[mistermann]

"Saying something is true doesn't make it true, but if you say it enough times it can literally make it seem true."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_truth_effect

Tolerance is an important social/psychological phenomenon, but perception is even more important. Teaching people to think in memes is dangerous imho.

[kelseyfrog]

Combine this with "lies spread faster than truth," and you can see why advancements in communication technology proceed periods of social upheaval, at least until inoculating social technologies are developed to moderate the synergy of these two effects.

[mistermann]

> Combine this with "lies spread faster than truth,"....

Even more complicated:

- this applies to all piecs of information, including mainstream "truths" that are not actually true

- there is an important distinction between lies, speaking untruthfully, speaking misinformatively, etc

- most people are not just bad at epistemology (and related fields), they think they are good (because it seems that way, and "seems true equals true" in our culture) - epistemology is highly counter-intuitive

[kelseyfrog]

Yep, the critique of social facts on HN gas gotten me some of the most extreme responses. It's also frankly, delightful to frame personal opinion in the language of social fact and have folks wires get fried not knowing how to respond. Espistomology can have it's entertaining and playful side too. :)

[mistermann]

Espistomology is awesome, I have soooo much fun with it....I think of it as the Achilles Heel of:

- Normies

- The Man

They are both utterly defenceless against it (yet: don't have any realization of it), it's almost like a weapon from another dimension of reality.