Despite what many people may think, The topic of truth and lies is quite complex and complicated. There is no single truth since there can be many of different types or kinds: philosophical truth, scientific truth or personal truth. Regarding the degree of validity of a truth, such degree depends largely on the type of truth in question. In this way there is not much distance between an unproven truth and a specific lie. This is largely due to the fact that there are times when a lie comes to comfort and the truth comes to worry.
At this point it is important to respond to the famous phrase: “A lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth.” In the following article we talk to you about the relationship that exists between power and lies and what effects repeating a lie has on society.
The relationship between power and lies
The famous phrase: “A lie repeated a thousand times becomes a truth”, is attributed to Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler's campaign manager in the middle of World War II. As the years went by, this phrase became more popular and was copied by many of the planet's leaders. Powerful people used lies as a means of manipulating other people's minds and being able to get them to do things that would otherwise be impossible for them to do.
In this way there is no doubt that there is a direct relationship between power and lies. Society and the population were capable of believing anything always and when it was presented in an appropriate way. It was enough to exercise strong control over the media and over certain institutions or entities that transmitted a certain ideology or beliefs, such as the church or school. In this way, a truth was built based on many lies.
The repetition of the lie
Lies repeated over and over again will generate quite deep beliefs. At first the brain is dislocated and unbalanced, but with repetition over and over again, He ends up accepting it. It's the same thing that happens when a family moves to a new house. At first it is difficult to get used to the new environment, but with the passage of time and routine, the family ends up getting used to the new house.
In the case of lies, the mind adapts little by little to them to end up incorporating them into their field or scope. It is therefore not trivial that there is a direct relationship between power and the media. That is why until a few years ago, in the vast majority of countries, it was the power groups that controlled these media. However, due to the boom that social networks have represented throughout the planet, numerous independent voices have emerged that question the monopoly of the media by powerful people.
However, it has been found that these independent voices They have also created their own lies. Therefore, it does not matter what type of media transmits the information, but rather the intention of the sender to tell a lie or the truth.
The danger of rumors
On certain occasions, it is not necessary to repeat a lie a thousand times to create a truth. With a single rumor you can convey the beloved truth. The rumor is nothing else than a distortion of what is real or what is true. This is ambiguous information that can deceive the recipient of the information.
The power of rumor is quite important and can be devastating in every way. It is enough to invent a little information about a person or a certain entity and Let it circulate through as many people as possible. In a short time and faster than normal, there will be many people who will come to believe the information despite not having any type of evidence.
In the case of rumors, their power will not lie in the information provided, but in the fact of creating many doubts around a person. Rumor is successful for several causes or reasons: the need that human beings have to transmit what they consider important or because of the curiosity that comes from communicating certain information that is important and shocking. However, it is advisable to have certainty and security before releasing certain information.
The role of ethics and responsibility in today's society
When it comes to fighting the spread of lies, the responsibility of the media and their ethics They have a key as well as fundamental role. Continuously repeating false and unverified information completely distorts reality and completely erodes any trust there may be in the media itself.
That is why said media and the professionals who work in them have, in any case, the responsibility of verifying the information before sharing it or broadcasting it and making it known to the public. Otherwise, damage may be quite important at the same time as really devastating.
In short, the famous and popular phrase: "A lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth" It has persisted throughout history as an expression that will highlight the capacity of repetition as a means of influencing public opinion. Attributed to the Nazi politician Joseph Goebbels, this phrase will raise questions about the origin of truth, propaganda, the media and the impact that repeated lies can have within society.