Stephen Poljansek

An enlightening thread explaining why misinformation (or disordered discourse) should not be dismissed.

“systems of belief that reinforce themselves, reject correction, and disconnect people from any shared standard of reality.”

Disordered discourse has become pervasive and is breaking society.

Another one of many thought provoking historical Carl Sagan quotes:

Supersized vehicles that are popular in Australia and the US are not only massive, but massively dangerous to pedestrians.

List of most commonly challenged books in the United States - Wikipedia

All of the books you used as examples are listed as “commonly challenged” in the United States.

Many students are indeed given these books by good teachers and schools but perhaps just as many are denied them.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

1. Acceptance of truth
2. Demonstration of governance principles & behaviours
3. Evidence-based decision making
4. Acting with urgency on already identified problems that are not discretionary to society (Equity, Housing, Health, Education, Transport, Environment…)
5. Cooperation, not divisiveness

Random acts of kindness…

And by implication: that attempts of division, and toxic cultural battles has been rejected by Australians and therefore we can hope for a calmer saner political discourse.

Tingle says:
“The 2025 election has been generally seen as a message of a rejection of the fringes — at both ends — and a move to the centre.”

“constraints that might have been shaping judgements for the past few years… have shifted or been removed entirely”
Meaning that real change is possible

After 45 years watching politics, I’m signing off with a final wish Putting aside the Coalition, let's focus on the new government: the one that has won an exceptionally large number of seats and which is probably already doing stuff that's affecting us voters.

Laura Tingle is leaving domestic politics reporting for reporting international affairs and reflects on new mandate for progress in Australia.

“people speak ad nauseum of golden days when governments, and/or the parliament got things done”

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05...

Renewable energy is not the future — it’s the present!

The main limiting factor is our willingness and commitment to quickly deploy.

It’s the cheapest energy too!

STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics are increasingly undervalued by institutions when they are increasingly needed.
Arts and sciences equip us to enquire, explore, challenge our thinking and improve on our humanity. They communicate truths and if supported strengthen society.

Tasmania’s arts scene is growing yet UTAS is reducing funding to arts…

“student Lucia Poljansek expressed concern that cuts to theatre would impact the local creative arts scene by sending students to the mainland…
there are so many opportunities for great art here and we need to keep that going.”

Cycling in cities should be for everyone and can be made safer.

When people say that they hardly see any riders, perhaps they should be more supportive of safer cycle routes.

Riders shouldn’t battle it out against larger vehicles.

Why are helmets, Lycra and high viz needed?

Poor infrastructure.

Another day of reminding everyone of Carl Sagan’s eerily accurate warning about the dangers of not being able to ask skeptical scientific questions to those in power or authority.

We are all human and we are all equal.

Despite hate and evil being propagated by the few, there are many including from the young that demonstrate compassionate truth.

Our future leaders will come from the young, and this one has confidence and determination beyond his years.

The below linked page from
The Conversation, has a great interactive visualisation of the composition of the new Australian lower house.

Some Interesting stats:

38 members under 50 years old
89 members over 50

62 Female
77 Male

6 female independents
48 female Labor
7 female coalition

YouTube video by MK Hobbies Best Counting Song (2) - Sesame Street Pinball 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

My favourite part of the show was (and still is) the pinball animation and catchy song that I can credit with teaching me how to count.

12345 6789 10 11 12

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcx4...

Sesame Street, the children’s program that’s been around for over 50 years is diminishing due to Trump cuts.
Not sure if they’re selling Elmo off but he’s going.

I learned basic literacy, numeracy, some science & arts concepts from this show which set me up for continuing curiosity and learning.

This art work is brilliant!
It demonstrates unequivocally, the absolute absurdity of these so called “agreements”.

We unwittingly “sign” so many legal contracts without ever reading them.

It is implausible that we might be expected to.

Perhaps legal class actions should start challenging them?

Why are so many people still using the oligarchs X platform routinely?

I use the word “platform” deliberately.

If I had a favourite bar or cafe & the owner went full Nazi nutcase, acted like a Bond villain & actively invited crazy, hateful dicks —
I’d find someplace better to go.
In fact, I did.

Indicators - TasCOSS Developing a shared understanding of housing data and advocating for solutions to end the housing crisis in Tasmania.

Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS) has built a dashboard to track housing delivery

State Government is making some progress but demand continues to outstrip available or affordable supply

Information such as this informs better decision making & awareness

tascoss.org.au/state-of-hou...

A home should be everyone’s right.

In Tasmania, population only 576,000 — over 5000 people waiting for social housing — the highest number ever.

Wait time over 82 weeks.

571 homeless on waiting list entirely without housing (eg. sleeping in tent or car).

3300 people are couch surfing

Many Australian’s now want our foreign policy to have greater independence.
Now that our election is over, it’s time to stand for our own values.

Trump has made it clear that he cannot be trusted.

We will retain friendship with American people but let’s stop pretending that we like the new admin.

Can you interpret the motives behind the tsunami of information and posts you receive each day?

Misinformation: mistakenly false

Disinformation: created or shared to deliberately mislead

Malinformation: facts presented out of context to deliberately cause harm

See:
moadoph.gov.au/explore/demo...

Wow! Such a better use of the space. Cities should be for people not cars.

In USA, nurturing critical thinking amongst as many people as possible is paramount to restoring their democracy.

For other countries like Australia where many take our democracy for granted — critical thinking is essential to keeping it.

Democracy doesn’t persist by default.
See advice below:

Harmful information processes have proliferated in our disinformation age:

1. Distortion
2. Division
3. Deflection

When you see these processes used, think dystopia, think danger.

These processes damage democracy.

Learn to see them and fight for verification, deliberation and accountability.

Democracy requires the following information processes to function properly and serve us well:

1. Verification (of truth)

2. Deliberation (transparent discourse)

3. Accountability (of representatives)

Think about your world, your leaders, your media and decide whether your democracy is strong.

Don's Party On the night of the 1969 Australian election, Don holds a party in his suburban Sydney house, where his raucous, rude, embarrassing, extrovert friends discuss sex, politics, and their lives. (1976)

Don’s Party is an excellent satire of political differences amongst Australians (conservatives and progressives) and is still relevant and engaging today.

And thanks to the ABC, it’s free to watch on iview.

iview.abc.net.au/show/don-s-p...