The Illusory Truth Effect, Hurricane Helene And How It Impacts Aid

The illusory truth effect is an idea that people treat a lie repeated frequently enough as the truth. It’s annoying if encountered in average conversations, it’s dangerous in political discussions ( since the illusory truth effect is a core idea behind propaganda) and it is bordering on deadly in emergencies, as we’re seeing in North Carolina. From misinformation about amounts of aid available to claims that entire towns are being taken by eminent domain, the conspiracy theories and outright lies are being posted and reposted at a rate that’s almost impossible for anyone to comprehend, let alone combat.

The illusory truth effect has taken hold in such a way that there’s talk of literal militia formation in response to all the atrocities FEMA isn’t committing, and Trump surrogates are cosigning these ideas. In response, videos from people on the ground, responses from federal authorities and even responses from local officials (all Republicans the last time I checked) have been produced. Even with all the effort on the side of rescue and recovery efforts, damaging disinformation persists.

Here’s the kicker: now we’re facing down another, more powerful storm (the second most powerful on record, per the meteorologists.) 

Biden has already allocated funds, FEMA is as mobilized as it can be previous to Milton’s landfall and yet we have Republicans already criticizing disaster reaction, MTG and her band of low-info cretins claiming Democrats control the weather (with lasers! Are they the Jewish space lasers? We don’t know.) and yes, more talk of militia action.

I’m a traditionalist. I believe that there are certain subjects that should not be politicized and natural disasters are one of them. Additionally, anyone theorizing that the plot of a Roger Moore-era James Bond film is actually happening and is being perpetrated by Democrats needs to seek therapy. Human lives and livelihoods are at stake and there is a part of our populace that has arbitrarily decided that our response to such a disaster, as well as any other national happening, is somehow motivated by profit.

Skepticism has a place in public discourse, but if left unchecked, skepticism can and does lead to cynicism whose corrosive effect on public trust has no place in society since it is that very cynicism that often causes people to separate from society. Cynicism has no place in an emergency. Cynicism kills.