Let’s dive right in.
Those of you that are into crystal healing, and I assume if you’re here with me that you probably are 😉 you might want to know about this… certain mass media channels are going to try to control our opinions of things.
I’ve never been too enthused about this kind of behavior and you deal with that enough in academia. I came across that when I was a science department head.
But it’s not something that I expected to spill over in the things that we choose to watch.
There is a little bit of censorship out there already, some for good reasons, some for not so good reasons, but to me, this is really pushing it a little bit too far.
In the video above I share my screen from a website called The Verge, where it says “YouTube will add information from Wikipedia to videos about conspiracies.”
Some of us think Wikipedia is the word of fact and it’s not, and I’m going to tell you right here why it’s not.
Crystal healing, I don’t know that that qualifies as a conspiracy theory, but it could. It seems that theVerge titled the blog like that because they wanted to roll everything up into one post. Along with a picture of the CEO of YouTube on the Verge blog page it says:
“YouTube will add information from Wikipedia to videos about popular conspiracy theories to provide alternative viewpoints on controversial subjects, its CEO said today. YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said that text boxes which the company is calling “information cues” would begin appearing on conspiracy-related videos within the next couple of weeks.”
I don’t know about you, but I watch YouTube quite a bit because that’s where I get my information from. I don’t watch CNN, Fox News and the mass media. I’m sorry. Some of you have ridiculed me for that. Some of you like it, don’t like, whatever. It’s my choice to do that, right?
I use my own discretion.
I do my own due diligence.
I do my own research.
I always encourage you guys to do that too, to use your critical thinking skills and your natural skepticism. I keep an open mind. I’m skeptical on things but I keep an open mind, and I do my own research and put it through my own filter and decide if something is true or not true for me, and I make up my own mind.
I don’t need YouTube putting little boxes next to probably 75% of the stuff that I watch on YouTube to give me an information cue that this is possibly, according to them, a conspiracy related video.
I’ve done some additional reading and took some notes because this spills over into other topics that include:
- anything that’s trending
- anything showing significant debate happening
- or anything having an active discussion on YouTube.
Basically if you are a YouTube creator and getting lots of engagement on whatever it is you’re talking about and they see it’s sparking a debate and creating controversy, they’re going to flag it for these information cues, and what are they going to use to provide their stance on the subject? Wikipedia?!
Do we need our Opinions Spoon Fed to us?
So this brings up another thing. Do we need our opinions to be biased by a mass media authority like Wikipedia? Do we need our opinions spoon fed to us?
I don’t.
I want to make up my own mind on things.
Wikipedia on Crystal Healing
Here’s what Wikipedia says about crystal healing… So if they put one of those information cues next to one of my videos, this is what it’s going to say:
“Crystal healing is a pseudoscientific alternative medicine technique that employs stones and crystals. Adherents of the technique claim that these have healing powers, although there is no scientific basis for this claim.”
I call bullshit. Bullshit.
Any of you who’ve taken my course know that we give a lot of scientific basis, and when they say no scientific basis, who did they go to to verify that?
We come up against this in academia all the time. You know, peer reviewed, but then there’s someone like Nassim Haramein who has lots of scientific basis behind the work that he does and most of academia won’t give him the time of day. Most of the peer review journals won’t publish him because he didn’t go through the proper channels and he’s talking about stuff that scares them, and means they’re going to need to revise entire theories in textbooks, and put lots of professors out of commission. So no, we don’t want to talk about that fringe stuff.
Sorry, I get really passionate about this! Wikipedia goes on to say …
“In one method, the practitioner places crystals on different parts of the body, often corresponding to chakras, or else the practitioner places crystals around the body in an attempt to construct an energy grid, which is purported to surround the client with healing energy.”
Okay, I’ve got no problem with that.
“Despite this, scientific investigations have not validated claims that chakras or energy grids actually exist.”
We do have scientific investigations that do validate these claims of both chakras and crystal gridding. Energy gridding can be verified if you look at the right scientific investigation.
They go on…
“Nor is there any evidence that crystal healing has any greater effect upon the body than any other placebo. For these reasons it is considered a pseudoscience.”
Who did they go to for that information? How do they know? Who’s they?
I’ll tell you who they is
For those of you that don’t know, with Wikipedia, anyone can apply to be an account holder and be someone who goes in and creates these pages, validates them, and then also can make changes to them.
How do I know? Because I used to do it.
