Here’s an Onion video from back in 2007:
What’s amazing is that it’s making the rounds right now… as legitimate news.
And it is during moments like these that I understand why I appreciate The Onion so much. They lay our credulousness bare for all to see.
But as I argued last week, the sinister side of this observation is that even when the truth of the matter is made clear, it doesn’t necessarily help us. When any of us wants desperately to believe something, it takes a lot more than facts to change our mind. Take a look at this compilation of Facebook conversations (click the image to view it at full size):
Thanks to Sodapop Murphy for compiling this.
While I see errors like these more commonly among those who lean right (right now, at least), the truth is that we are all potential victims. Our human tendency is to draw conclusions and then work our way backwards toward the appropriate justification.
And not to beat that dead horse, but evidence of this error doesn’t correct it. What follows is a small portion of that image above:
Billy, you never saw it when it first came to your knowledge. It is a piece of satire. It never existed. It wasn’t “pulled” from the internet. Have you ever tried to remove something from a massive, interconnected global computer network?
I suppose it’s easier to assume conspiracy and evil than it is to assume that we’re fallible, ignorant, and superstitious.
This is scary stuff. I know that people go to great lengths to twist the facts to confirm their beliefs but I have never seen the level of denialism as I see going on today. If I read any news story about Obama or the government, no matter how tangential, on any news site but the NYT, the comments are filled with invective about how this proves the government is taking over everything. I often feel like I'm living in a dystopian sci fi novel…
It is truly amazing. The partisan inside me wonders where the hell these people (who are concerned about gov't takeovers) were during the *last* presidency, when at least the emotions were justified. What's amazing is that the right has essentially adopted the worst traits of the extreme left during the previous decade.
They are embracing a bastardized postmodern interpretation of events. Nothing is true except what I feel. As though feelings are an indicator of factual reality. It feels like a partisan-arms race. As with actual arms races, there aren't winners – only losers.
At least, that's how I see it right now. Thanks for your thoughts, Shannon! Also, if I've learned anything from YouTube, it's to avoid the comments sections on large-sites. It's just depressing.
It is truly amazing. The partisan inside me wonders where the hell these people (who are concerned about gov't takeovers) were during the *last* presidency, when at least the emotions were justified. What's amazing is that the right has essentially adopted the worst traits of the extreme left during the previous decade.
They are embracing a bastardized postmodern interpretation of events. Nothing is true except what I feel. As though feelings are an indicator of factual reality. It feels like a partisan-arms race. As with actual arms races, there aren't winners – only losers.
At least, that's how I see it right now. Thanks for your thoughts, Shannon! Also, if I've learned anything from YouTube, it's to avoid the comments sections on large-sites. It's just depressing.