Good explanation of The Illusory Truth Effect, and well-spotted! We are all the subjects of a very sophisticated military grade propaganda operation - but this one is so simple (and so obvious once you start seeing it!)
There are a whole lot of ways to explain what has happened to people's brains over the past 2+ years: guilt/shaming, the weaponisation of caring, social conformity, etc etc.
But looking back, sheer repetition probably played the biggest role.
Even intelligent and well-educated people - people who I used to have intelligent discussions with - seem to have been brain-washed. In fact, especially the intelligent and well-educated ones.
It still puzzles me, and from time to time, when I get some new idea about it, I ponder on it some more.
The other thing to ponder, is why some people are able to resist this sort of brainwashing.
I think, besides being innately prone to contrarianism, a big factor is finding a like-minded community.
Because like the days of the Grand Inquisition, when heresy was aggressively sought out and punished, it is very hard for even the most independent thinker to hold their views and stay sane when they feel totally alone.
Good explanation of The Illusory Truth Effect, and well-spotted! We are all the subjects of a very sophisticated military grade propaganda operation - but this one is so simple (and so obvious once you start seeing it!)
There are a whole lot of ways to explain what has happened to people's brains over the past 2+ years: guilt/shaming, the weaponisation of caring, social conformity, etc etc.
But looking back, sheer repetition probably played the biggest role.
Even intelligent and well-educated people - people who I used to have intelligent discussions with - seem to have been brain-washed. In fact, especially the intelligent and well-educated ones.
It still puzzles me, and from time to time, when I get some new idea about it, I ponder on it some more.
The other thing to ponder, is why some people are able to resist this sort of brainwashing.
I think, besides being innately prone to contrarianism, a big factor is finding a like-minded community.
Because like the days of the Grand Inquisition, when heresy was aggressively sought out and punished, it is very hard for even the most independent thinker to hold their views and stay sane when they feel totally alone.