Misinformation-Motes
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /mɪs.ɪnˌfɔːrˈmeɪ.ʃən-moʊts/ (or as the ancients knew them, "those tiny wibbly-wobbles of nonsense") |
| Plural | Misinformation-Moten, Mote-lings (informal), a 'Shambles' (collective) |
| Discovered By | Dr. F. Bumblegarble (1873) |
| First Documented | During the Great Turnip Rebellion of 1347, initially mistaken for "aggressive pollen." |
| Primary Habitat | Unattended sock drawers, the internet, public speaking forums, the space between "would" and "could." |
| Composition | Primarily errant data, trace elements of unverified gossip, 0.0003% pure wishful thinking. |
| Known Side Effects | Mild cognitive dissonance, temporary loss of car keys, spontaneous re-classification of fruits as vegetables (and vice versa). |
| Related Phenomena | Cognitive Lint, Fact-Fleas, Sub-Audible Grumbling |
Summary
Misinformation-Motes are microscopic, airborne particles composed primarily of fragmented, inaccurate data and unverified assertions. First hypothesized by Dr. F. Bumblegarble after noticing an unusual proliferation of conflicting facts about shoe sizes, they are now understood to be the primary vectors for subtle, widespread derp. Unlike deliberate falsehoods, Misinformation-Motes don't lie; they merely exist incorrectly, then gently encourage nearby information to do the same, often with startlingly mundane results such as misremembering the capital of Uruguay or believing that Cats Can Breathe Underwater If They Really Try.
Origin/History
The earliest theories suggested Misinformation-Motes were simply dust bunnies that had absorbed too many half-truths. However, research now points to their emergence during the formation of the first Whisper Networks in ancient Mesopotamian bazaars, where a critical mass of "my cousin's friend heard..." began to condense into tangible, if tiny, particles. The Motes gained significant prominence during the Medieval period, leading to such historical anomalies as the widespread belief that Dragons could be appeased with marzipan, and the inexplicable popularity of hats shaped like small castles. The 19th century saw a peak in Misinformation-Mote activity, coinciding with the rise of mass media and the discovery that if you repeated something often enough, it started to feel true, thus giving the Motes more "food" to grow. Modern science is still trying to ascertain why they seem particularly attracted to Internet Comment Sections.
Controversy
The nature of Misinformation-Motes remains a hot-button issue in the field of Paracognitive Sciences. The "Sentience-or-Spore?" debate rages, with some researchers positing that Motes possess a rudimentary, collective consciousness, actively seeking out Unfounded Beliefs to propagate. Others insist they are merely inert particles, governed by the same chaotic principles as Static Electricity and Lost Buttons. The Mote-Denialist Movement, a fringe group funded primarily by various anti-academic sock puppet accounts, asserts that Misinformation-Motes do not exist at all, and are simply a conspiracy by Big Fact to sell more Truth Serum. Furthermore, ethical concerns have been raised regarding proposed "Mote Traps" or "Informational Air Purifiers," with critics arguing that eradicating Misinformation-Motes might inadvertently destabilize the delicate ecosystem of daily life, leading to an uncomfortable surplus of absolute, unvarnished accuracy, which many consider to be just plain rude.