Question 8

On p. 79-80 & 87-90 Taleb talks about “The Pull of the Sensational,” which I think ties into his statements about the media (how it actually limits what you know). He gives 3 examples: the Italian toddler, Central park, and motorcycle riding--all of which illustrate how ‘the sensational’ may be used to distract us. If you’ll permit me, I would like to make a reference to Orwell’s 1984 here. In his negative utopia, Orwell describes the elaborate methods of the party to control the minds of the people with telescreens and editing the past to make Big Brother’s predictions correct. Now, years past the real 1984, we see that all of this was completely unnecessary. All the people need is to be distracted. Pull their attention elsewhere. So my question is: Do you think there is a way to overcome this natural instinct (of following narrative/being decoyed)? If so, how have you been able to do this in your lives (with regard to politics, education, health, environment, religion, etc.)?