“deviation from the norm to an operating system” of “epistemic entropy” …would leave no Truth to be told, leaving societal confusion a norm without factual resolution. The people persuaded, not educated.
A very thought-provoking article to pause and reflect upon.
Thank you Cathie. Your distinction between being "persuaded, not educated" is crucial. That's the very essence of cognitive warfare: it aims to bypass critical thought entirely and operate on the level of emotional reaction.
If this isn't Tim Berners-Lee's worst nightmare, I don't know what is. InYourFaceBook was bad enough as is, but hijacked for Russian and Chinese manipulation? Whoa. Even more terrifying, have my own reactions been hijacked? Are we drowning in a digital sea of mis/disinformation?
Tim Berners-Lee's worst nightmare is a good way to frame it; a tool for connection turned into an "operating system" for confusion.
The question, "have my own reactions been hijacked?" is the absolute core of the problem. It's what cognitive warfare feels like from the inside. The goal is to make us doubt our own instincts and fatigue our critical thinking.
But I don't think we're completely drowning. The fact that we still ask that question is the proof. That moment of self-awareness, of pausing to question the emotional pull of a piece of content, is exactly the defense mechanism these systems are designed to bypass. It's the beginning of reclaiming our own perception. It's not easy, but it starts there.
ChatKGB :)
Haha Brilliant :-)
Pravda Social.
Solzhenitsyn comes to mind: "The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie. One word of truth outweighs the world."
Excellent quote and reminder Tom, thank you.
“deviation from the norm to an operating system” of “epistemic entropy” …would leave no Truth to be told, leaving societal confusion a norm without factual resolution. The people persuaded, not educated.
A very thought-provoking article to pause and reflect upon.
Thank you Cathie. Your distinction between being "persuaded, not educated" is crucial. That's the very essence of cognitive warfare: it aims to bypass critical thought entirely and operate on the level of emotional reaction.
Excellent! Thank you Colin 💗🙏
Thank YOU Veronika
If this isn't Tim Berners-Lee's worst nightmare, I don't know what is. InYourFaceBook was bad enough as is, but hijacked for Russian and Chinese manipulation? Whoa. Even more terrifying, have my own reactions been hijacked? Are we drowning in a digital sea of mis/disinformation?
Tim Berners-Lee's worst nightmare is a good way to frame it; a tool for connection turned into an "operating system" for confusion.
The question, "have my own reactions been hijacked?" is the absolute core of the problem. It's what cognitive warfare feels like from the inside. The goal is to make us doubt our own instincts and fatigue our critical thinking.
But I don't think we're completely drowning. The fact that we still ask that question is the proof. That moment of self-awareness, of pausing to question the emotional pull of a piece of content, is exactly the defense mechanism these systems are designed to bypass. It's the beginning of reclaiming our own perception. It's not easy, but it starts there.
It requires intense vigilance to defend against the onslaught.