The Assholery of Deception: Disinformation, Misinformation, and Their Lasting Impact

Let’s get one thing straight from the jump: disinformation and misinformation are "assholery" on crack. There’s no kinder way to put it. We live in a time where anyone with a smartphone and an internet connection can disseminate complete nonsense to millions in seconds. And the real kicker? People will believe it. They’ll share it. They’ll let it shape their worldview and, worse, vote based on it. And that is beyond dangerous. It’s reckless.

Disinformation isn’t just about people being wrong—it’s about weaponizing lies for control, power, and destruction. Misinformation? That’s the cousin who means well but keeps feeding you bullshit out of ignorance. Neither are harmless. In fact, both thrive on the same thing: chaos and confusion.

When you hear about people drinking bleach to cure COVID, or vast swaths of the population doubting vaccines that have been saving lives for centuries, you’re not just witnessing stupidity—you’re witnessing a system at work. Disinformation is calculated. It’s tailored to exploit fear, bias, and human weakness. It’s deliberate assholery.

Let’s not pretend like this is some new phenomenon. Throughout history, disinformation has been a political tool used to manipulate the masses. What’s new is the speed and reach. The internet is a breeding ground for lies, and now, instead of a few well-placed rumors in local newspapers, we’ve got viral tweets, deepfakes, and AI-generated "facts" infiltrating every corner of our lives. Every algorithm is designed to keep us scrolling, feeding us whatever will keep us angry, scared, or entertained long enough to stay glued to the screen.

Take a look at the 2016 election. Russian bots and troll farms didn’t just create a rift in American politics—they poured gasoline on the fire. The fallout? A country more divided than it’s been in decades, with a significant portion of the population trusting conspiracy theories over hard evidence. The scariest part is that these tactics aren’t just limited to elections anymore—they’re in everything from public health to climate change to civil rights.

And let’s talk about social media’s role in this. You have platforms designed to amplify engagement—i.e., conflict and outrage. They’re not neutral in this game; they’re part of the machinery, making this assholery on crack possible. A post with wild, unverified claims will outpace actual fact-checking every day. Why? Because anger and fear drive clicks, and clicks drive profit. Misinformation spreads faster than the truth because it plays into what people want to believe, not what they should believe.

Recent unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, have been circulating, alleging that they are responsible for a significant increase in crime. These assertions include outrageous allegations, such as claims that Haitians are "eating pets." These rumors have been debunked by local officials, who confirm that Springfield has seen an influx of immigrants, many of whom are here legally. The facts don’t matter; the fear-mongering does. It's a classic case of xenophobic disinformation being used to stoke racial and ethnic tensions. And let's not forget the outright lies about hurricane relief, where right-wing commentators have suggested that the government is purposely holding back aid to manipulate political outcomes. Adding to the absurdity, some have even peddled the conspiracy that the government is controlling the weather. Seriously, folks? We’ve gone from doubting science to blaming hurricanes on some secret government machine? This is assholery at its finest.

But here’s the thing: we’re all complicit. Every time we share a meme that we didn’t bother to verify, or we like a post that feels true but isn't based on facts, we become part of the machine. We let our biases dictate what we accept as truth. It’s easier to scroll, click, and move on than it is to question, research, or challenge our preconceived notions.

Disinformation thrives in this environment, where convenience outweighs critical thinking.

This epidemic of misinformation and disinformation isn’t just some intellectual debate for the elite. It has real-world consequences—on elections, on health, on social progress. When we’re drowning in lies, the truth doesn’t just get harder to find—it becomes irrelevant to those who need it most. People start to believe that all sources are tainted, that nothing can be trusted, and that it’s all just opinion. That’s exactly what disinformation architects want: a disoriented public incapable of organizing or resisting the powers that seek to exploit them.

So what’s the solution? Accountability. And I’m not just talking about holding platforms like Facebook or X (formerly Twitter) responsible—though that’s a huge part of it. I’m talking about each of us holding ourselves and each other accountable. We need to get back to the basics of being informed citizens. Fact-check your damn self. Don’t just accept things because they make you feel righteous or vindicated. Question everything, especially the stuff that feels too perfect.

And for the love of all things decent, stop spreading lies because you’re too lazy to do the work. This isn’t just assholery—it’s reckless, irresponsible, and, quite frankly, it’s killing people. Whether it’s in public discourse, elections, or public health, we need to be smarter, sharper, and more vigilant. The truth is out there—we just have to care enough to find it.

In a world drowning in lies and bullshit, we need fewer assholes and greater competency from people unafraid to tell the truth!