This wasn’t my original plan for posting. However, when I opened up Facebook this morning, the very first post I saw was this. Screenshot from my computer.

I started seeing this meme yesterday. First, let me say that I don’t mind memes that are meant to be funny. I’m not a fan of memes that promote false information. The image in the lower right corner is actually true, but the images of Anderson Cooper are not from Florence. Snopes is one of my favorite resources. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/anderson-cooper-hurricane/

Take note of who posted this. The Summerville Police Department. An agency that should NOT attack the media. An agency that should ESPECIALLY not attack the media in reference to a hurricane. Yes, Florence was not a big deal here. But you cannot tell people to pay attention to the local news and follow it, and then post a meme about fake news. No. Just no. There are so many reasons.

One, I’m sick of the attacks on the media. You don’t get to declare something “fake news” just because you don’t like it. I’m sick of being gaslighted by our president and told that things I’ve seen and heard didn’t happen. I’m sick of other countries meddling in social media and actively trying to sway the people and elections in this country. And mostly, I’m sick of people taking part in it and believing everything they see on the internet.

Two, it was posted by a Police department! Inappropriate in every sense of the word. Official agencies should NOT be posting opinions or memes. They should not be discrediting other agencies. An official FB page should be used for posting FACTS. Period.

Three, this area was rocked by the Walter Scott shooting, in which a white police officer shot a man of color in the back. That puts all police departments in this area under scrutiny, and someone thought it was a good idea to post THAT? Again, no. No. No.

I’m also including the message I received when I sent a message through Facebook.