Contradictheory: How lies can become truth

An example of how repeating a lie can get people to accept it is Trump’s mantra that Covid-19 is ‘a little bit like the flu’ earlier in 2020. Thanks to repetition, his supporters were calling the pandemic a hoax as late as August 2020 and refusing to wear masks. — AFP

During my school sports days when I was young, I would look forward to a particular van and its free, icy-cold chocolate drink. It was so delicious that after getting and downing my tiny cup, I would happily rejoin the queue for a second. (And a third, if the drinks hadn’t run out yet – they were popular!)

The fact that that drink was available on sports day, and that the advertising would show kids playing sports, and the motto even touted health benefits would make you believe the drink was a healthy one, good for growing, active children.