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I highly recommend this piece by John Oliver from Last Week Tonight. It's not just that Oliver does an excellent job pulling back the curtain on astroturfing. It's for his important message at the end of the video that the worst and most harmful consequence of astroturfing is that it corrodes faith in democracy and encourages people to dismiss anyone they don't agree with as "paid protesters."
To quote John Oliver: "Skepticism is healthy. Cynicism -- real cynicism -- is toxic."
Too many people mistake cynicism for skepticism and mistake cynicism for wisdom. It is not. It is pure intellectual laziness. As Lois Bujold said:
"Now, there's this about cynicism, Sergeant. It's the universe's most supine moral position. Real comfortable. If nothing can be done, then you're not some kind of shit for not doing it, and you can lie there and stink to yourself in perfect peace."
It is very easy to give up these days. And there is nothing wrong with taking a break when it is overwhelming. But avoid the trap of cynicism. It is neither healthy skepticism nor mature wisdom. It is the universe's most supine moral position.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmh4RdIwswE
To quote John Oliver: "Skepticism is healthy. Cynicism -- real cynicism -- is toxic."
Too many people mistake cynicism for skepticism and mistake cynicism for wisdom. It is not. It is pure intellectual laziness. As Lois Bujold said:
"Now, there's this about cynicism, Sergeant. It's the universe's most supine moral position. Real comfortable. If nothing can be done, then you're not some kind of shit for not doing it, and you can lie there and stink to yourself in perfect peace."
It is very easy to give up these days. And there is nothing wrong with taking a break when it is overwhelming. But avoid the trap of cynicism. It is neither healthy skepticism nor mature wisdom. It is the universe's most supine moral position.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmh4RdIwswE
