Critical Thinking Skills on the Internet

Critical Thinking Skills on the Internet How to Spot Disguised Hatred

Hate Sites on the Internet • The internet provides infinite anonymity to any individual. Anyone can create a web page describing any topic they wish even if their goal is to promote violence and hatred.

Any web designer can construct a site espousing their authority in ways made to trick individuals into believing anything their site promotes.

Tactics • Many times people will disguise their sites and their accusations in ways that make them seem rational and peaceful. • They will also try to back up their accusations with statements from people who claim to be experts.

When someone gives expert testimony on a topic, we expect that person to have some professional experience and qualifications justifying their statements.

But anonymity online allows anyone to claim expertise on a topic even if that person has none.

Example: • The Institute for Historical Review presents itself as a site open to discussion and devoted to the pursuit of truth, though its malicious agenda is clearly evident by the articles it publishes.

From IHR’s Mission Statement • IHR has over the years published detailed books and numerous probing essays that call into question aspects of the orthodox Holocaust extermination story, and highlight specific Holocaust exaggerations and falsehoods.” The statement goes on to describe the way the Holocaust has been used as an excuse for “unjustifiable Israeli policies, and to extort enormous sums of money, especially from European countries and companies.” [1] • [1]A Few Fact About the Institute for Historic Review (07/05) Institute for Historic Review. Retrieved on April 25, 2007 from <http://www.ihr.org/main/about.shtml>

“Holocaust deniers seek to plant seeds of questioning and doubt about the Holocaust in their mass audiences…. The spread of skepticism about the scope and historicity of the Holocaust among a critical mass of public opinion would be considered to be a significant ideological triumph in and of itself.” [2] • [2] Introduction: Denial as Anti-Semitism (2001) Anti-Defamation League. Retrieved on April 25, 2007 from <http://www.adl.org/holocaust/theory.asp>

In Regard to Holocaust Denial • The “experts” that IHR claims as sources have all been proven to be liars who have falsified or ignored evidence.

IHR’s Expert Liars • Arthur Butz: former Prof. In Engineering • Robert Faurisson: former Prof. In Literature • Roger Garaudy: Journalist • David Irving: Author • Harry Elmer Barnes: Historian • Paul Rassinier: Author/Activist • Fred Leuchter: Engineer

One thing "scientific" Holocaust deniers count on is the fact that many non-scientists cannot follow scientific debates, and assume that if it is dressed up in scientific terms, it must be right.

Iran’s Belligerence

As Educators… • We must realize that while education is characterized by questioning events, it is also important to drive home the facts. • We can fight by encouraging students to think critically about lies that are disguised to seem true. Everyone knows that there is hate in the world and that people who hate are compelled to spread their views. What many students fail to see is that intelligent people can be evil and bigoted as well.

Teachers must encourage intelligent use of the Internet. • We have taught students to be critical when reading watching TV. Critical web surfing skills is the next step.

Critical Thinking Skills on the Internet