Information in Wartime
Dial back your expectations.
Check your assumptions.
Even the "good guys" are now in wartime communications mode.
Every node of the U.S. Government and the U.S. Military is keenly aware of the permeability, manipulability, and ubiquity of hostile observation and analysis, in every one of the many communications channels that are accessible to us, the 'general public.'
This means that everyone involved in dealing with the Russia/Ukraine war - not just Russia and Ukraine but all the allies and partners and parties connected by economic, social, and political ties to either belligerent - have two priorities for every communication:
1) Deny any useful intelligence to hostile observers/analysts; and
2) Use communications strategically to influence and/or manipulate friendly and unfriendly observers/analysts
Communications channels are a weapon in modern conflict. Putin has known this for decades and has been engaging in an information war since the 1990s.
Everyone else is playing catch-up in that department, but with generally better technology and access.
NATO governments, at least, also understand the necessity to maintain the confidence of their own public in communications about the war. They are walking a careful line - provide accurate information where it cannot provide useful intelligence to Russia and its helots, and ensure that disinformation intended to manipulate Russia and its helots will not cause domestic harm and/or loss of confidence.
All this is to say that the usual "noise level" of conflicting, unreliable, and downright harmful information has escalated twenty-fold or more, in the last few weeks, and is still going up.
We need to be aware of this, and to respond accordingly. I have a few helpful suggestions:
1. Don't get hung up on the reliability/unreliability of any particular item of information or even any particular information source or channel. Just accept that there will be a percentage of unreliable information in every channel, from every source. Don't waste energy in futile debate. Be willing to say "Possibly reliable, possibly not", and move on.
2. Be extra-vigilant about passing along information that has a high emotional impact factor - that is the information most likely to be manipulated and strategically deployed by all parties. We know war is hell, we know people are suffering. We can help through established, reputable international aid channels. Passing on heart-tugging horror stories isn't necessarily helpful.
3. WAIT, before responding to, or engaging in discussion of, or passing on an item of information, especially a provocative one. Wait until it's reported with consistent elements from multiple sources.
4. Take frequent offline breaks. Immersing ourselves in the information stream is like being on the fringes of a war zone because the information stream IS a war zone, now. It's bad enough for those who have no choice but to be there. Certainly, we have a moral obligation to stay somewhat informed. But keep some healthy limits on it. If anyone's participation in the public discourse and response to this war is to be useful and constructive, that person should stay healthy and balanced, as much as possible.
5. DO stay in touch with friends and family, keep human contact in your life, engage in normalcy as much as possible. See above.
It's hard to know that such suffering is being inflicted, and not be able to do much more than stay informed. But even staying informed can be a helpful response, if it's done thoughtfully and carefully. It prepares us to respond constructively in other ways when the opportunity is at hand.
somberly,
Bright
= new reply since forum marked as read
This site and especially social media sites need this information. 
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