When 'FAFO' Meets 'Trust the Vibes': A Humorous Deep Dive into the Illusory Truth Effect.
Stay Safe, Be Careful, Do No Symbols Too Seriously.
Ever heard the phrase "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes"? Or its more succinct cousin, "FAFO" (F--- Around and Find Out)? Turns out, humanity might be playing the grandest stupid game of all, and the prize is a collective case of the Illusory Truth Effect.
In plain English, the illusory truth effect is our charming tendency to believe something is true just because we've heard it a bunch of times. Doesn't matter if it's utter hogwash; if it's been reiterated enough, our brains go, "Oh, this feels familiar. Must be legit!" It’s like hearing a bad song on repeat until you start humming it ironically, then genuinely. Except with "truth." And sometimes, the truth we're humming is... well, let's just say it's more "Screaming Man in a Tin Foil Hat" than "Universal Harmony."
This, my friends, is manufactured madness. It’s the ultimate "controlled opposition" if you think about it – because who needs external control when our own minds are so perfectly primed to self-dupe?
Let's look at two fascinating, seemingly disparate "sides of the same coin" in this grand illusion.
Side A: The Mystical Mumbo Jumbo & Symbolism Saga
Walk into certain corners of the internet, and you'll quickly be immersed in a world where "sigil magic," "Aleister Crowley," and "witchcraft" aren't just fantasy tropes, but active forces. This narrative suggests that symbols, repeated imagery, and "dark aesthetics" are being wielded to influence minds, often without us even knowing it.
Take the enigmatic Michelle Lamy and Rick Owens, whose very presence exudes a certain mystique (The Story of Michelle Lamy & Rick Owens Exposing Dark Truth Mystique & Dark Aesthetics, Who Is Rick Owens’ Wife, Michèle Lamy?). Is their carefully curated image a form of subconscious programming? Are we being subtly influenced by their avant-garde "vibes"? And then there’s the whole Jay-Z and Marina Abramović connection. Suddenly, the art world's performance queen becomes a "known witch" in certain circles (Finally a Witch speaks on Jay z & Marina Abramović!, Jay-Z's BIZARRE Relationship w/ KNOWN WITCH Marina Abramovic (...they've lost their minds), Micro soft Ad Features 'Spirit Cooking' Witch Marina Abramovic). Never mind that Abramović's actual work often explores vulnerability and connection (An Art Made of Trust, Vulnerability and Connection | Marina Abramović | TED Talks). The repeated narrative of "witchcraft" and "spirit cooking" begins to stick.
And then there's the crown. Ah, the crown. Jean-Michel Basquiat’s iconic crown motif is everywhere, from high art to hoodies. Its meaning, as explored by countless critics, ranges from the artist himself as king, to his association with other "kings," to pure ambition (What’s the Meaning of Basquiat’s Crown Motif?, Jean-Michel Basquiat Wikipedia).
Yet, this very symbol of royalty gets co-opted. Think about it: a logo resembling Basquiat's crown shows up on "No Kings" material. It's a crown for "no kings." A contradiction wrapped in an enigma, plastered across a map of America with dots representing... well, we're not entirely sure, but there are a lot of them. Is this a subtle nod to the overthrow of traditional power, or just clever branding playing on recognizable imagery? And then there's the recent brouhaha around Sean "P Diddy" Combs, who famously sports a crown tattoo, now linked to conspiracy theories and even the idea of a possible pardon from Donald Trump (Diddy's arrest and the symbolism behind his tattoo, Donald Trump possible pardon of Sean Combs). The crown, an ancient symbol of power, now caught in a modern-day web of celebrity, legal woes, and speculation. The repetition of these associations, whether true or not, solidifies a particular "truth" in the minds of those who consume it.
Side B: The Spiritual Warfare & Demonic Drama
Shift gears, and you'll find another fervent narrative: that we are in constant "spiritual warfare." Forget flesh and blood; we're wrestling with "principalities and powers" (For we wrestle not against flesh (EPHESIANS 6:12), we wrestle not.. with flesh and blood but Principalities and power).
This side of the coin often features preachers like Kenneth Copeland, defending lavish lifestyles with biblical justifications (Full Interview: Preacher Kenneth Copeland Defends Lavish Lifestyle). The sheer audacity, repeated often enough, becomes an accepted reality for followers. Then there's Pastor Greg Locke, who's found a rather specific, perhaps even demon-whispered, truth: there are witches in his church (Lunatic Pastor Says There Are 6 Witches in His Church, Tennessee preacher Greg Locke says demons told him names of witches in his church Rant, Preacher vs Witches | Greg Locke's Witch Conspiracies). The consistent assertion of these invisible battles and hidden enemies, no matter how outlandish, can become profoundly "true" to those repeatedly exposed to it.
It's a curious intersection where far-right movements and certain conspiracy theories sometimes meet, creating a potent blend of perceived threats and righteous indignation. The "truth" here is not just an idea; it's a call to arms against unseen forces.
The Absurd, Ironic Middle Ground
So, what do we do when "truth" is apparently a function of repetition, whether it's about secret societies or church witches?
Perhaps the greatest truth-teller of our time, George Carlin, had it right. He warned us about "stupid people" (George Carlin - Stupid people) and famously remarked that "symbol-minded people" are everywhere, ready to assign deep meaning to everything (Symbol Minded People George Carlin). He also had a pretty solid take on conspiracies (George Carlin on Conspiracies): they're often just messy human screw-ups, not grand, orchestrated plans by shadowy figures. It's far funnier, and probably closer to the truth, to assume incompetence over elaborate malevolence.
And finally, let's turn to the late, great Bill Hicks. He summed up this whole wild existence perfectly: "It's just a ride" (It's Just A Ride - Bill Hicks). And on this ride, we have a fundamental choice: "a choice between fear and love."
Conclusion: Stay Safe, Be Careful, Do No Symbols Too Seriously
The illusory truth effect is a powerful, often unnoticed, force shaping our collective reality. It means that the more you hear something, no matter how nonsensical, the more likely you are to believe it. This mechanism can be, and arguably is, exploited to create "manufactured madness," whether for profit, power, or just plain attention.
So, for peace sake and humanity, let's learn from this. When confronted with repeated claims, especially those that feel a bit too convenient or too sensational, pause. Ask yourself: "Am I believing this because it's true, or because I've just heard it a hundred times?"
Embrace the FAFO mantra for your own critical thinking: "Fuck around" with uncritically accepting repeated narratives, and you will "find out" you've been duped. It’s better to be the person who questions than the one who plays stupid games.
Stay safe, be careful, and please, for the love of all that is sane, do not take any symbols too seriously. It’s just a ride, after all. Let's make it one driven by love, not by illusions.
//Peace