The lack of critical thinking skills is perhaps my biggest gripe with humanity, and one that I believe underpins, in one way or another, all of its other failings.
If everyone had perfect critical thinking skills, misreporting such as this would cause no harm. There would be no need for defamation laws.
A news organization would make an incorrect assertion, and instead of leaping to conclusions, people would interrogate the assertion, evaluate the supporting evidence themselves, and reserve judgment until the facts are clear.
In the meantime, if you can't help but discuss or act on information of questionable accuracy, qualify yourself appropriately. "If Ryan Lanza was the person responsible, he is a monster!", not "Ryan Lanza is a monster!", etc.
If everyone had perfect critical thinking skills, misreporting such as this would cause no harm. There would be no need for defamation laws.
A news organization would make an incorrect assertion, and instead of leaping to conclusions, people would interrogate the assertion, evaluate the supporting evidence themselves, and reserve judgment until the facts are clear.
In the meantime, if you can't help but discuss or act on information of questionable accuracy, qualify yourself appropriately. "If Ryan Lanza was the person responsible, he is a monster!", not "Ryan Lanza is a monster!", etc.