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Simple, obvious answers appeal to a broader, less-knowledgeable set of people. In fact, it really doesn't matter if there is any basis for the answer, like a lo
by danjl 2y ago
Simple, obvious answers appeal to a broader, less-knowledgeable set of people. In fact, it really doesn't matter if there is any basis for the answer, like a lower-dimensional approximation. If repeated enough, more people tend to believe the simple, baseless answer. I feel this is a bigger issue these days than needing to use more complex answers among people who understand the complexity of the problem.
- Henchman21 2y agoThis is what the Murdoch news empire does. It creates the mindset it wants people to have by repeating lies.
- cam_l 2y agoThere is value in perceiving and responding to the inherent complexity in things, as it meshes you closer to reality giving you a greater predictive and responsive capacity. This doesn't work as well with other people, with society. Even if they individually all try to approach reality as above. Manipulation and coercion are just much more efficient at creating a predictive capacity with other people, because you don't need to deal with reality or complexity. You already know where people are going to (metaphorically) run if you are leading them and herding them. I did enjoy the finer point Terry alluded to though, that even these simplified coercive memeing systems are based on a complex underlying system of reality. And when they get stretched too far, they break in unpredictable (complex) ways.