said to my son, “Please take out the trash.” He responded, “I can.” His response was indeed a true statement since he had the ability to do the task. However, it did not necessarily mean that he intended to, or actually would, do the task. As a parent I instantly went on full alert. My follow up, “Son, I want you to take out the trash immediately.” Now the question was fully in his court. He had fewer choices than a moment before. A moment before he could have disobeyed, he could have delayed, he could even have claimed he did not understand. Now he had only two possible responses: Obey or disobey. The word “can” permits too many options even in “news” stories. It suggests more truth than it can hold.
Watch out for this word and sit by the trash while reading the “news” story which follows it.
Copyright 2023 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms, as I do, and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere. ~ Sherry]
MORE OF DON’S GREAT GUEST POSTS:
~ Fake! ~ MEAT ~ Know Your World ~ Theraping for Dollars ~ Self-Scan ~ Wind Chimes, part II ~ COOL! ~ Wind Chimes, part I ~ It Is Time To… ~
~ Courthouse Statue ~ The Effect of Crime On Small Business ~ Young Brains ~ Why We Miss ~ Helpful Pests ~
~ Giving Up Your Seat ~Obedience ~ Good Mental Habits ~ Winning The Lottery ~ Why Sarcasm Does Not Translate ~
~ OOPS! That’s How I Write ~ The RE-COLONIZATION of America, pt. II ~ Laws The U.S. Should Enact ~
~ The Re-Colonization Of America, pt. I ~ How To Retire On Less ~ State Song ~ The “Holier Than Thou” Attitude of “The Boy Who Cried ‘Wolf’” ~
~ THE TRUTH ~ H.A.L.T ~ Where’s The Clamor? ~ Parents Who Lie ~ Odd Places ~ Internet Is Fragile ~ Shopping ~
~ Student Loans ~ A Government ~ Going To Church ~ Anheuser-Busch ~ Hans Van Doorn ~ The Wrong Problem ~
~ Talking About Money ~ Trustworthy ~ A Life More Beautiful ~ TECH with ATTITUDE! ~ Black Drink ~
~ Public Schools III ~ Public Schools II ~ Public Schools I ~ 5-Star Reviews ~ Fractions Matter! ~ Small Spoons ~ Dumpster ~
~ Weird Forgiveness III ~ Weird Forgiveness II ~ Weird Forgiveness I ~ Classified Documents ~ Future You Needs A Friend ~
~ Feeling Understood ~ Starting The New Year Right ~ Awe! Aah! Ooh! ~ Christmas As A Poor (Rich) Child ~ Bigger Problems ~ Blessing ~
~ Climate Change – 2 ~ Medical Science Too Far? ~ Gravity and Light ~ Travel Fun ~ Fascinating People: Gloria Hartman Doughty ~
~ Sadly Magic Words ~ Mulberries ~ Climate Change? ~ ~ SPURIOUS UBIQUITOUS NOISE ~ TEW ~ Credit Card Debt ~ Insect Oddities ~
~ DATA ~ Cities Got Name? ~ The Bible Does Not Say That! ~ Too Old?? ~ Be My Guest ~ IN-CRE-MEN-TAL-ISM ~ Bad Friends & Broken Tools ~
~ Pools Are For The Birds?? ~ Animals Hindering Your Financial Freedom ~ The Chicken ~ Finding The Exit ~ Allegheny Blackberries ~
~ Romantic Sunset At The Beach ~ Fun Facts About Carpenter Ants ~ Bad Habits ~ Doing Faith Wrong ~ Quirky! ~ Ten-Foot Trestle ~ Settling Estates ~
~ Living In High Horse Country ~ The Dying Generation ~
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