<
https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/study-folklore-structure-reveals-how-conspiracy-theories-emerge-fall-apart/>
"Mark Twain is often credited with the saying, “A lie can travel halfway
around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” Twain
never actually said it; it appears to be a mutated version of something
essayist Jonathan Swift once wrote—a misattribution that aptly
illustrates the point. The same is true of a good conspiracy theory,
composed of unrelated facts and false information that somehow get
connected into a loose narrative framework, which then spreads rapidly
as perceived "truth." According to a June paper published in PLOS ONE,
the structure of folklore can yield insights into precisely how these
connections get made and, hence, into the origins of conspiracy theories."
Via Muse, who wrote "I’m going to have to look at this more closely, but
this article on conspiracy theories looks fascinating."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
