(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Verifying Ghana [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-06-23 I have been writing stories for awhile now about Ghana and John and my friends there who sometimes have troubles that I talk about. The nature of that John does there means that he is often going to deal with people who are in dire situations, and when both John and I are able we try to help because that is what people do. Or that’s the way, I was raised, anyway. Your mileage may vary, I guess. Have I asked for help here on DK? Yes, sometimes. Would I do it again? Yes, if someone’s life was in danger and I thought asking for help here might save them. Do I write here solely to raise money, or is that even part of the reason why I have been writing these stories? No. In the first place, on a pragmatic level it is against the rules. Rules I agree with, and for the very reasons they have for them. I have been trying to follow those rules as closely as I can. Also, frankly, I think it is a form of abuse of these people and their problems to use their misery to beg for money. I know there is no disgrace in asking for help but wow, I that’s just not the way was raised. You take care of yourself, you take care of your own, you do that you can for others but you never, ever ask for help. Self-reliance and Protestant stoicism all the way. So why have I been writing the stories? I’m not sure. I guess partly because I find the tales of these people and what they are going through to be compelling and sometimes agonizing and something that maybe people should know. This is the world we live in. This is what our system does to people and is doing to people. And I guess maybe I am Irish enough to love to tell stories. Growing up I heard endless tales from my mother of what happened to her and her family when she was a kid. I could write a whole book on what it was like to be broke and struggling during the Depression, just from those stories alone. Well, not to wade too deeply into the meta, in a couple of my recent stories it has been suggested to me that the fact that my only actual contact in Ghana is one person, that that person must be a scammer taking advantage of my good heart. And then the question was raised, what about third-person verification of any of the stories I have been writing. Regarding the first question, that is not true. I have actually communicated with several people in John’s circle including his doctor. Which is also some argument against the third person verification. The problem is, ultimately what is acceptable as proof? Anyone I speak with there would necessarily be in John’s circle of friends and associates. I suppose a half-dozen or more people there could be in conspiracy to con one single white man in the US. I mean, they could all be lying to me at John’s behest (though incidentally, John’s doctor was not very complimentary of him. Though even there, I didn’t get a copy of the man’s medical degree, so I suppose he could be a fraud….) I do consider these valid questions, though I am not sure that telling stories about people I know in Ghana should be treated on the same level of verification as reporting on the public statements of politicians or public figures. I mean, does everyone on this site who describes an interaction with a Trump supporting neighbor have to provide actual proof of it? Even if that were possible, it would be doxing them. But really, in practical terms, what constitutes third-person proof? As I said, every one I have talked with in Ghana could, in theory, have been lying to me. And of course I could be lying but frankly, I am not going to give my personal information here for just anyone on the internet to check me out. I suppose all of the photos I have posted could be computer generated. Personally I don’t even know how to imbed videos here. I am not exactly a computer nerd. The idea of faking photos just makes me stare stupidly. Like how? But I suppose I might really be a tech genius in disguise. But have we reached the point where we don’t trust anything just because it COULD be faked? I find that a bit depressing. What level is acceptable? Who verifies the verifiers? Ultimately I suppose maybe some sort of government document, if one trusts governments. But believe me, the authorities in Ghana don’t give a sparrow’s snot about these people. Their names and a few things about them may be on record somewhere there but again, even here, what constitutes proof? i really think the stories I have been writing have some value and I have felt that I was giving a voice to people who are voiceless. But it appears it is becoming a problem. I have been wrestling with what to do about it. I hate to stop writing (I have some beautiful new photos of Anabel) but that may be the best answer. I am struggling with what to do, here. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/23/2177194/-Verifying-Ghana Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/