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Humanity Is Not Primarily Interested In Truth Or Factuality

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There are rare exceptions, of course. Humanity is not primarily interested in truth or factuality. How do I know this? The evidence is there for all to see. Most of us prefer to read fiction over non-fiction. It is the same for viewing video/film, with documentaries trailing far behind made up stuff in popularity. In truth, what we call biography/memoir is largely fiction as well. Escapism is what most of us seek from our reading and watching stuff on screens. Many would say to this, I live in the real world and don’t need to be inundated with it in my free time. I hear you. The global success of the Harry Potter books and movies are a testament to this fact. The Christian bible purports to be the biggest seller in the printed books category but, again, I can tell you, as someone who has studied it academically, it is mostly fictional in content. This is why it has been popular, with content including unsubstantiated miracles and historical exaggerations and inventions. Telling a good story was the most important factor for historians and those selling religion in ancient times.Continue Reading

people on a election parade on a street

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Sam Lebovic in his 2023 book State Of Silence revealed the prominent place of fictional novels in the development of espionage legislation at the turn of the 20C. In Britain, the emergence of the spy novel genre fed directly into the appetite of the public and legislators to lay the groundwork for the national security state. The United States followed suit via the creation of the Espionage Act in 1917, as concerns about German spies were inflamed around WW1. Protecting national interests from the dastardly deeds of foreign spies on American soil became an emerging key role for government. The FBI would  rise up under Director Hoover and reach its early apogee during the WW2 Nazi spy ring arrests in the US. The ever increasing power of the national security state and its many agencies throughout the 20C would see more state secrets kept from the people. This has created the deep distrust and proliferation of conspiracy theories in America today. Much of this is fed via fiction presented on TV, at cinemas, in books, and increasingly on social media platforms. Quite simply the general public has far greater access to entertainment than it does to any real facts when it comes to issues pertaining to national security. Fiction over facts: Political narrative’s meat in the sandwich.Continue Reading

white house

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In: democracy, featured, Government, identity, latest post, politics

Listening to some talking heads in the US there seems to be a collective downer across this once great nation. The diminishing American hegemony has quite a few gnashing their teeth and crying ‘poor me’. Of course, the Trump cult has this populist blowhard claiming he can arrest the slide by closing the borders and deporting people. Donald the compulsive liar is hoping to pout his way back into the White House. Americans looking for someone to blame for their less than stellar place in the world is putting their nation on a civil war footing.  Continue Reading