The Inner Monologue

Ah, humanity—the species that invented science, logic, and reason, then collectively decided, “Nah, I’d rather believe this Facebook meme from my uncle.” Despite living in the golden age of information, where facts are literally at our fingertips, some of us cling to debunked nonsense like it’s a life raft on the Titanic. Let’s explore why we’re like this.

Your Brain: A Glitchy, Outdated Mess

First, let’s talk about your brain—that lump of wetware that thinks it’s rational but is actually just a glorified conspiracy theorist. Thanks to belief perseverance, once an idea lodges itself in your skull, it’s harder to dislodge than a popcorn kernel in your teeth. And don’t even get me started on confirmation bias, which ensures you only accept facts that agree with you while treating actual evidence like an ex you refuse to text back.

Feelings Over Facts: Because Who Needs Reality?

Here’s a fun fact: Humans don’t actually care about facts. We care about vibes. If a lie makes us feel warm and fuzzy (or, more likely, furious and self-righteous), we’ll defend it like it’s the last slice of pizza. And if your entire social circle believes the Earth is flat, you’re not about to be the weirdo waving a globe around. Social survival trumps truth every time.

The Myth of Repetition: Lie Enough and It Becomes “Common Knowledge”

Ever notice how the same garbage claims keep resurfacing? That’s because repetition is the lazy brain’s shortcut to credibility. Hear something enough, and suddenly, “I read it in a forwarded email” becomes “Well, everyone knows that!” Spoiler: No, Karen, not everyone knows that—because it’s wrong.

Peer Pressure: The Silent Killer of Critical Thought

Remember when your mom warned you about peer pressure? Turns out, it doesn’t just apply to middle-schoolers smoking behind the bleachers. Adults are just as susceptible—maybe more so. Disagree with your tribe’s favorite conspiracy? Enjoy your exile, nerd. Combine that with motivated reasoning (a fancy term for “I’ll twist logic into a pretzel to avoid admitting I’m wrong”), and you’ve got a perfect storm of stubborn stupidity.

The Greatest Hits of Human Gullibility

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the all-stars of “How is this still a thing?”:

1. “We only use 10% of our brains!”
   Translation: “I watched ‘Lucy’ and now I think I’m a neuroscientist.” Newsflash: If 90% of your brain was just decorative, evolution would’ve trimmed the fat.
2. “Vaccines cause autism.”
   Translation: “I read one (retracted, fraudulent) study and ignored the last 20 years of research.” The only thing vaccines cause? Not dying of preventable diseases.
3. “The moon landing was faked!”
   Translation: *”I don’t understand film technology, physics, or basic logic, but I *do* trust random YouTube docs.”* Sure, buddy. NASA fooled the entire world, but you cracked the case.
4. “Gum stays in your stomach for seven years.”
   Translation: “My parents lied to me, and I never bothered to question it.” Fun fact: If this were true, every ’90s kid would be a human gum museum.
5. “Humans and dinosaurs hung out.”
   Translation: *”I skipped geology *and* common sense.”* Unless you think the Flintstones was a documentary, let this one go.

Why Facts Alone Won’t Save Us

Here’s the depressing truth: Dumping a pile of evidence on someone’s false belief does nothing. Why? Because beliefs aren’t just about facts—they’re about identity, emotion, and social belonging. You can’t logic someone out of a position they didn’t logic themselves into.

So What’s the Solution?

Good question. Maybe start by not sharing every viral post that feels true. Maybe question why you believe what you believe. Or, you know, just keep yelling into the void. Either way, the circus of human delusion isn’t closing anytime soon. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the show.

TL;DR: People believe dumb things because brains are broken, feelings are loud, and peer pressure is a hell of a drug. Stay skeptical, folks.