Why Fictitious Narratives Win More When it Comes to Truth and Reputation
The problem might surprise you
Most of the times humans believe that they always prefer truth. Facts and evidence show otherwise. Truth just isn’t convenient enough for us sometimes due to different reasons. That is not always harmful (although it’s habit forming) yet it can be troublesome, if not now, then eventually to ourselves and other people.
Think about this from a narrative, credibility and reputation context.
“To write a fictional story…. very easy. You write whatever you want,” said Yuval Noah Harari, historian and author, in an interview posted on his Instagram page. “The truth is often very complicated because reality is complicated.”
Truth may be simple to detail and digest yet we all know that, depending on a situation, there can be more variables and complexity involved.
“You want to give a truthful explanation (about a nuanced story)… very complicated; where fiction can be made as simple as possible and people tend to prefer simple explanations over complicated ones,” Harari said.
People don’t always have the patience, interest or tolerance for detailed explanations that require thought and possibly going against what they already feel, which may be be biased.
“Truth can be painful, unattractive,” Harari added. “So, in this competition… the truth, which is very costly and complicated and sometimes painful, and fiction, which is cheap and simple and you can make it very attractive… fiction tends to win”
We know this is a sobering reality at times in different parts of our life experiences and observations about other people and situations. It’s not something, however, to just shake ones head at and say, “that’s just how it is” because the different costs to people can be extremely high and unjust.
By learning what Harari explained, we have a greater awareness and can responsibly address it, not only on our behalf but for other people because they and their critics or enemies aren’t as informed and educated about the reality to the degree that you and I.
Hearing what Harari said, it’s not a stretch to say, at least at certain times, in certain situations, with certain stories and with some people, that fiction can be darkness, not light and the enemy to facts, evidence, truth, credibility and respected reputation.
Are we participating, in some measure, in that fiction or helping others or ourselves to pull back the curtain on it and shine the light on the facts, context, evidence and more complicated truth?
If you or anyone you care about has ever have been in the pit of a treacherous situation and maybe, hostile “territory (critics and enemies)” you know that what Harari explained can be and is, accurate. The encouraging news is that you and I are now more knowledgeable and able to counter this natural human tendency.
Michael Toebe is the specialist at Reputation Intelligence, helping individuals and organizations with matters of credibility, trust, decision analysis, communications, relationships and reputation.
You can DM him on Substack or contact him below for consulting, risk analysis, coaching, ongoing advisory, a variety of proactive and responsive communications and reputation (not legal) representation.
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