“If a lie be believed only for an hour,
it hath done its work, and there is no farther occasion for it.
Falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it, so that when men come
to be undeceived, it is too late; the jest is over, and the tale hath
had its effect . . . like a physician, who hath found out an infallible
medicine, after the patient is dead.”
It has been more than 300 years since
Jonathan Swift wrote the above on the utility of falsehood. He describes the harm that lies can have by distracting us from the truth. It means that efforts will be misplaced and emotions are wasted for no benefit. This does not stop many form listening and believing falsehoods, especially if they want to believe.
A deep seated mindset can strengthen the resolve of people as much as blind them. Mindsets like equality, democracy, justice, healing, and others are noble traits but when taken to extremes they can be dangerous for others. What if equality is deemed to mean that everyone has an equal shot at being a firefighter, even when someone has one leg? What if democracy is forced on a country when that counties own government not only works but is loved by its people? When brutal justice is demanded over rehabilitation? Yes, these are strawman arguments but they illustrate the extremes.
And what about the actual extremes? Those who demonize other people for being part of a different group? If someone dares to criticize their group leaders? Ignore evidence against the group or their leaders even when it is given by that same group or group leaders? Other undefendable viewpoints? Those people often tell or believe falsehoods, if only to maintain their viewpoint, because it makes them comfortable in that belief. Their brains also provide endorphins when they re-establish those falsehoods, giving a warm fuzzy feeling to cement the lies. To outsiders, however, it seems like the self-deluded are becoming more detached from reality. What can be done to give the right solution for preventing harm when you are distracted by falsehoods?
Ignore the falsehoods.
That's right...one line with three words. Ignore the falsehoods. I have already described the lies and misplaced actions of the deluded as something they do only to make them feel good about their positions. Its a smokescreen they put up to hide behind, hug themselves, and feel joy as to what they have said or done even though it is false.
Certainly it is good to repeat back to those telling falsehoods, using slightly different phrasing, in order for them to reaffirm their false dogma or realize their error and reject it. But for those who maintain the zealotry, keep going to the truth and let them come out of the smokescreen of lies to keep up. If they keep on putting up smokescreens in front of them then disregard their actions as unimportant and inadequate as you proceed.
If you get distracted in trying to fix their zealotry, you fall behind in trying to do what is right. Like Johnathan Swift said, the medicine will not be dispensed and the patient will die. Those who are zealous might think you are not cooperating but they really mean they want you to capitulating to them, another smokescreen.
Do not be deceived and limp behind. Do not fail in speaking the truth because of their zealotry.