Not for Wikipedia I think it might have been the prototype of Wikipedia. This was years ago. I used to be approved, because I’m a geek like that, as a person of different science subjects and I thought it was so amazing that we could go in and provide information about certain topics, and then you would approve someone’s addition or deletion.
Of course, your account had to be approved and if they found you to start being an unreliable source, they booted you off your account. It was peer reviewed. A peer of a group of people who contribute to Wikipedia. So really anybody, your nine-year-old neighbor’s kid down the street could do this. There’s no verification on this.
When I was a classroom teacher, Wikipedia was not considered a reliable source. I’m pretty sure that has not changed. Students that tried to turn in work that cited Wikipedia as a source in any way were given a big red X. Go do it over. Don’t give me information you cited off of Wikipedia because it’s not considered factual information.
Because think about it. Who’s fact checking? Who’s fact checking the people who are supposed to be fact checking? Nobody. They assume that they’re right.
Even Wikipedia itself says:
“Wikipedia is not a reliable source. Wikipedia can be edited by anyone at any time. This means that any information it contains in any particular time could be vandalism.”
Vandalism? That’s getting a little extreme, but it can happen.
Why are we relying on them to tell us what’s up about crystal healing?
Please.
I found more information on, this is from Wired: YouTube will link directly to Wikipedia to fight conspiracy theories.
I highlighted this part:
“If you search and click on a conspiracy theory video about say, chemtrails YouTube will now link to Wikipedia pages that debunks the hoax alongside the video.”
I’ll tell you my personal opinion on chemtrails. I don’t know that every bit of it is true, but there’s quite a lot of evidence building that there is something to it. I don’t think it’s a conspiracy theory. How come they’re telling me it’s a conspiracy theory?
So they’re also telling you it’s a hoax. People who just don’t know a lot about it, who aren’t as nerdy as some of us who feel like it’s fun to go in and do all this critical thinking and researching and due diligence and finding the information for yourself, will just go, “Oh, it’s a hoax. I found it on Snopes. It’s a hoax.”
And Snopes is not reliable either. They’ve had to backtrack on a few things. I’m flabbergasted.
They’re going to tell us what’s a hoax and what’s not? Is that okay with you?
Let’s be our own free thinkers.
There’s some obviously ridiculous and dangerous conspiracy theories out there, or people putting information out there that they shouldn’t, but that’s always been the case. In the past, we’ve always had to do our own filtering, right, to figure out what we should be paying attention to and what we shouldn’t be.
Are you okay with somebody else telling you how to think?
I can see where social media helps to spread these things and make it more viral, and that’s a layer that we’ve never really had to deal with except for in the last five years, but that’s the nature of social media. Let’s not put all the blame on them, or we’re going to become a society where censorship is just that’s the way it is and you’re going to have to be okay with them telling you what to think, what hashtags to use, controlling your mind. Are you no longer a free thinker?
Here’s a quote from Steve Jobs:
“Your time is limited so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”
I think that that is so important, so very important.
I Just wanted to bring this topic up because I wonder… what happened to free thinking? Independent thinking? Allowing us to form our own opinion? What happened to that? Is that not what we’re allowed to do anymore?
So I want you to know what’s up when you start seeing that on YouTube, that you are aware of it, you’re forewarned and you see what’s going on an what they’re doing.
Anyone that is willing to open themselves up to alternate methods of healing will not let a little box deter them from doing their research. Right?! Unfortunately though, in reality I think that some people will let that deter them.
That’s the good thing about learning the science behind how crystal healing works, like I teach in my course. I feel like now more than ever that’s going to be really important for you to be confident in explaining what it is you do and how you do it. I feel that knowing the science behind it, the information behind it is very important.
YouTube is cool but I find that they’ve been censoring things more and more. They’ve actually deleted videos just based on complaints from people saying conspiracy theory. Why?
Now I can see that drawing the line on censorship can be really difficult. I’m sure you can think of instances where some things should not be on YouTube, so how do they draw that line? I don’t know. I don’t have the answer for that, but when it comes to something like this, like whether or not there are UFOs and aliens, I don’t need your opinion on that. I make my own opinion on that, have ever since I was a kid. And just so you know, I do believe that there are both.
What do YOU think about all this censoring on YouTube? How do you feel about YouTube & Wikipedia telling you what is a conspiracy theory? What is a hoax? I’d love to hear what you are thinking so let’s keep this conversation going in the comments below.
