False Sense of Reality in "True Enough"

Farhad Manjoo’s True Enough exposes the American public’s inability to think objectively, and how biases are subconsciously formed as individuals are fed information from different forms of media.  Now more than ever, Americans are forced to question reality, as theories that seemingly have no factual evidence are accepted.  Individuals with prestigious credentials speak persuasively and others believe them, even though they may be speaking “gobbledygook”.  Manjoo does not provide us with a solution for overcoming the false sense of reality that the media has created; he simply exposes us to the dangers of technology and globalization.  He describes how “no longer are we merely holding opinions different from one another; we’re also holding different facts” (2).  The most that we can do is recognize that this false sense of reality is tearing society apart.  By recognizing how information is constantly mangled to appeal to the biases of certain individuals, we can strive towards living in a society that eliminates making decisions based upon a false sense of reality.

The false sense of reality that is present in American society is heightened by “the burrowing underground of propaganda, the transformation of salesmanship from a flashy, street-corner affair to a quiet, dressed-up sport of cunning and deceit” (201).  Subconsciously, individuals are fed information that they process without even recognizing it.  VNR’s are implanted into newscasts, as advertisers have discovered that people are more likely to remember a product in this medium than in an actual commercial.  This creates an emotional response that appeals to the senses.  We suddenly feel like we need to buy Snickers, for example, as a Halloween snack. 

          Manjoo further exposes us to our vulnerability in accessing reliable sources of information through the Dr. Fox experiment.  In this experiment a comedian said “a whole lot in a style that suggested something of great import but that was actually complete nonsense” (113).  Someone who knew absolutely nothing about a subject could convince listeners that he was an expert on the subject, based on pure humor and personal style.  He managed to fool actual experts in a field, just by talking persuasively.  In fact, “students who were shown lectures that were high in both content and expressiveness reported the most satisfaction with their professor” (116).  As a society, America seemingly appreciates “style over substance” (116).  This certainly highlights our inability to perceive information correctly, and how a false sense of reality affects our ability to make decisions.