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When there is an emergency humans look for an explanation of the events. Even when there is no possibility of finding one, they will still choose a fictional on
by whybroke 10y ago
When there is an emergency humans look for an explanation of the events. Even when there is no possibility of finding one, they will still choose a fictional one derived from their existing world views.
Putting huge effort into explaining a true emergency (eg fire, fight etc) is evolutionary useful, doing so for a non emergency is not.
For a complex of reasons related to modern communication and the nature of celebrity among other things, the latest events around Assange feel like an emergency to some people and so they desperately seek an immediate explanation at all costs.
In general this is always a problem because those removed from events could use their distance by calmly looking at the situation objectively and rationally instead of promulgating a wave of attractive but erroneous conspiracy theories (which are always entirely destructive).
As a life rule it is convenient to note which category various information sources fall into.