Fake news? Alternative facts? How do I know what to believe?

Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 11:00am to 1:00pm

York County Community College, Mid Café, 112 College Drive, Wells, Maine

In an era where science is questioned, facts are dismissed, and reporting influences rather than informs, how do I know what to believe? When anyone can broadcast to everyone, who should I listen to? With such a political divide on the news, who do I trust?

And what about my own biases? How do my core beliefs influence what news I trust? How does my own political identity filter what others call facts?

At this Make Shift Coffee House hosted by York County Community College we will discuss these and related questions. We will talk in small groups. We will talk as a full group. We will hear stories from some volunteers among us. We will ask and answer questions of each other. We will converse.

We don’t expect to agree on what to believe, or on where to get our news, but at least we will try to understand each other’s views.

Format

11:00 am       Live Music. Table chit chat. Coffee, tea, snacks.

11:15 am       Group Conversation

12:15 pm       Live music. Table chit chat. Coffee, tea, snacks.

12:45 pm       Group Conversation

1:00 pm         End

About the Make Shift Coffee House

A Make Shift Coffee House is not about judging right or wrong or good or bad, it’s about understanding each others’ perspectives.

It’s not about persuading or converting each other, or about condemning each other. It’s simply about learning each other’s perspectives.

In the new digital age, it’s easy to choose our sources of information and reinforce what we already believe. It’s easy to surround myself with people that share my views. It’s easy to build opinions in isolation, each of us interacting with our own computer screen. It’s easy to avoid talking face-to-face.

The Make Shift Coffee House is a face-to-face place, in real time, with good old fashioned civic dialogue.

This Make Shift Coffee House will be moderated by Craig Freshley of Good Group Decisions. A professional meeting facilitator, Craig will manage a civil exchange of ideas as a neutral third party. Craig moderates Make Shift Coffee Houses as a volunteer because he believes in the importance of understanding each other in spite of our differences.

Want to Learn More?

Click here to learn about the Make Shift Coffee House culture and why understanding each other is so useful.