The Horrors of Misinformation and Lies: Profits Over Truth. Alex Jones is a Bastard. He’s an evil – horrible – excruciatingly malevolent human being. Check that, a cockroach. He’s a radioactive insect. To watch The Truth vs. Alex Jones is to see the absolute worst that humanity is capable of. And yes, I’m understanding that the 3rd Reich also coexisted in this same plane of analogous existence. I literally just deleted 9 different next sentences – I was spitting, I was so mad. God Damn. This guy is literal evil. Malignancy incarnate. I almost want to start churning out lies about the man and his progeny in order to attempt to get even… and yet.
Breathing into a paper bag for a moment – let me see if I can come at this from a different angle.
OK, so look – in an age where information is readily available at our fingertips, it’s terrifying to witness how easily misinformation and lies can spread, especially when driven by a solipsistic goal of profit. The recent documentary, The Truth vs. Alex Jones, directed by Dan Reed, sheds new light on the disturbing phenomenon of conspiracy theories that are running rampant today, and the devastating impact they can have on individuals and society as a whole.
As I am CERTAIN you are aware – the film delves into the tragic events of December 14, 2012, when a gunman took the lives of 20 first graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Instead of grieving in solidarity with the families of the victims, right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones seized the opportunity to propagate the despicable falsehood that the shooting was a hoax. Just let that sink in for a moment. Twenty first graders. Shredded by automatic weapon fire… and Alex Jones decided to use the fear of his listeners, and their worry about retaining their guns, in order to sell vitamins and supplements. Through his platform, Infowars, Jones spread lies and baseless claims, accusing grieving parents of being crisis actors and subjecting them to relentless harassment and threats.
Crisis Actors. False Flag Plants!
One of the most nauseating aspects of the documentary is witnessing Jones’s shameless manipulation of facts and his callous disregard for the truth. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Jones doubled down on his conspiracy theories, using them to boost his viewership and drive sales of his products. The more outrageous the lie, the bigger the boost to his sales were. There was a CAUSAL LINK that the more morally reprehensible the lie?? The more financially lucrative his sales.
But perhaps the most infuriating aspect of the documentary is the realization that Jones’s brand of misinformation is not an isolated incident. It’s a symptom of a larger societal problem—one fueled by a thirst for sensationalism and a willingness to prioritize profit over truth. As Reed aptly points out, Jones’s lies are just one example of a broader trend of falsehoods permeating our media landscape, eroding trust in institutions, and sowing division among the populace.
The Sandy Hook tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the human cost of misinformation. For the parents who lost their children that fateful day, the pain and suffering inflicted by Jones’s lies are immeasurable. They endured years of relentless harassment and legal battles, only to be met with hollow victories and empty promises of justice. Meanwhile, Jones continues to peddle his fabrications with impunity, exploiting the vulnerabilities of his audience for personal gain.
One of the most poignant moments of the film was when the lead prosecutor states that while they were successful in shutting down Jones, this wouldn’t do anything to change the deeper issue rampant in society that makes these lies palatable and necessary to so many in society today. The court system is so so very slow in grinding out justice, but the lies move so quickly. But we must continue demanding accountability for those that seek to deceive and exploit, and we must reaffirm our commitment to truth, integrity, and compassion. For in the battle between truth and lies, the stakes could not be higher—and the horrors of misinformation demand nothing less than our unwavering resolve to combat them, no matter the cost.
I mean, otherwise? Let’s just wheel in the Antichrist and call this thing called human experience good.
Edited by: CY