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I disagree about the direction of cause and effect here. The distrust comes first, then people go for nutty "alternative fact" stuff. We have many reasons to d
by api 8y ago
I disagree about the direction of cause and effect here. The distrust comes first, then people go for nutty "alternative fact" stuff.
We have many reasons to distrust our institutions. Trust is hard to earn and easy to lose. For starters in my life span I've watched us be consciously lied into one major $1T+ war, a series of bank bailouts that enriched those responsible for a financial crisis at the expense of the general public, the largest financial fraudster in recent memory (Bernie Madoff) being short-listed for SEC director prior to his scam collapsing, and countless cases of "science for hire" (nutritional science is the worst) being used to sell stuff.
I feel like our authorities are harping on "fake news" and related things to evade their own responsibility for this mess.
- coldtea 8y ago>I disagree about the direction of cause and effect here. The distrust comes first, then people go for nutty "alternative fact" stuff. Exactly what I tried to say above. One can ask eg. why people trusted science (and revered scientists) more in 50s and 60s US. It wasn't because they were less religious then, obviously. It was because they didn't have many chances, decade after decade, to get cynical.
- toss1 8y agoRight, the mistrust creates the fertile soil on which these conspiracy theories can grow & spread. And I completely agree that we have massive legitimate cause for mistrust. But they don't create & promote the theories, then weaponize the believers. E.g., you and I don't watch the scams, then go out & produce videos about how the world is flat, jet condensation trail are chemical sprays to kill us all, etc., etc.. That comes from sources truing to manipulate & weaponize the ambient discontent.