Mens Rea: The Mana in the Thing

Conventional definitions of Disinformation and Misinformation attempt to discern the intention to mislead of the informational unit’s propagator within a unit of information. Then, if they perceive an intention (Mens Rea) to mislead, they categorise that unit of information as “Disinformation.” Looking for the Mens Rea in any activity is trickier than it seems at first sight, as any criminal lawyer will tell you. Mens Rea (literally the “Mana in the thing”) is a prerequisite for liability in criminal law in Common Law countries. If you are to be held responsible in law for an action (Actus Reus) that violates a rule, then your Mana must be in the action — this is the meaning of the “Mina” element (the M-N- sound) in the word “Criminal”.

Source: Look for the Mana in the Meme!

The means by which we exchange emotions and intentions through almost all forms of communication (literally, a “comingling of our Mana” (muni)) can seem magical. It is enchanting. Also, because until I coined this word “Mana” to describe this process, you did not have a means to isolate this aspect of what it means to be human. Now with Mana we can, at last, meditate on and control the exchanges of Mana that Disinfolklore uses to undermine all our communications.

Source: Counter Disinfolklore

The legal analogy is precise: “Mens Rea” literally means “guilty mind” — the Mana in the act. Criminal law already recognises that energy must be in the deed. Tool 3 applies this same principle to information: we look for the Mana in the meme.

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