[–] KiloJuliet 0 points 5 points 5 points (+5|-0) ago
People would much rather believe what is popular than to know the truth. It's about vanity, fitting in, etc. They are just lonely people who are willing to forsake reality for a feeling of fitting in.
[–] Konran [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Yes - the problems of vanity and fitting in I can agree with.
In respect to them all being 'lonely people' - I'd like to believe that, but I have found that family and friends of mine are also guilty of this phenomena. To be honest I think this all comes down to choice. If people really want to take responsibilty for the information they receive then there are many alternative sources that they can go to nowadays for a more wide-ranging set of views. In a way I think it more likely suggests laziness rather than loneliness, with many people citing that they are too busy trying to 'win' in life to be able to research the news for themselves.
[–] Genghis_Khan 0 points 11 points 11 points (+11|-0) ago
I think the short answer is that most of the population simply lacks the intellect to really question anything they're told in any meaningful way apart from the most obvious of untruths. For example, "Greeks are lazy," while clearly false for being too broad and sweeping, feeds into people's natural desire to label things they don't know or understand, i.e. Greeks.
The people that feed us the information know this.
[–] Evarett 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago
Lots of people just dont have the time to critically think. Work is about 8 hours if not more. after you have to drive home most of the time. relationships like SO's which take a good amount of time. friendships need some time if you want it to continue. family obligations. getting food and other needless chores like changing car oil. just so many things take peoples time away that it leaves most people not wanting to critically think about helping the world. They have only enough time to help themselves. now if only work life didnt take up so much life, thats when I can see people, the modern people having the ability to think more often with full energy.
[–] deathcomesilent 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
If you are being purposefully ironic, you are my hero.
[–] Konran [S] 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Yeah, sorry. Should've been a little more specific. I guess I was meaning the mainstream media - things like with the recent Greece default issue. I have heard so many people blaming the Greeks for their predicament because they are greedy, selfish and lazy just because that is the general narrative being churned out by the recognised press. Either that or the polar opposite which is everyone else in the Eurozone is greedy, selfish yet hard-working. It seems to me as if people can't really be bothered to ask 'Why would this be the story that we are being fed?' nowadays. Maybe it's an educational problem because I remember my mother always telling me to ask questions and look deeper which really pissed my teachers off at school as well as many other life aquaintances I've met outside of that particular institution.
[–] newoldwave ago
Politicians have learned to take advantage of this. They'll get in front of a camera and spout an outlandish lie and later when caught out have one of their staff declare the boss accidentally misspoke. Meanwhile the lie was out there and many people only heard the lie and not the feeble retraction. I recall some host on MSNBC saying, during the 2012 election cycle, that Sarah Palin is trailer trash. Completely false and never retracted, but got away with it.