There have been some interesting studies into how people selectively pay more attention to threats and exaggerate dangers when they hear about them. We're also all prone to confirmation bias, so we tend to pay attention only to information that confirms what we already believe.
The result of this was bad enough when most of our information about the wider world came to us via the traditional media. The visionaries believed that social media and the internet would bring us all closer and increase understanding. That has happened to some extent, but we've also seen an increase in a sort of social paranoia as people blindly accept any crap they read which confirms their prejudices and uninformed gut-feelings.
Thus Trump, Brexit, and a lot of other idiocy going on around the world at the moment.
If you believe that Muslims, Mexicans, women or black people are inherently evil and a threat to your standard of living or even your existence, then you're likely to exaggerate how many there are around you.
IIN To be embarrassed of your own nationality?
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There have been some interesting studies into how people selectively pay more attention to threats and exaggerate dangers when they hear about them. We're also all prone to confirmation bias, so we tend to pay attention only to information that confirms what we already believe.
The result of this was bad enough when most of our information about the wider world came to us via the traditional media. The visionaries believed that social media and the internet would bring us all closer and increase understanding. That has happened to some extent, but we've also seen an increase in a sort of social paranoia as people blindly accept any crap they read which confirms their prejudices and uninformed gut-feelings.
Thus Trump, Brexit, and a lot of other idiocy going on around the world at the moment.
If you believe that Muslims, Mexicans, women or black people are inherently evil and a threat to your standard of living or even your existence, then you're likely to exaggerate how many there are around you.