[Applause] what if I told you that emotions and
what if I told you that emotions and
what if I told you that emotions and resonance plays more influential part in
resonance plays more influential part in
resonance plays more influential part in making decisions as opposed to the part
making decisions as opposed to the part
making decisions as opposed to the part that factual details will play and no
that factual details will play and no
that factual details will play and no I’m not just talking about trivial
I’m not just talking about trivial
I’m not just talking about trivial decisions I’m not just talking about our
decisions I’m not just talking about our
decisions I’m not just talking about our day to day lives but I’m also talking
day to day lives but I’m also talking
day to day lives but I’m also talking about the decisions that would go on to
about the decisions that would go on to
about the decisions that would go on to affect subculture societies and Nations
affect subculture societies and Nations
affect subculture societies and Nations in their entirety by show of hands how
in their entirety by show of hands how
in their entirety by show of hands how many of you would believe me when I say
many of you would believe me when I say
many of you would believe me when I say that emotions do play a bigger part than
that emotions do play a bigger part than
that emotions do play a bigger part than facts well for those of you who do
facts well for those of you who do
facts well for those of you who do believe me I believe me too
believe me I believe me too
believe me I believe me too but what’s interesting is why this is so
but what’s interesting is why this is so
but what’s interesting is why this is so believable why this makes so much a
believable why this makes so much a
believable why this makes so much a sense and why is it that we’re finally
sense and why is it that we’re finally
sense and why is it that we’re finally waking up to this post truth error
waking up to this post truth error
waking up to this post truth error despite it being prevalent in nations
despite it being prevalent in nations
despite it being prevalent in nations and societies long before we even began
and societies long before we even began
and societies long before we even began to think of its existence now before I
to think of its existence now before I
to think of its existence now before I leave the stage tonight my goal is to
leave the stage tonight my goal is to
leave the stage tonight my goal is to introduce to you the audience a new way
introduce to you the audience a new way
introduce to you the audience a new way to approach political rhetoric
to approach political rhetoric
to approach political rhetoric especially when it’s false so how do we
especially when it’s false so how do we
especially when it’s false so how do we wake up to this post truth era what is
wake up to this post truth era what is
wake up to this post truth era what is post truth relating to or denoting
post truth relating to or denoting
post truth relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts
circumstances in which objective facts
circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public
are less influential in shaping public
are less influential in shaping public opinion then appeals to emotion and
opinion then appeals to emotion and
opinion then appeals to emotion and personal beliefs now this is the
personal beliefs now this is the
personal beliefs now this is the definition that the oxford english
definition that the oxford english
definition that the oxford english dictionary gave us when the word post
dictionary gave us when the word post
dictionary gave us when the word post truth was named 2016’s word of the year
truth was named 2016’s word of the year
truth was named 2016’s word of the year now I understand that this might still
now I understand that this might still
now I understand that this might still be a little difficult to comprehend so
be a little difficult to comprehend so
be a little difficult to comprehend so let’s put this in simpler terms in his
let’s put this in simpler terms in his
let’s put this in simpler terms in his book the post truth era author Ralph
book the post truth era author Ralph
book the post truth era author Ralph Keyes went on to further simplify this
Keyes went on to further simplify this
Keyes went on to further simplify this concept of post truth by saying that it
concept of post truth by saying that it
concept of post truth by saying that it is to be economical with the truth it is
is to be economical with the truth it is
is to be economical with the truth it is to sweeten the truth and it is to tell
to sweeten the truth and it is to tell
to sweeten the truth and it is to tell the truth improved
the truth improved
the truth improved now before I continue I’d be remiss if I
now before I continue I’d be remiss if I
now before I continue I’d be remiss if I don’t take the time to mention my
don’t take the time to mention my
don’t take the time to mention my perspective and mention why my
perspective and mention why my
perspective and mention why my perception is shaped the way it is where
perception is shaped the way it is where
perception is shaped the way it is where I’m from the humble little island of Sri
I’m from the humble little island of Sri
I’m from the humble little island of Sri Lanka we are still as a nation and as an
Lanka we are still as a nation and as an
Lanka we are still as a nation and as an economy rising from the ashes of a
economy rising from the ashes of a
economy rising from the ashes of a disastrous civil war that lasted the
disastrous civil war that lasted the
disastrous civil war that lasted the better part of thirty years where I’m
better part of thirty years where I’m
better part of thirty years where I’m from political rhetoric has gone on to
from political rhetoric has gone on to
from political rhetoric has gone on to shape the mindsets of the people of Sri
shape the mindsets of the people of Sri
shape the mindsets of the people of Sri Lanka having been born and raised in Sri
Lanka having been born and raised in Sri
Lanka having been born and raised in Sri Lanka having lived nearly 21 years of my
Lanka having lived nearly 21 years of my
Lanka having lived nearly 21 years of my life in Sri Lanka
life in Sri Lanka
life in Sri Lanka I found myself developing an interest
I found myself developing an interest
I found myself developing an interest towards political rhetoric especially
towards political rhetoric especially
towards political rhetoric especially the emotional aspect of it this is why
the emotional aspect of it this is why
the emotional aspect of it this is why I’m here today talking to you about post
I’m here today talking to you about post
I’m here today talking to you about post truth and its emotional aspects so let’s
truth and its emotional aspects so let’s
truth and its emotional aspects so let’s get back let’s take a little deeper into
get back let’s take a little deeper into
get back let’s take a little deeper into the history of post truth the post
the history of post truth the post
the history of post truth the post modernism era and the late 1980s is when
modernism era and the late 1980s is when
modernism era and the late 1980s is when this concept first came about due to the
this concept first came about due to the
this concept first came about due to the general level of distrust of theories
general level of distrust of theories
general level of distrust of theories and ideologies that the post modernism
