Arthur Schopenhauer once said, "Do not let your mind become a racecourse for other people's thoughts."
The Universality of Rumors#
Comparison of Information Reception Patterns in Ancient and Modern Times#
In ancient times, when information was relatively scarce, people mainly read books such as the works of various philosophers and "Jin Ping Mei". Most of these books were well-known and focused on Confucian classics. However, in today's era of information explosion, in addition to these books, there are various news, social media posts, tweets, public accounts, and even short articles like this one. During Schopenhauer's time, we could still clearly see how many horses were in our minds, and our observations were very detailed, so we mostly understood and internalized other people's thoughts. But in modern times, our brains are filled with fragments of opinions every day, as if they have become mouse nests, densely packed and scattered everywhere.
The Universality of Rumors#
Indeed, in the era of social media, there are more people speaking out, and rumors are indeed abundant. For example, there was a rumor on Twitter recently that the announcement of lithography machine information was imminent, but of course, the rumor was quickly debunked. Being fooled by fake news is partly due to the creators of the information, but also partly due to the spreaders of the information. Everyone projects their own viewpoints onto the information.
General Methods to Debunk Rumors#
However, these are all external factors that we cannot directly change. The key is to enhance our ability to discern truth from falsehood. For example, in the article "A rise in critical skills for sharing news online," it is mentioned that seeking consensus from opposing factions is important.
They cross-check sources and prefer news from different perspectives – especially those that are open about any bias.
Loss of Authority of Mainstream Media#
However, we are still easily swayed by the prevailing opinion. While checking the source of information is a good habit, even mainstream media is not reliable. Or rather, it is precisely the mainstream media that behaves differently when it is crucial. From the various factions, the trust of the general public has been torn apart. We, who are caught in the middle, have become unwitting pawns of the opinion leaders.
The Cost of "Don't Trust, Verify"#
"Don't Trust, Verify." Although this statement accurately describes the issue of the order of knowledge between subject and object, the cost of verification is too high. Moreover, the essence and premise of making people believe is the infusion of information, whether you believe it or not, it is already in your mind. From the perspective of facts, this constitutes objective belief.
From Rumors to Deception#
The Ability to Believe the Truth#
There is no such thing as the ability to believe the truth, although I used to believe in it. But I paid a huge price for it. The reason why we can believe false information is that we believe we have the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood. From the perspective of objectivism, knowledge is a reflection of the object, an understanding of the natural order and social rules. This understanding will never surpass the object.
Separation of Rumors and "Deception"#
We always pay a price for our beliefs, and the ones who speak never pay a price.
This is not just about factual rumors, but also about deeper values.
You may make wrong decisions because of the viewpoints I put forward. And my viewpoints are inevitably mixed with my "private goods". This is the problem brought about by the increasing complexity of human society.
In terms of politics, their means are to gain trust. Their rhetoric is like farting, just a means to seize power. And the consequences of the deception caused by their means, we are the ones who pay the price. They just wave their sleeves and blow away the smell.
The Essence of Deception Methods#
In addition, let's take fraud as an example.
Fraud refers to the act of using deception methods to obtain a large amount of public or private property for the purpose of illegal possession. The basic structure of fraud (completed) is: the perpetrator carries out deceptive behavior towards the other party (the victim), causing the other party to have (or continue to maintain) a mistaken understanding, based on this mistaken understanding, the other party disposes of property, and the perpetrator or a third party obtains the property, and the victim suffers property damage. - Zhang Mingkai, Criminal Law
Any normal activity will have an external form, and what people can believe is only the appearance, not the essence of a thing. Fraud is based on the understanding of the law of subject-object cognition, which is why it can succeed again and again. Although everyone's level of understanding is different, even the person with the highest awareness of fraud prevention will believe in certain external forms, but the external forms they believe in are more complex, making fraud more difficult.
Therefore, being deceived is inevitable. Obtaining true information will always be an ongoing game.
Of course, fraud is only about money, and the implantation of values is more deadly.
How to Deal with Ubiquitous Deception#
Anti-Groupthink#
Therefore, I am a person who opposes groupthink. This is also why many people abroad are afraid to contact their fellow countrymen. Anti-groupthink does not mean being anti-social, but rather controlling the relationship between individuals and groups, and regaining control over our own minds. This is easier than changing the group and is a prerequisite for survival before changing the group.
Establishing a "Thick Barrier" between Oneself and the Group#
There is a saying that has been circulating online: "Parents hope you become better, relatives are afraid you become too good, and colleagues wish you bad luck. Most people who advise you to be generous have ulterior motives. Most people who teach you how to make money want to make money from you."
Therefore, in order to avoid being harmed by false information, it is necessary to establish a "thick barrier" between oneself and the group. Do not let oneself become a racecourse for the "thoughts" of the group.
Do Not Let the Group Become the Carrier of One's Own Values#
Do not trust easily, do not place one's own values on the group, and do not let the group become the carrier of one's own values. At the societal level, we must rely on groups; but this is only a material relationship. As Tao Yuanming said, "Dwelling in the human realm, yet free from the noise of carriages and horses." And this will also be the origin of the new relationship between individuals and the state.