People are projecting. We often find it difficult to look at the facts and judge based on them. Instead, we pay more attention to our emotions, current physiological state and mostly what we believe is the truth. Perception is everything, and perceiving is highly subjective.
One of the main reasons that fake news or “alternative facts” are taking over the world in recent years is that they seem plausible in the consumer’s eyes. For her, it doesn’t really matter if they are or if they are not true, they just sound real.
The recipe usually goes with a grain of truth and a load of imagination. And since people fear for their wellbeing and things possibly going haywire, the imagination part sounds not so far-fetched of a fact. This combined with the common lack of will and time to inform yourself about the state of current events, basic political and economic understanding, et voila – the truth is no longer fake.
In particular, social media entices projecting mainly because the text/post can hardly convey the body language or emotion of the publisher. Understanding is left tot he interpretation of the reader, which might not be the same as intended. Especially in the case of more emotionally subjected styles – irony, sarcasm, humour…
However, intentional propaganda and fake news can be, projecting is playing a higher role across the board, not just with them. In fact, projecting is an undeniable part of human communication. It is based on a variety of factors which might or might not be known to the publisher.
Fear, stress, education, personal history and experience play a serious part in how we perceive things. Critical thinking also comes into play, when existing. And some when in the picture of all these, the truth is born not the way it is, but the way the consumer wants is to be.
And then the shit hits the fan. Usually.
Photo credit: Pablo by Buffer
Copyright © 2018 Borislav Kiprin. All Rights Reserved.
