Tag: disinformation

Misinformation & disinformation in HOA-Land

“Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the dishonest most of all?  My owner, you are dishonest here so true,  but the CAI clique is a thousand times more dishonest than you.”

The above paraphrasing of the Brothers Grimm fairytale, Snow White, sets the framework for this Commentary, which is the spread of misinformation and disinformation about HOA-Land. “Misinformation”[1] is misleading or false statements of the facts made innocently by the author.  On the other hand, “disinformation”[2] is  intentional misleading or false statements of the facts issued to advance a special interest agenda.

My reference to owner misinformation is based on countless posts, not all posts,  on social media in which only part of the facts is revealed. Obviously, those the writer wishes to be made public, but hide material facts to permit an honest and objective evaluation of the content of the post. They create a harmful and damaging image of just bellyaching and gripes and not advancing a cause for reforms.  I am disturbed by their unsupported allegations and cries — they lied, were not fair, judge is biased, etc.

There are also social media distributor/publisher websites that  carry misinformation and often publish links that have been created to provide disinformation. These websites provide misinformation since many do not examine the content of the link.

The CAI “clique” — CAI chapters, the Research Foundation, the numerous lawyer advocates websites, shill associations like ECHO or CALL, and supportive HOA websites — provide outright disinformation that goes unopposed by homeowner rights advocates. As simple examples of its communications, the CAI clique continues to advertise that it represents homeowners and associations, that its primary function is education and not a trade group, to legislatures, the courts and the public.  Disinformation is intentional misrepresentation! 

. . . .

In general, nationally, disinformation can be found almost anywhere, and in particular in national  politics. The national dynamics causing the spread of disinformation is explained by the author, Lee McIntyre; the causes hold  true to disinformation in HOA-Land an important segment of our society.

“McIntyre explains how autocrats wield disinformation to manipulate a populace and deny obvious realities, why the best way to combat disinformation is to disrupt its spread. ‘On Disinformation’ lays out ten everyday practical steps that we can take as ordinary citizens—from resisting polarization to pressuring our Congresspeople to regulate social media—as well as the important steps our government (if we elect the right leaders) must take.”[3]

For advocates, the way to stop the disinformation is to educate first the advocates so they can educate the legislators and the public. The Findings, Section II, Education for Homeowners Associations and Board Members, of the South Carolina HOA study report (2015) to the SC General Assembly recommended,

“In order to provide accurate and readily available resources to educate homeowners, board members, and interested persons about the duties and responsibilities of property ownership in an HOA community, the General Assembly . . . to seek reliable and unbiased information available from private entities . . . and provide for published and online documents and programs offering HOA education . . . .”[4]

In 2021 I argued for the need for HOA-Land education by advocates.

“HOA Reformers are needed as educators to spread the facts about HOA-Land to the public in general; especially to the legislators, the media, the HOA boards, and to the universities and high schools. . . . The Plan first requires addressing the attitudes and views of BODs, the members, and the public in general.  The conditioning and indoctrination by the biased views of the national pro-HOA special interest entity must be de-conditioned by a program of reorientation.”[5] 

References

[1] Foundation  for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).

[2] Id.

[3] Lee McIntyre, On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy (2023).

[4] “Study On Homeowners Associations”, Luke A. Rankin, Chair, South Carolina General Assembly (December 18, 2015).

[5] HOA Reformers needed to educate (2021).

Exposing the HOA’s false ideals and values

In an attempt to provide some feedback to both the BOD and the members in general, I conducted a poll based on member perception of BOD compliance with its stated values. The subject HOA was the same SCG studied in the “mgmt case study” posts. 

In this era of disinformation, of co-opting groups and ideas,  and politicians no longer avoiding the illusion of impropriety but lying straight to your face, facts — undisputable facts — are important.  If we are to succeed in finding the truth, it is necessary to accept the world as it is, and to rise above it.  This poll attempts to discover the truth about SCG in order to rise above the realities as they are.

 “Reliability” refers to getting the same results on repeated polls with different groups.  (That’s basically what “significance” is all about and is determined by statistical methodology).  Appropriate to HOA member attitudes in general, I read studies and polls that 80% love their HOA or 70% believe their BOD is great, etc. Does that mean that all the members or group believe so, or just those who responded?  In other words, as others have raised, “what’s the point” or “it’s meaningless.”

As you can see below, the responses are relatively steady for the 5 checkpoints, with a dip and recovery for questions 2 and 6.

Here’s how my small sample responded to the SCG 6 statements of value.  Surprised?  The strength of the Agree choices varies according to the question, from a low of 43.9%  to a high of 91.4%.  All in all, the average Agree response comes to 63.8%, or let’s say two-thirds.  Congratulations! But, looking at the individual questions,  there is more that can be accomplished with proactive involvement by members not afraid of change and of criticizing the BOD.

In response to concerns of “what’s the point?” and “it’s meaningless,” that depends on member reaction. It is meaningful and provides direction for positive action if the members escape from their apathy, for whatever reason, and make it so. To quote Teddy Roosevelt, “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena . . .  who does actually strive to do the deeds.

With SCG’s obsession with keeping property values up by attracting, new members who would be, for the most part “young-uns,” a more detailed survey is in order.  Using the same Value statements, are there differences between newbies and oldies based on age or years of membership?  However, due to the buying “panic” driving home prices sky high, now would not be a good time for the survey. It does reflect that home prices are still dominated by the marketplace.

Sun City Grand HOA members, you can take the poll anonymously. Click:   SCG values poll.