Tilting at Windmills and Smartphones

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PHOTO PROMPT © Jennifer Pendergast

“Maybe the hardest thing in writing is simply to tell the truth about things as we see them.” —John Steinbeck—

“Who wants musty old courage and heroism in the flashy information age, eh, Jeffy?” the old man complained.

“I’m eleven, Grandpa. Don’t call me Jeffy,” answered the boy.

They sat on the rocks watching shallow waves roll to shore.

“That damn thing programs you to believe what the government and the corporations want you to believe,” Grandpa continued.

“It tells me who the bad guys are,” insisted Jeff.

“Smoke and mirrors,” said the old man. “It touts bias as fact and squashes critical thinking.”

“You’re saying information is bad?” asked Jeff.

“I’m saying being programmed isn’t the same as learning.”

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