Years ago, I discovered an idea in my head I later realized was a lie. This particular lie came from a news headline.
When I watched the source material I was shocked to discover the truth was the opposite of the headline.
This triggered an unpleasant expedition through my psyche to uncover similarly wrong ideas, forcing me to reconsider what is actually true about basically everything.
This was an exhausting project, but now everything makes much more sense.
As I discovered, in the modern day the news is just paid actors. Their only job is advancing narratives that benefit the financial interests of the wealthy donors who own the corporations and fund the politicians and thereby defacto own the government as well.
Undoubtedly, propagandistic ideas still exist in my head, installed by one or more forms of media. The most effective propaganda is simply repeating an idea is on multiple, seemingly disconnected channels, and adding a kernel of truth in it. A time honored propaganda technique.
If this sounds like a “conspiracy theory”, consider that how you think and feel about everything is the greatest prize on Earth. The rewards for control are greater than ever. Every single online human can now be influenced through effective new tools like social media. Emotional triggers tend to be most effective, efficiently bypassing higher level thought.
Influenced humans can be mobilized for any purpose the influencer deems personally useful. Donations, labour, political power - in extreme cases assassinations.
So, we’re all the target of sophisticated influence campaigns to nudge, shove, push, and cajole us, both directly and indirectly via news, media, advertising and culture. The older generation is the most susceptible, having spent more time in this environment.
As in 1984, controlling thought is the ultimate power. Who cares about money if you can win the battle for reality.
People who think they can’t be influenced by propaganda, are actually more susceptible to being influenced. Especially if the idea is subtle, disguised, and leverages human vanity like “this belief makes you a good person, and part of the good tribe”.
Vanishingly few people value truth more than their tribe. Especially if their beliefs connect them to their tribe.
We are the most propagandized generation by many orders of magnitude. If you recognize this, and scrutinize new narratives very carefully, you’ve got a fighting chance. Those who can't see the propaganda experience a more confusing, unpleasant and worse life.
Disgustingly, much of the propaganda isn’t just a simple lie, but the exact opposite of what is true. Much of the propaganda pits people against truth and their own nature. The people who unwittingly believe it, suffer. I've seen the resulting emotional, financial and psychological ruin with my own eyes.
Abandon all hope, all ye who stay here.