General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow do we cope now that a significant number of us believe lies?
I've seen it for years, Bill Clinton had people murdered, Carter was in on it when they kidnapped citizens in Iran, Hillary's pizza parlor sex ring.
It is worse now. I've tried to correct a few as I've seen them on Facebook but today I was mocked for using Snopes.
I'm not talking about trying to win them over. That is impossible.
Is this a problem or am I just freaked out for no reason? Americans have believed totally stupid shit (IMHO) and we survived. But this seems like more than the Salem witches.
John1956PA
(2,654 posts)On social media, the aggressive, hostile posts of the right-wing propagandists are intimidating. This is a growing problem.
Hamlette
(15,394 posts)I try to correct them but they just get meaner.
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)They lie, cheat and steal as a practice of everyday life.
Saboburns
(2,807 posts)I am.
Its only going to get worse.
maryellen99
(3,782 posts)She told me just because it said it wasnt true doesnt mean it isnt. It was about California banning the Bible. She has since been unfriended due to her support for child concentration camps.
sarah FAILIN
(2,857 posts)I make a point of telling everyone now why I am unfriending them so that they know I will not accept their crap and this is how strongly I feel about it.
maryellen99
(3,782 posts)Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)The Moon Landing didn't happen, FDR set up or let Pearl Harbor occur to get us in the war, Area 51, etc, etc......
Conspiracy theories have been around for as long as people have been conversing. Some folks buy into them or some of them and I suspect that you will not have much luck changing their minds.
Good thing we all know the truth regarding The Spacecraft Voyager being powered by Snicker Bars!
Kilgore
(1,733 posts)It's all in the video on the internet. So it's gotta be true!
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)That is one I missed, but I have no doubt of its truthiness I saw a quote from Abe Lincoln online that told me everything on the internet is true. 🙃
Kilgore
(1,733 posts)Hamlette
(15,394 posts)I didn't actually know people who thought the moon landing was a hoax but I know many people who believe the same kind of bullshit now. It baffles me.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)Look back to the sales of The Weekly World News and the other conspiracy laden supermarket tabloids as an example (have they found Elvis 🕺 Yet?) People will believe all sorts of things that make no sense to us.
OnDoutside
(19,908 posts)VOX
(22,976 posts)One side believes in fair play and reason; diversity, inclusion, woman's rights, LBGT rights and human rights worldwide; a decent and affordable education; science and innovation; having the mega-wealthy and corporations pay their fair share of taxes; collective bargaining in industry; clean drinking water, reduced air pollution and renewable energy sources; a Medicare-type, fully functioning health-insurance plan that covers pre-existing conditions; facing and fixing the shame of rampant homelessness in one of the world's wealthiest countries; re-establish that the U.S. government is understood to be a genuine friend to allies in Europe, Asia, wherever.
The other side? Just look at the list immediately above this paragraph. They want NONE of this. Not a shred. They have to go. VOTE Democratic!
Ilsa
(61,675 posts)to brainwash our youth. They are just using the internet to catchup to brainwashing voting adults.
czarjak
(11,194 posts)One side refuses to listen to bullshit. If only there was a solution.
Crunchy Frog
(26,548 posts)That's been running now for decades. It's not just FOX and hate radio, but the entire infrastructure of think tanks that come up with the talking points and propaganda messages.
They've managed to create a population of Pavlov's dogs numbering in the tens of millions, who are conditioned to believe and behave in any way they want. Millions more people are more subtly influenced, even liberals.
At minimum, we need to create our own infrastructure to begin combating this machine.
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)toxic politics. I know, it's essential, everybody does it, it's practically required, etc, but it's also a major RW propaganda pipeline and not a good place to get news or discuss politics of any stripe. JMHO.
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)Media literacy should be mandatory curriculum.
Hamlette
(15,394 posts)I saw something on a program helping kids recognize real fake news. It should be part of every school.