Pure factual exposure mirrors conspiracism by treating declarations as sufficient.
Evidence
But the strategy of speaking truth, even when it makes a difference, is insufficient if it is not accompanied by political action. The idea that all one needs to do is describe things as accurately as possible points to an unexpected symmetry between the new conspiracism and the strategy of speaking truth: both hold that declarations are enough to save the nation or change the world. For new conspiracists, it’s as if invoking a malignant plot is enough. All the energy is in declaring, repeating, and affirming ruses. Exposing per se is all the work that needs to be done. The point of symmetry lies here, in the thought that exposing the faults in conspiracist claims is all that need be done. There is little reason to put all our faith in the efficacy of exposure, if unmasking and revealing don’t prompt additional action. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 351
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Repeated exposure alone makes false statements seem more credible to anyone — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice: How to Communicate…, 285; Exposure-only responses mirror the conspiracism they oppose — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 351; Images make factual claims more fluently processable and believable — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 105 (+2 more)
Broader Connections
- Exposure-only responses mirror the conspiracism they oppose
#corroborates(0.90) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 351 - Repeated exposure alone makes false statements seem more credible to anyone
#expands(0.80) — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice, 285 - Images make factual claims more fluently processable and believable
#exemplifies(0.75) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 105 - Adding a photo raises the judged truth of any accompanying claim
#exemplifies(0.75) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 85 - Disconfirming evidence can strengthen rather than weaken committed beliefs.
#expands(0.70) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 97