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Lauren Long (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Why are we so quick to believe lies? Better yet, why do some people choose dishonesty over honesty?

No matter what stage of life we’re in, gossip spreads like wildfire, so by the time someone tells the truth, there’s a lot of confusion between truth and falsehood. 

Sadly, this is common in school hallways and in the real world. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are no strangers to this treatment. The media took great pleasure in printing negative, nasty articles about them, which played a large role in their decision to step down as senior working royals.

I don’t read tabloids or clickbait, so when I watched Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary last summer, I was shocked.

I had no idea how bad it was for them, and they made that documentary to tell their story after having it suppressed. It was a chance to share their narrative in their own words. That one watch inspired a series of articles that I have been sharing on my blog, and I chose to for two reasons. One, you have to actively look for positive pieces about Harry and Meghan, and two, a lot of what they shared resonated with me. I highly recommend watching their documentary, without prejudice. 

At one point, Harry states, “Misinformation is a global humanitarian crisis,” and I wholeheartedly agree.

My family and I experienced being the targets of misinformation not long ago. I’ve been on the receiving end of rumours and misunderstanding before, but this was on a whole new level. I can’t tell you how hurtful it is to be experiencing grief over the death of a family member, waiting for news on another, and discovering that people have been spreading rumours and misinformation about the situation.

I wanted to do something, and asked my parents if it would help if I did a Facebook post respectfully saying “Back off,” because of the additional hurt and angst these people were causing. 

My mom said she understood where I was coming from, but writing and sharing a post online wouldn’t make things better. One of my friends, who was experiencing the same thing we were, agreed. She recognized my desire to act came from a place of love, but she rightly pointed out that posting something could result in having my words twisted around and painting me as the villain. It’s messed up that this is how the world works, but the only way to get through it is our knowledge that we know the truth, and that the gossip mongers are in the wrong. 

I perceive the danger of lies and gossip differently than I did a few months ago.  Not just the damage they can cause to a person’s reputation, but also the tolls they take on emotional and mental health. I said earlier that I don’t pay attention to the tabloids, but I’m aware of them. They constantly surround us, whether we’re in line at the store or online. 

The first thing I feel when I see them is disgust. Disgust that people are okay with exploiting the lives of others for money, and sympathy for those on the receiving end of this abuse. 

I may not live in the public eye, but I can say that when bad things happen, everyone who participates in spreading rumours and fanning the flames are no better than those who make their living doing this. 

So, if everything I just mentioned causes this much pain, why are people so quick to believe lies over the truth? Pamela Anderson said in her documentary Pamela: A Love Story, “It’s nervy to say the truth,” and my two cents is honestly that it makes people uncomfortable. People who believe lies don’t know how to react to the truth when it’s revealed, so instead of taking responsibility, they decide to continue believing the lies. Rather than admit they were wrong, they play the victim. 

If this isn’t frustrating enough, when someone we know chooses to believe the lies and repeats what they’ve heard, it’s tactless and fractures our relationship with them. 

No matter what walk of life we come from, lies and misinformation can be damaging on many levels. Harry says, “When a lie spreads on social media, it’s dangerous. Of course it is. But when that same lie is given credibility by journalists or publishers, it’s unethical, and as far as I’m concerned, an abuse of power.” 

We’re always going to cross paths with people who think that lies are more interesting than the truth and don’t care about the fallout. But we’re also going to meet those who value truth. 

I would rather take some heat for being honest than lose my morals and integrity in the toxic game of “What salacious story can I publish about someone that will make me a fortune?” 

We all have a choice. We can believe and speak lies, or we can speak the truth. What’s yours? 

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Born and raised in Quesnel, BC, Lauren Long is a strong advocate for mental health and well-being, as well as being a major Swiftie and a role model for positive body image. She believes in the value of truth, and that truth matters. When she’s not writing, you can find her on the pole, on the training mats or curled up with a good book.