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by arel
2878 days ago
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Its both: 1. Platforms have a civic responsibility to not promote disinformation. 2. Citizens have a responsibility to escape their bias and bubbles and reject disinformation. But in the current environment where even basic truth and sources are under attack by yelling 'fake news' where is the foundational truth on which to even arrive at critical thinking? This is the authoritarian's great trick. Critical thinking is hard work and discomforting, its much easier to pick a side and allow yourself to be manipulated. We need critical thinking but more importantly we need to attack the tribalism and polarisation that prevent us even making the journey to critical thinking. |
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> This is the authoritarian's great trick.
Is it an undeniable fact that the current environment is significantly different in people’s attitude towards foundational truths than the previous environments?
In truly authoritarian (or totalitarian) countries, there are very few outlets broadcasting what goes there for the foundational truths. People are supposed to believe what is being told them via these outlets, yet many (especially the intellectuals) develop defensive mechanisms and learn to ignore what is presented to them as foundational truths. Take the Soviet Union as an example. There were several state-run newspapers and TV channels translating what went for foundational truths, yet with time many learned to disbelieve what they saw on TV or read in newspapers.