Crystal Blessings,
I have always been a free thinker & it scares me that freedom of speech and thought is being stopped. I think that if I start being interfered with in regards to any of my You Tube videos I will link the bit that Wikipedia isn’t a credible source, as it says of itself, hopefully people will realise.
I’m not prepared to be told by anyone what to watch, read or believe…. so unbelievably Big Brother ????
Wow, absolutely right on, Hibiscus Moon. I’m currently a student in your Basic Healing Class. I’m enjoying the heck out it, by the way.
While I’m saddened and incredulous by this, I’m not surprised. Snopes is notorious for being “influenced” in a certain way, and Wikipedia is just as you said. That YouTube would censor and/or delete perfectly harmless content based on feedback from those two ambiguous sites, is way over the top. So STOP IT, YouTube!
Too many people these days are lead around by the nose by entities spewing none-truths and complete garbage. And it’s bringing this society down! It does seem as no one can think for themselves anymore. To me, it seems that it’s ‘easier’ for the masses to just go with the flow rather than gather the facts and make a detached, logical conclusion using the information you have and yes….your own intuition. There’s that word we love so much in the Crystal Community.
I took the Chakra Quiz yesterday fully expecting to be all over the map. But honestly? I seem to be rather balanced. If I would have taken that quiz a year ago…two years ago, I know the outcome would have been very different indeed. Putting myself on the path to learning new things again, and especially aligning myself with the metaphysical and spiritual community, has turned my life around nearly 360. I don’t think the same any longer, I am more tuned into myself than ever before, and my thought patterns have altered. I was never a push-over or a follower by any means, but I’ve gained a new confidence and outlook on life (and on topics like this) that I believe many more need to discover. And if we (as a collective) keep going down this rabbit hole, as you are fond of saying, we are only going to see the further deterioration of society as we know it.
It is my birthday today. And I’m no spring chicken by any means. This birthday is a milestone. And I’ve seen a lot in that minuscule speck of time on Momma Earth. And what I see ahead chills me to the bone sometimes. It makes me fearful (and sad) for my children and grandchildren and all of us.
So let’s all wake up, people, and say Hell NO! to this type of censorship!
Our higher selves & guides will ALWAYS clear the way for what we’re meant to see, learn & experience in life. This YouTube crap is a minor deterrent. ???????? But it stuns me to hear that they are using Wikipedia of all things. ANYONE can go in and edit the information on Wikipedia — anyone! This is their source?? Really? (if you can even call it that). I almost feel like the CEO of YouTube is basically making one part of society look stupid, another part she’s trying to keep them “stupid” and the rest she taking them to be stupid….but in actuality, what she’s doing is stupid — lol in my humble opinion of course????. Thanks so much Hibiscus for sharing this! You’re the best! Allyson from Connecticut????????????????.
Crystal healing is an ancient modality that has helped a lot of people. Pseudo-science is a label put in place by practitioners who want to control what people have access to. They lump everything into one category-astrology, crystal healing, meditation, earth connection, etc. to control what Youtube viewers are fed. I am sure that all crystal practitioner videos come with a disclaimer.
Let’s not mean-spirited control freaks ridicule or put down our efforts to work with modes of healing. By themselves, crystals are beautiful expressions of nature. It requires the effort of mind to link with them and create results. Let’s not allow these mental healing efforts be squashed by nonbelievers.
They throw that word “pseudoscience” around and expect that all thinking people will reject whatever the subject is, but that means nothing to me! I don’t think we can always trust mainstream science any more because it’s so tainted with money from big corporations (e.g. Big Pharma). It’s like you’re no longer allowed to question mainstream ideas. You’re not allowed to wonder if certain assumptions might not be accurate. Why not let people investigate and wonder about alternatives? Why this gag order on anything a little outside the norm? Because free thinking and open-minded investigation might undermine some business income! It all comes down to money!
Anyway, that’s what I think. I think you’re right to be concerned.
