Days of Disinformation
A typical mind educated in the West is linear, it has been structured that way in the name of deeper analysis, ceteris paribus. It is aware that by keeping all variables but two constant, it creates an artificial world, and thinks that it is necessary, often desirable, and most of the time the only way. This strategy works surprisingly well, in the West that is.
I often come across an article, a comment, or a news story etc, trying to analyze Turkey. Rarely I agree with them. In approximately half of the cases, if I jump to the conclusion I would agree to it, but when I start from the beginning, with the author’s premises, my conclusion will not be the same or be a completely different one. This naturally follows to a scenario in which even if the wording of the conclusion is the same, its meaning is not, or different premises are required for me to reach the author’s conclusion. It is I call a natural difference of perception.
This is by no means limited to foreign writers or foreign media, it also includes locals who were educated in the West. Don’t get me wrong! I am not saying what these people are taught is wrong, nor do I claim I am the only one who is right. I am merely pointing to a difference in understanding or perception. Yet, I will be simply or rather in a very complex way hypothesizing that Western education is not suitable for the Turkish, especially because of the language barrier (this may be generalized but it is not a concern of mine here). Let me emphasize again: I am not saying the knowledge taught, if I may use the term like this, per se is wrong, the way it is presented or channeled through is three times more difficult for a Turk due to language differences and it is disruptive. “Why three times?” you might ask. It is twice difficult, say for an Arab (she speaks an Indo-European language anyway), but really difficult for a person who speaks an Altaic language plus no conceptual links between concepts will develop. Since this is an introduction I will leave it to future articles. This I have coined the term acquired difference in perception.
There is a third group worth mentioning, albeit shortly: those who spread disinformation because they are paid to do so. I have no word against them. Pay me enough, I can do the same but do not expect I will be observing the inner beauty of your sewage system forever. I will jump off at the first convenient stop.
These three groups are the main sources of disinformation and it is my intent to present my case here in this long journey and believe me it is going to be long. As time and resources allow, I will take a case or an article usually from popular media, local or foreign, written by the first or second groups mentioned above and try to prove it wrong or deface it. A tough task, I know.
