I can understand, without approving, someone who refuses to accept the evidence of their senses because their salaries depend on their believing the opposite. This accounts for most ‘journalists’ and politicians. To anyone else who has no such incentive to believe the most outrageous lies, and lacks the capacity to think for themselves, I say “Wanna buy a bridge?”

I could list some of the most outrageous lies that people believe, but I’m puzzled about why western leaders’ believe Netenyahu’s lies but disbelieve him when he explicitly makes statements of genocidal intent! I’ll come to that late.

You’re no doubt aware of the riddle of a walker who comes to a fork in the road where he meets two twin brothers. He’s been informed that one always tells the truth and the other always tell the truth but you don’t know which is which. You ask one of the brothers which direction his brother would advise him to take then take the other path.

Now imagine you come to a fork in the road and the only people from whom to ask directions are Keir Starmer and Donald Trump. I’ld be inclined to go back and look for another route to my destination even if it took longer! I might not get where I want to be, but I certainly won’t if I follow the road that’s laid out for us!

I could create an extensive list of lies that people believe, not you or you wouldn’t be reading this blog, but you can create your own list. We can’t tell people what to believe but it’s incumbent upon us to point out blatant lies! As the Buddha said:

Do not believe anything you’re told, even if is I who have told it, until you have examined the argument for yourself .

But many people are so fixed in their opinions that there’s no arguing with them. The only response is “Wanna buy a bridge?”

Jews who are afraid to go into the centre of London when a pro-Palestine “hate march” is taking place are not responding to any actual threat, they don’t go anywhere near a synagogue and there are plenty of Jews participating in the marches. They’re afraid because they’ve been told they ought to be afraid, not because of any immediate threat such as that experienced daily by Palestinians!

It’s not only in relation to Palestine that people believe blatant misinformation. I’ve just come across an article which suggests that elderly people can be conned into buying a takeaway coffee in the belief that it’s cheaper than boiling the kettle. I’m a pensioner and I know this to be false, it frankly amazed me that anyone who isn’t suffering from dementia would believe it! You can read the article here.

Fuel poverty in Britain has not peaked – and online disinformation is making it worse https://national.thelead.uk/p/fuel-poverty-in-britain-has-not-peaked?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Don’t get me started on the lies told about refugees, I’ve said it all before but, to paraphrase André Gide, those who needed to hear what I had to say weren’t listening and I had to repeat it. I posted this blog in response to someone attacking the RNL for rescuing refugees in the Channel, I didn’t expect him to read it and I was correct!

Lifeboats and Refugees https://thephilosophicalmuse.blog/2025/04/01/lifeboats-and-refugees/

I’m writing this on April Fools Day but wondering who are the real fools. Is it the politicians who take us for fools or those who believe them?

It’s easier to fool people than to convince them they’ve been fooled.

Mark Twain

Sometimes I wonder whether the world is run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it.

Mark Twain

The jury’s out on the last one, but I opt for the latter!