In the interest of sophistication should we avoid glorifying the term 'Fake News'?

Sophistication aside, media/free press is one of the most important parts of a healthy/functioning democracy. Invalidating the media is a tactic of a dictatorship.

I would add that very few things sound sophisticated, when uttered by a moron (Trump.)

“Fake news” doesn’t sound sophisticated, because it’s a term meant for the idiots that comprise Trump’s base. You don’t use an expansive vocabulary when talking to a child. Similarly, you use small easy words for Trump supporters, and speak slowly with frequent pauses…

Thanks @MrGrimm888 for a Class Act by not calling anyone “Stoopid” !

You make a very good point @MrGrimm888 it truly is a way to manipulate those with alternative opinions to stay quite. Along with ‘the failing new york times”

I think the term caught on because it was a more efficient way to convey the idea. The things originally identified as “Fake News” don’t “look” like propaganda in any obvious way. They look like news articles, because they’re designed to pass as legitimate news.

Of course, the term was quickly co-opted as a way to say “this news organization has facts which are inconvenient to my worldview,” and so its meaning is rapidly becoming diluted, if it isn’t already… Which is a bit scary, considering how eagerly people seem to be taking up that mantle.

I think @MrGrimm888‘s point about invalidating media and dictatorships is important.

Maybe using “propaganda” instead of “fake news” could separate the actual idea from what has become a campaign to invalidate certain media outlets? Breathe new life into the original issue? I don’t know.

I know that US agencies refer to the issue as “disinformation.”

Fake news is fine by me. And when a donkey notorious for lying throws the term around daily to challenge the veracity of the New York Times, that’s fine too. It should surprise no one that a man so bereft of positive attributes declares any notice of his shortcomings “fake”. The President whose portrait belongs on the eleven dollar bill lectures the rest of us on what’s phony.

The problem is that Trump has tainted the expression “fake news” and made it into a joke, and associate it with the childish manipulation tactic of dismissing complaints and trying to get away with acting like people are lying about them. For example, shortly after his election, I was walking by some kids getting out of a car and the sister was complaining to her parents about her brother’s behavior and he immediately yelled “fake news!” as a way to jokingly talk over her complaint.

It’s now not easy to use those two words without invoking (or at least bringing to mind) the context of our nasty childish narcissist president.

Unlike Trump I use “faux news” rather than “fake news”.

I have a problem calling what we normally refer to as bullshit fake news. It still just bullshit if it’s outright lies, omissions, embellishment or propaganda.

@ARE_you_kidding_me
What DjT calls “Fake News” is usually repeating something outrageous he has tweeted or said in public in front of 10,000 people or more.

@flutherother Ah yes we have to remember to use good ole ‘Faux News’. It’s a classic