Post by Zadkiel on Mar 8, 2016 15:37:02 GMT
We are more enlightened than ever and yet, people will still believe myths over facts!
Lyz Lenz from Aeon writes that "it's because myths feed into deeper truths that we believe about the world..."
In a study, Jonah Berger and Katherine Milkman wanted to assess what made an article go viral. They combed through 7,000 articles from The New York Times and discovered stories with a strong emotional connection had the greatest potential to blow up on the web. Lenz thinks this emotional connection further adds to a false story's staying power.
"People believe the stories that they connect to, the ones that affirm their view of the world."
What's more, if you believe enough in something, there's already a not-so-reputable forum that will confirm what you hold true. Lenz's husband has a profound saying that states:
"If you Google long enough, anything becomes the truth."
If you want to have a discourse with someone that takes an Internet myth to heart, don't battle them with fact-checking sites, like Snopes. Researchers advice us to first try to empathize - find out what kind of emotional rational this myth triggered. Then, we'll be better equipped to talk about the issue and possibly dissuade them.
Lyz Lenz from Aeon writes that "it's because myths feed into deeper truths that we believe about the world..."
In a study, Jonah Berger and Katherine Milkman wanted to assess what made an article go viral. They combed through 7,000 articles from The New York Times and discovered stories with a strong emotional connection had the greatest potential to blow up on the web. Lenz thinks this emotional connection further adds to a false story's staying power.
"People believe the stories that they connect to, the ones that affirm their view of the world."
What's more, if you believe enough in something, there's already a not-so-reputable forum that will confirm what you hold true. Lenz's husband has a profound saying that states:
"If you Google long enough, anything becomes the truth."
If you want to have a discourse with someone that takes an Internet myth to heart, don't battle them with fact-checking sites, like Snopes. Researchers advice us to first try to empathize - find out what kind of emotional rational this myth triggered. Then, we'll be better equipped to talk about the issue and possibly dissuade them.
