Could it be true?

I follow several social media sites, FB, X, Threads even Truth Social.

What people post, believe and forward is incredible.

Can these media be a reflection of the real thinking and intelligence of the American people or are the cognitive challenged concentrated on these sites? I hope the latter is the case because if not, we are in big trouble.

Some posts are so outrageous it’s hard to believe they even pass a basic common sense test.

Others have been circulating for years, debunked or easily disproven yet are still believed.

Congress stole the Social Security trust money is a favorite.

Recently I read a post that claimed SS was in trouble because the government hadn’t contributed a penny. Think about that😳

These days there are many anti-tax posts. Why should anyone 65 and older pay income tax or property taxes? Humm, let me see.

The lack of basic health insurance understanding is incredible. No connection between the cost and use of healthcare and insurance premiums is made-or accepted.

I like the posts CEO pay takes from worker pay and if they were paid less, workers would get more. Most CEO pay is equity, not cash. In any case divide their pay by the number of workers and see what you get.

In Colonial times such junk circulated in newspapers intentionally trying to mislead and inflame. It took weeks even months to circulate, not seconds. Besides it’s estimated that in 1776 around 60% of men and 50% of women were able to read.

This post could go on forever, but there is no point.

How are humans so easily influenced and manipulated? I know we tend to believe what we want to believe, but why no effort to check a few facts which these days is not hard?

Why do people believe what is not true 

There are many complex reasons why people believe things that aren’t true. It’s not always a matter of being unintelligent or ill-informed. Here are some key factors:

Psychological Factors:

• Confirmation Bias:
  • People tend to seek out and interpret information that confirms their existing beliefs, while ignoring or dismissing contradictory evidence.
• Emotional Reasoning:
  • Emotions can heavily influence beliefs. If something feels right, people may accept it as true, even without solid evidence.
• Cognitive Biases:
  • These are mental shortcuts that can lead to errors in judgment. For example, the “illusory truth effect” means that repeated exposure to a false statement can make it seem true.
• Motivated Reasoning:
  • This involves processing information in a way that supports a desired conclusion. People may rationalize false beliefs to protect their sense of self or belonging.
• Trust and Authority:
  • People often place trust in figures of authority or in sources they perceive as credible, even if those sources are spreading misinformation.
• Social Influence:
  • People are influenced by the beliefs of their social groups. A desire to fit in can lead to the acceptance of false information.

Sociological Factors:

• Misinformation and Disinformation:
  • The deliberate spread of false information, whether intentional or not, can have a significant impact on public belief.
• Echo Chambers:
  • Online and offline communities can reinforce existing beliefs, creating echo chambers where people are only exposed to information that confirms their views.
• Mistrust:
  • When people mistrust established institutions, or sources of information, they are more likely to seek alternative, and sometimes false, information sources.

Other Factors:

• Lack of Critical Thinking:
  • Not everyone has developed strong critical thinking skills, which are essential for evaluating information.
• Complexity of Information:
  • Some issues are complex and difficult to understand. People may rely on simplified or misleading explanations.

In essence, the human mind is susceptible to a variety of influences that can lead to the acceptance of false beliefs. Understanding these factors is crucial for combating the spread of misinformation and promoting critical thinking.