Truth Has Two Sides — If You Can Find Them

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You know what legendary newsman Walter Cronkite once said?

“In seeking truth, you have to get both sides of a story.”

Wise words. But here’s the kicker - in today’s world, getting both sides? It’s like hunting for a unicorn with a blindfold on.

Let’s break this down.

Once upon a time—not too long ago—you could read the morning paper, watch the evening news, and feel fairly confident you got a balanced view.

Fast forward to now, and we’ve got:

Social media echo chambers.

24/7 cable shouting matches.

And news outlets that care more about “who clicks” than “what’s true.”

Today, truth is less about reporting and more about performing.

Here’s the problem - A lot of places say they give you both sides. But what they really offer is one side... with a mirror.

You want to believe you’re informed, but all you're getting is confirmation bias in high definition.

And if you think flipping between two cable networks gives you balance? Nope. That’s just switching between two flavors of spin.

Now, here’s where it gets even trickier—something called false balance.

That’s when media tries so hard to be “fair” that it gives equal time to things that aren’t even close to equal in fact.

Like this:

“Scientists agree that the Earth is round. But here’s Gary from Facebook who says it’s a pizza.”

Giving both voices the same weight? That’s not balance. That’s misleading.

So how do you find the real story in a world full of noise?

Here’s a simple five-step guide that doesn’t require a journalism degree:

First, read from a variety of sources. Not just the ones that agree with you. Left, right, center—even international. Think of it like cross-training your brain.

Second, look at who’s funding the content. If a headline sounds like it’s trying to sell you fear, anger, or a political agenda—it probably is.

Third, pay attention to language. Words like “disaster,” “traitor,” or “hero” are loaded terms. Real facts - They don’t come with emotional seasoning.

Fourth, go straight to the source when possible. Read the speech, not just the tweet about it. Skim the report, not just the summary written by someone with an angle.

And fifth, ask yourself - “What’s missing here” Sometimes the real clue isn’t in what they said—it’s in what they didn’t.

Truth isn’t a tug-of-war. It’s a treasure hunt.

And sometimes, the truth isn’t perfectly divided down the middle. Sometimes, one side’s just plain wrong—or incomplete.

Being open-minded doesn’t mean being naive. And being skeptical doesn’t mean being a conspiracy theorist. It means asking better questions.

So what can we do about it?

Start by staying curious. Share facts, not just feelings. And when someone offers a viewpoint that’s different from yours—listen.

You don’t have to agree. But listening? That’s how bridges are built.

Stay safe, stay secure and remember - Truth has two sides - but that only matters if you’re willing to look at both—and verify them.

(AI was used to aid in the creation of this article.)

Thanks for tuning in — now go hit that subscribe button and stay curious, my friends!👋