According to the show, House, MD, “Everybody lies.” That may be true, for in the last few years there have sure been some whoppers. Bernie Madoff ripped off his investors for decades. One can easily understand why he lied: by doing so he enabled a lavish lifestyle and was adulated by thousands. A more important question is: why did so many people believe him?
I've been trying to understand why there isn't a greater demand for truth. After it became clear that Bush lied to start a war (actually, both wars) he nevertheless was re-elected. When it became clear that much of the MSM was complicit, why was anyone still watching these shows? Why weren't people protesting in front of FOX and CNN, objecting to the cover-up?
Where was the outrage? Sure, some of us objected. But not enough. We will not be told the truth unless we demand it.
Why do people believe or accept lies? Telling them the truth doesn't always work. We will not convince others of the truth until we work through their psychological barriers. Thoughts below the squiggle.
Flattery. People tend to believe compliments that are given to them even when those compliments are not supported by other information. For example, a woman may believe a shopkeeper telling her that a pair of jeans makes her look slim, even though the mirror reflects a different reality.
Often this sort of lie is not particularly harmful; however, it can be used to soften up listeners so that they’re receptive to more dangerous falsehoods that follow.
What You Want to Hear. Even when the words or message isn’t about you, it can still be something you really want to hear, making you want to believe that the message is true despite the fact that it is not. An ill person may yearn to hear that certain herbs cure cancer, and he is more likely to believe it if he reads it.
Not Checking the Math. Too many people don’t understand enough math and statistics to realize which scenarios are improbable or even impossible. Bernie Madoff’s steady positive results even in the time of plunging markets were extremely unlikely and yet thousands of people – including regulators – accepted his assertions without question.
The Lies Come from “Your” Side. Democrats tend to believe other Democrats, and Republicans tend to believe Republicans. Yet history shows plenty of examples of falsehoods on both sides. These days, of course, the Republicans are telling most of the whoppers.
A Trusted Source. Related to the lie coming from “your” side is the idea that if it is on the news, reported by the government or by a teacher or a minister or a doctor – or some other person in authority – then it is more likely to be true. Unfortunately, many in authority lie just as frequently as everyone else, and so their statements should be judged with as much skepticism as in other situations.
Furthermore, in a court case involving Fox News (of course!), it was determined that deliberate dishonesty in the reporting of the “news” does not break any laws. However, many people believe that the “news” is obligated to tell the truth, so they may be more likely to believe newscasters.
The Truth Is Inconvenient. Sometimes a person may have suspicions, but the truth may be so inconvenient or even devastating that the person chooses to believe the lies. A woman dependent on her husband may choose to believe his stories of working late rather than investigate the signs of his being unfaithful, as confronting reality could mean her losing her home. A banker may have doubted Madoff’s results, but alerting investors and colleagues could have meant losing business and bonuses and possibly his job.
Inexperienced or in Mental Decline. Children, with their lack of world experience, are less likely to spot lies. Unfortunately this is also the case for some of the elderly, as their mental faculties decrease. Mental decline can make seniors easy prey for the dishonest.
Just because you may find yourself in one of these situations, not everything you hear or read will be false. However, it is important to remain vigilant. We will not be told the truth unless we demand it.
Another important point is that we cannot expect to convince others of the facts and truths just by clear and straightforward reasoning. We need to figure out how to get through their psychological barriers.
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