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Humanity Is Not Primarily Interested In Truth Or Factuality

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

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The American Desire To Apportion Blame

You know every time that I turn on a screen I am confronted with the American desire to apportion blame. YouTube is full of vids raging against the machine. Ever since the late Robert Hughes identified America, as infected with the culture of complaint, this groundwave has continued to swell. Making something that you don’t like into a conspiracy has become a full time business. And yes, there are plenty of examples where this instinctive reaction is justified by the evidence compiled. It can, however, become a habitual response to everything in life that you don’t like.Continue Reading