A Cautionary Tale in Storytelling

When Hollywood fumbles horse care, reality checks in!

As storytellers, how do we balance creativity with accuracy?

With AI technology and mind-blowing special effects swirling around us, it can be pretty challenging to tell what’s real and what’s not. - Cue the cute AI generated baby animal and sunset photos that are trending on social media

This Sunday, I got completely swept up in a hit western series, feeling as if I was right there in the thick of the action.

It was going great until—bam—my brain recognized something wasn’t right, and I was abruptly yanked back to reality. They showed a horse getting treated for a snakebite using a common NSAID horse drug, there are better options, but maybe that’s what they had, I reasoned.

Then BAM, they injected it directly into the muscle, not once, but TWICE! I physically flinched, and my stomach sank. Anyone with even a smidge of horse sense would do a double take. The manufacture says “it’s fine” but the vet that has to treat the side effects knows otherwise.

These kinds of slip-ups really get you thinking about how we balance creative freedom with sticking to real-world facts. As marketers and business owners who weave stories, it's crucial for us to maintain our credibility while crafting tales that captivate our audience and not assume they will know when we blur the lines or take creative liberties for an audience that’s not familiar with the subject matter. Do we risk alienating the audience that is?

What do you think? What do we, as creators, and subject matter experts, owe to our audience in terms of truth and authenticity?

Should we adhere to the facts like glue, ensuring every detail is accurate, or should we allow our creative imaginations to wander to encourage a click? Maybe the trick is finding that perfect middle ground where creativity and reality coexist harmoniously, without causing harm. Like the sweet AI inspired foal in this post.

As we weave our narratives, let's ensure they're not only engaging and entertaining but also infused with a sense of trustworthiness. After all, you’re the expert when it comes to your business, and it is trust that makes a story truly unforgettable and resonate deeply with your audience. And unfortunately, trust is hard to earn but so easy to lose.

How do you find the sweet spot between creativity and accuracy in your own storytelling and social media posts?