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Why We Have Reached Peak Bullshit And What We Can Do About It

Matthew Ward

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Published in Post Truth: Why We Have Reached Peak Bullshit And What We Can Do About It

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Post-Truth: Why We Have Reached Peak Bullshit and What We Can Do About It

by Evan Davis

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1230 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	384 pages

The Rise of Peak Bullshit

We are living in a post-truth era, where people are more likely to believe something if it confirms their existing beliefs, regardless of whether or not it is true. This phenomenon, known as confirmation bias, is a major contributing factor to the rise of fake news and misinformation.

In the past, people were more likely to get their news from traditional media outlets, such as newspapers, television, and radio. These outlets were generally held to a higher standard of accuracy and objectivity than the internet. However, with the advent of the internet, anyone can publish anything, regardless of whether or not it is true. This has led to a proliferation of fake news and misinformation, which has made it more difficult for people to find out the truth.

Confirmation bias is a powerful force that can lead people to believe even the most outlandish claims. When people are presented with information that challenges their existing beliefs, they are more likely to dismiss it as false. This can make it very difficult to have productive conversations about important issues.

The Dangers of Peak Bullshit

The rise of peak bullshit has a number of negative consequences for society. First, it makes it more difficult to have informed discussions about important issues. When people are more likely to believe information that confirms their existing beliefs, it is difficult to find common ground and reach consensus. This can lead to gridlock and inaction on important issues.

Second, peak bullshit can lead to the erosion of trust. When people are constantly bombarded with false and misleading information, they become less likely to trust anyone. This can make it difficult to build relationships and communities.

Third, peak bullshit can lead to violence. When people believe that their way of life is under threat, they are more likely to resort to violence to protect it. This has been seen in the rise of hate crimes and terrorism around the world.

What We Can Do About Peak Bullshit

There are a number of things we can do to combat peak bullshit. First, we need to be more critical of the information we consume. We should not just believe everything we read or hear, especially if it confirms our existing beliefs. We should always ask ourselves whether or not the information is credible and whether or not it is supported by evidence.

Second, we need to be more media literate. We need to understand how the media works and how to identify fake news and misinformation. We should also be aware of our own biases and how they can affect our judgment.

Third, we need to be more engaged in our communities. We need to build relationships with people who have different perspectives than us. This will help us to understand different viewpoints and to see the world from a different perspective.

Finally, we need to support organizations that are fighting against fake news and misinformation. These organizations are working to hold people accountable for the information they spread and to promote critical thinking and media literacy.

We are living in a challenging time, but we must not give up hope. We can combat peak bullshit by being more critical of the information we consume, by being more media literate, by being more engaged in our communities, and by supporting organizations that are fighting against fake news and misinformation.

Together, we can create a more informed and just world.

Post-Truth: Why We Have Reached Peak Bullshit and What We Can Do About It

by Evan Davis

4.3 out of 5