By Adam Borowski
Humanity, we have a problem. Intellectual devolution threatens our future even more than the coronavirus.
An increasing number of people unquestioningly believe that a group of Machiavellian types at the top of the social pyramid will depopulate the world, leaving only a tiny percentage of the population to serve the new masters.
While it was easy to ignore such claims in the past, it is no longer possible for governments to dismiss millions of people as tinfoil hat wearers. Conspiracy theorizing has gone mainstream, with YouTube videos blaming the new world order for the coronavirus. The global lockdown only adds fuel to the conspiracy fire. 5G masts were damaged in the UK and the Netherlands. Is banning YouTube videos offering alternative views, or spreading conspiracy nonsense if you prefer, the answer?
Banning is only going to make various individuals even more suspicious and paranoid, giving credence to all sorts of outlandish theories and claims. Surely, it would be better to address the problematic issues by presenting scientific data, rather than silencing entire sections of society by pretending they do not exist? Many conspiracy theorists would not listen anyway ― they already know how the world works.
Conspiracy theorists reject the mainstream political narrative while unquestioningly accepting the supposedly alternative narrative. In many alternative news circles, Donald Trump is seen as a savior.
Clearly, this is an example of magical thinking where reality is whatever we think it is at the moment. Reality reflects thinking.
For example, if someone made a nonsensical YouTube video titled,"Adam Borowski is really Kim Yo-jong in disguise. I can prove it!'' hopefully, everyone would call the video crazy, absurd and funny. A deranged diatribe disguised as a rational discourse. I am sure a few conspiracy ''experts'' would analyze the video.
This is the level of absurdity we are now faced with. People who lap up conspiracy theories are particularly vulnerable to psychopathic manipulation. If a psychopath convinces a naive conspiracy theorist that an innocent person is responsible for the coronavirus, things can take a dangerous turn. For example, an American woman has been falsely accused of starting the pandemic. Her life has been turned upside down. This is no longer a joke. These are real-life consequences of ignorance.
There is a dramatic difference between questioning things and becoming a conspiracy worshipper who is ready to do anything for the supposed cause. All it takes to brainwash people is a charismatic psychopath who gathers a group of weak-minded individuals around him. Numerous cults are going to emerge after the coronavirus, some potentially dangerous. If we want to avoid conspiracy fanatics wreaking havoc on our minds, we must teach critical thinking skills in schools. Learning English ― the global language ― develops critical thinking as well.
We all know South Korea is a shining example for the world in battling the coronavirus. It now has a chance to win the battle against intellectual devolution and becoming the center of the next Enlightenment era, as the West is gradually dethroned.
The world is listening, South Korea. Use it to your advantage.
Adam Borowski (adam.borowski1985@gmail.com) is a technical Polish-English translator and an international relations aficionado. He is the author of a novel titled: ''Planetary Entrapment Syndrome.''
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| Adam Borowski |
An increasing number of people unquestioningly believe that a group of Machiavellian types at the top of the social pyramid will depopulate the world, leaving only a tiny percentage of the population to serve the new masters.
While it was easy to ignore such claims in the past, it is no longer possible for governments to dismiss millions of people as tinfoil hat wearers. Conspiracy theorizing has gone mainstream, with YouTube videos blaming the new world order for the coronavirus. The global lockdown only adds fuel to the conspiracy fire. 5G masts were damaged in the UK and the Netherlands. Is banning YouTube videos offering alternative views, or spreading conspiracy nonsense if you prefer, the answer?
Banning is only going to make various individuals even more suspicious and paranoid, giving credence to all sorts of outlandish theories and claims. Surely, it would be better to address the problematic issues by presenting scientific data, rather than silencing entire sections of society by pretending they do not exist? Many conspiracy theorists would not listen anyway ― they already know how the world works.
Conspiracy theorists reject the mainstream political narrative while unquestioningly accepting the supposedly alternative narrative. In many alternative news circles, Donald Trump is seen as a savior.
Clearly, this is an example of magical thinking where reality is whatever we think it is at the moment. Reality reflects thinking.
For example, if someone made a nonsensical YouTube video titled,"Adam Borowski is really Kim Yo-jong in disguise. I can prove it!'' hopefully, everyone would call the video crazy, absurd and funny. A deranged diatribe disguised as a rational discourse. I am sure a few conspiracy ''experts'' would analyze the video.
This is the level of absurdity we are now faced with. People who lap up conspiracy theories are particularly vulnerable to psychopathic manipulation. If a psychopath convinces a naive conspiracy theorist that an innocent person is responsible for the coronavirus, things can take a dangerous turn. For example, an American woman has been falsely accused of starting the pandemic. Her life has been turned upside down. This is no longer a joke. These are real-life consequences of ignorance.
There is a dramatic difference between questioning things and becoming a conspiracy worshipper who is ready to do anything for the supposed cause. All it takes to brainwash people is a charismatic psychopath who gathers a group of weak-minded individuals around him. Numerous cults are going to emerge after the coronavirus, some potentially dangerous. If we want to avoid conspiracy fanatics wreaking havoc on our minds, we must teach critical thinking skills in schools. Learning English ― the global language ― develops critical thinking as well.
We all know South Korea is a shining example for the world in battling the coronavirus. It now has a chance to win the battle against intellectual devolution and becoming the center of the next Enlightenment era, as the West is gradually dethroned.
The world is listening, South Korea. Use it to your advantage.
Adam Borowski (adam.borowski1985@gmail.com) is a technical Polish-English translator and an international relations aficionado. He is the author of a novel titled: ''Planetary Entrapment Syndrome.''
