How to deal with cynicism when consooming journalism or literature of factLife experience has taught me that people, especially the kind of people who want to be featured in writing, tend to embellish things or wholly make stuff up. Make themselves seem more important than they really are. And of course whatever these people say tends to get relayed onto paper like statements of fact. For example>““‘Don’t be South Vietnam!’” the historian Niall Ferguson mock-shouted to me over a drink after Zelensky’s talk. We were at Hugo’s, the louche, purple-lit lounge across from the Hof where hangers-on and groupies of the conference congregated. Strippers seemed imminent (the venue was not Ferguson’s choice). “That’s what I told Zelensky and his adviser when I met them,” Ferguson said. “I told them, ‘You want to be North Vietnam.’ And they asked, ‘What do you mean we should be North Vietnam?’ and I told them, ‘You want to fight while talking and talk while fighting.’”All the while I'm like. Cool story bro... cuz that sure happened...Picture this. You're a moderately well published writer, historian. You have a drink with a fellow British writer who is way less successful but is writing an article and may feature you in it. You might as well make up complete bullshit to make yourself seem cooler. Cuz how would he ever know, eh?
another example>Despite all its alleged adumbrations of modern horror, Marble Cliffs is nearly the opposite of a dystopian novel. For Jünger, the world of the Marina is shot through with beauty. (When Picasso met Jünger in Paris, he supposedly asked where the writer got his inspiration for the landscape.)that sure happened, junger
>>25166048why are you trying to eliminate your cynicism like it's a weakness? that only implies that it has a hold on you that you can't control so that it leads to other "less impressive" feelings.regardless. the real answer here is to not concern yourself with the lives of other people. what are they to you more than not-you. why get riled over something that is not-you and is not actively threatening your life?don't allow the playground jamboree (that everyone is trying to force) continue
>>25166056>why are you trying to eliminate your cynicism like it's a weakness?well, it's just a hunch, i can't know for sure if these anecdotes are fact or fictionif my hunch is correct, then lord almighty i cannot handle the amount of hackwork i'm readingbut perhaps someone acquainted with the practice of journalism could reassure me as to the rigor and thoroughness of fact-checking so that i can trust it more and view it as hackjobs less
>>25166067i mean. there are geniuses; there are hacks. you're going to encounter both