I am so so SO sick and tired of media telling us what to think and believe. This is going way too far. Outrageous. I’m sick to death over the political climate the news creates. I promiseeee I’m not bringing politics into this, that’s just stupid, and I will withhold any view of my own for that reason. However, what I HATE is the news TELLING me to hate trump and scoff and roll my eyes. Seriously, tell me what he did and I will decide my opinion, don’t hand me my opinion. I heard approval is up to 50%, but I wonder how, given that the news is handing everyone their opinions. Sick and tired of it! If they just made their stories about what he did I wouldnt have to wonder how much of my opinion is noise and influence and how much comes from personal analysis. They show certain lenses too. For instance the KKK was just as active in Obama’s admin but they’ve focused on them a lot more in trumps time as president for that implied connotation. They decide what things are in your vision and what things are interconnected. I’m not saying trump isn’t racist and I’m not saying he’s not a moron and I’m also not saying his is, I’m just stating that I’m sick to death over all these little mind games. It’s not the news anymore, it’s mindcontrol, and I don’t have faith in my opinions on the state of the country or anything because I’m aware that I’m given so little because everything’s filtered. This rant is aimed both at Fox News and CNN and anyone’s else big and mainstream. So thanks YouTube, let’s just lump your crap in with everyone else’s. Sorry for such negativity but it’s truly concerning what it’ll be like even 50 years from now. Big brothers already handing you his opinions. George Orwell’s 1984 was unfortunately ahead of its time.
We fight through enough negativity and crap bringing light and healing in our owns ways to this world, dealing with skeptics and even religious people sometimes. It sucks that some money grubber, no doubt cackling maniacally and rubbing their filthy hands together, is making it harder for people like us to do what we love to do and try to cut us down before we get a chance to speak. Let people decide for themselves. It’s not free speech if the media platform is side eyeing your video and trying to “warn” others about you. There’s some stuff that should perhaps be censored (what immediately jumps to mind is showing abusive content, be it to people or animals) but this is too much, too far, too fast.
Wow another multimedia feed on my block list ,good bye you tube
I got fed up when they started to charge for content anyway!
For 10 years I taught senior citizens how to use the computer software on their computers. When we got to the lesson of finding subjects on the Internet, I always told them not to believe anything they read on Wikipedia. When I explained to them that anyone without any credentials can write whatever they want on the site. No validation whatsoever.
If YouTube keeps up the censorship, it will only take another website to provide the same service, without censorship, and soon they will learn what a mistake in judgement they have made based on unvalidated, unauthorized decisions.
Thank you for bringing up what is happening on the media site. I am not always in touch with what is going on and without you bringing this to our attention i would have been wondering what was going on. It has made me question a lot more information that is put out. I always enjoy my visits to you as I have learnt so much about the wonderful Crystal World. I also appreciate how you express your thoughts and feelings. Best Wishes to you xxx
I firmly believe that the truth is like water, if there’s enough of it, it will find a way into your basement, you can’t control it forever. People can always find support for what they want to believe, one way or another. Light workers have always found the light, even before youtube, and somehow I think they still will no matter what.
Now I think I’ll go throw out all my quartz watches, they must be telling pseudo-time.
PS: Check out Ten Top Alternatives to Youtube https://www.thetoptens.com/best-alternatives-youtube/
I completely agree with you Stephanie. A lot of YouTube Channel’s are moving to alternatives like DTube where there is none of this b.s. censorship. I like you do my own due diligence and make up my own mind. I won’t tolerate someone telling me what to think. Have you ever noticed when you do a search on Google about controversial subjects then try to click on a link that you receive an error message claiming the website isn’t available? I noticed this happening a lot so out of curiosity, I tried a different web browser and had no problem accessing the same link. These mass media outlets are just setting up their own demise.
Censorship starts in small ways until it controls all information flow. Talk is already about control and censorship of the internet. I’m not surprised that youtube is starting with these issues. Some don’t want us to know things and be in control of our own lives. They won’t succeed. Times are changing and people are becoming more aware of what the real truth is. Crystals are incredibly powerful if you know their uses and how to use them as tools. This fact threatens those that wish us dumbed down and easy to control. Put your support where you want things to grow. I now realize how powerful my spending habits are and viewing habits. Energy flows where attention goes. We can create the world we want each and every one of us. We don’t have to be sick and helpless. It’s beginning to be a new world and I myself want a happy place. No more fake news and violence and fear. I no longer watch mainstream news…none of them. I focus on what I want to grow, positive things. I love your site and am getting ready to set up my first crystal grid. I am the Queen of my life!
Let these foolish people say wat they want to.
May be they are not aware of the crystal blessings ????
As always Hibiscus Moon, thank you for your passion, enthusiasm, and information!
Thank you Hibiscus Moon for this engaging and well written take down of YouTubes preposterous censorship collaborations with that notorious paragon of misinformation, Wikipedia.
What you said!????????