Hannity Is Vanity, Faux News Is Fallacious, And The Good Ones Are Too Busy

 

"If Aliens Have Reality T.V." by Herr D on heromachine.com

Shelob? Remember that stuff about 'repeat a lie often enough and loud enough and people will believe it, no matter how outrageous?

Yes.

What's the antidote?

Irrational beliefs have no cure. Underlying psychosis can be treated, if present, but, unless they are symptomatic of something like psychosis there is nothing to be done. Unfortunately, the lack of cure is not the worst part.

No? I give up, what's the worst part?

There is no reasonable way to ramp up prevention.

What?

You are able to dispute approximately one topical foible or fallacy per eight days.

Right?

With an average 37 views per eight days, rounding down. You are an above average writer with unusually high intelligence. Allowing for timing, you could trigger correct belief in a small number of people and change the beliefs of a smaller number of people. You are occupied, however.

[pause] You mean employed.

Yes. And busy with personal and familial needs. The vast majority of writers of internet content are wealthier, more solitary, have fewer responsibilities, are occasionally paid for their content by people with non-real agendas, and are sometimes extremely emotional or less sane. All of those factors make them more capable of generating high volumes of real-sounding, though anti-factual content. They also have the advantage of not requiring as much research.

Well. I could have told you that responsible, accurate writers can't write as much as the disinformation sources. I imagine that's obvious. Humanity is doomed to insanity and lies, right?

Yes.