This is a brilliant comic by Shencomix.com.
Lies are soft and squishy. They can be whatever shape you want. They are convenient. [They fit into any world view.] The Truth is hard and spiky. Hard to embrace. Worth embracing.
I’m absolutely amazed at how many (smart, educated) people are sucked into conspiracy theories and exaggerated (and clearly misrepresented) statistics that fit their world view… even when the theories are debunked.
Example : A US educator that I know shared this October 25, 2019 Joe Biden Tweet, which was a response to another tweet from a Washington Post article on pandemic preparedness:
We are not prepared for a pandemic. Trump has rolled back progress President Obama and I made to strengthen global health security. We need leadership that builds public trust, focuses on real threats, and mobilizes the world to stop outbreaks before they reach our shores. https://t.co/1qqpgayUEX
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 25, 2019
This is the top reply which has been retweeted 71 times and liked 359 times at the time of me sharing this:
It’s absolutely ridiculous that someone with such influence can spread a conspiracy theory that the pandemic was planned. But it’s convenient. It fits her world view.
The problem is that is so much easier to cherry pick lies and convenient half-truths than it is to actually embrace and meaningfully interpret facts that don’t match biased opinions.
Sometimes lies are easy and the truth is hard… it’s spiky… But we want to live in a society where the hard truth is embraced, even if it isn’t something we want to hear.
Some more related posts:
- Trying to find the truth.
- When bad news goes viral. 
- Manipulation and engagement. 
- NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week.
- Strange days indeed. 
- Preying on your fears.
- And a personal favourite: Ideas on a Spectrum.
Great article! Thank you!
I feel like we’ve wondered into an alternate universe when I read and hear about ever more outrageous conspiracy theories which can usually be debunked with basic research. What brought us to this point? On the first day of my Geology class I ask my students if there are any flat-Earthers in the group. If there are any, none have responded affirmatively (yet). Not sure how I’ll react when/if the day comes.
I have no idea how we got here Bill? The anti-intellectual conspiracy focus is something that should not exist with the current access to information.
I have a great anti-flat world argument that I’m hoping to use some time… if you are interested, let’s chat, or maybe I’ll blog it:)
Yes – I’m very interested in hearing the argument.
It’s basically about flight times. Most flat earth folk have travelled on planes…If, for example, the end of the earth was between Hawaii and Australia/Asia, then a flight from Hawaii to Japan would need to go faster than a fighter jet to get there in the time that it does. A simple look at Travelocity flight times is all it takes to debunk a flat earth… no matter where they draw the lines.
Genius! There’s a built-in geography lesson in that argument. I’ll be using it. Thank you. 🙂
Bill, more on the Flat Earth here: https://daily-ink.davidtruss.com/understanding-qanon/
I’ve set the first video up to the very conclusive 7 minutes, showing the experiment that the videographer did.
Thanks Dave. This is good material. I start my Geology 12 course next week so this will be put to use soon. I started mentioning the Flat Earthers a few years ago during my course introduction as something of a passing fad/joke but sadly it’s no longer such a laughing matter. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/do-people-really-think-earth-might-be-flat/
I’m looking forward to the response from my class.