and ideologies that the post modernism
and ideologies that the post modernism brought along with it but it wasn’t
brought along with it but it wasn’t
brought along with it but it wasn’t until 1992 that the term post truth
until 1992 that the term post truth
until 1992 that the term post truth itself was used in a public context
itself was used in a public context
itself was used in a public context where a serbian-american author went on
where a serbian-american author went on
where a serbian-american author went on to claim that we as a free people have
to claim that we as a free people have
to claim that we as a free people have freely decided to live in some post
freely decided to live in some post
freely decided to live in some post truth world now this was when he was
truth world now this was when he was
truth world now this was when he was referring to the iran-contra scandal and
referring to the iran-contra scandal and
referring to the iran-contra scandal and Persian Gulf War which I won’t be
Persian Gulf War which I won’t be
Persian Gulf War which I won’t be getting into in the interest of time but
getting into in the interest of time but
getting into in the interest of time but following this the United States saw its
following this the United States saw its
following this the United States saw its politics
politics
politics transform itself into what was commonly
transform itself into what was commonly
transform itself into what was commonly known back then as show business for
known back then as show business for
known back then as show business for ugglys governments became less about the
ugglys governments became less about the
ugglys governments became less about the objective truth and more about the
objective truth and more about the
objective truth and more about the subjective truths always plural easily
subjective truths always plural easily
subjective truths always plural easily personalised and frequently relativized
personalised and frequently relativized
personalised and frequently relativized now with the rise in post truth in our
now with the rise in post truth in our
now with the rise in post truth in our society
society
society if we go on to juxtapose the usage of
if we go on to juxtapose the usage of
if we go on to juxtapose the usage of this term post truth in 2015 and 2016
this term post truth in 2015 and 2016
this term post truth in 2015 and 2016 we’d see a staggering increase of two
we’d see a staggering increase of two
we’d see a staggering increase of two thousand percent so what could have
thousand percent so what could have
thousand percent so what could have possibly happened in just two years 2015
possibly happened in just two years 2015
possibly happened in just two years 2015 and 2016 paved the way for the two
and 2016 paved the way for the two
and 2016 paved the way for the two events that went on to reinforce the
events that went on to reinforce the
events that went on to reinforce the existence of post growth in our society
existence of post growth in our society
existence of post growth in our society the first of which was brexit now I’m
the first of which was brexit now I’m
the first of which was brexit now I’m fairly certain all of us here know what
fairly certain all of us here know what
fairly certain all of us here know what brexit is but very briefly this was when
brexit is but very briefly this was when
brexit is but very briefly this was when Britain decided to exit the European
Britain decided to exit the European
Britain decided to exit the European Union after over 40 years of being a
Union after over 40 years of being a
Union after over 40 years of being a member state of this customs union now I
member state of this customs union now I
member state of this customs union now I understand that the reasons to leave or
understand that the reasons to leave or
understand that the reasons to leave or remain in the EU are still up for debate
remain in the EU are still up for debate
remain in the EU are still up for debate but let’s take a look at what exactly
but let’s take a look at what exactly
but let’s take a look at what exactly happened here why would the people have
happened here why would the people have
happened here why would the people have voted to leave the EU what exactly was
voted to leave the EU what exactly was
voted to leave the EU what exactly was the political rhetoric that was used by
the political rhetoric that was used by
the political rhetoric that was used by the people of power at the time Nigel
the people of power at the time Nigel
the people of power at the time Nigel Farage the leader of the lead campaign
Farage the leader of the lead campaign
Farage the leader of the lead campaign identified the unquestionable importance
identified the unquestionable importance
identified the unquestionable importance of appealing to the emotional side of
of appealing to the emotional side of
of appealing to the emotional side of the people and so he and his campaign
the people and so he and his campaign
the people and so he and his campaign came up with this leaving the EU would
came up with this leaving the EU would
came up with this leaving the EU would save the UK 350 million pounds a week
save the UK 350 million pounds a week
save the UK 350 million pounds a week let’s use this to fund the NHS our
let’s use this to fund the NHS our
let’s use this to fund the NHS our national health services we can build
national health services we can build
national health services we can build more hospitals now I for one wouldn’t
more hospitals now I for one wouldn’t
more hospitals now I for one wouldn’t want my country to be involved in some
want my country to be involved in some
want my country to be involved in some sort of a trade deal where we’d be
sort of a trade deal where we’d be
sort of a trade deal where we’d be losing this much of money on a weekly
losing this much of money on a weekly
losing this much of money on a weekly basis it just doesn’t make sense but
basis it just doesn’t make sense but
basis it just doesn’t make sense but what we need to know about brexit is
what we need to know about brexit is
what we need to know about brexit is that Nigel Faraj and his campaign
that Nigel Faraj and his campaign
that Nigel Faraj and his campaign dropped this claim as soon as the leave
dropped this claim as soon as the leave
dropped this claim as soon as the leave remained vote concluded he went on to
remained vote concluded he went on to
remained vote concluded he went on to say that he had never made this claim he
say that he had never made this claim he
say that he had never made this claim he also went on to say that if this claim
also went on to say that if this claim
also went on to say that if this claim had gotten out it was a mistake on the
had gotten out it was a mistake on the
had gotten out it was a mistake on the leave campaign spot
leave campaign spot
leave campaign spot so yes the very reason that people would
so yes the very reason that people would
so yes the very reason that people would have voted to leave the EU was never a
have voted to leave the EU was never a
have voted to leave the EU was never a reason to begin with
reason to begin with
reason to begin with that’s line number one and that’s not
that’s line number one and that’s not
that’s line number one and that’s not all
all
all if sauce mori is one of the one of the
if sauce mori is one of the one of the
if sauce mori is one of the one of the UK’s leading research agencies and
UK’s leading research agencies and
UK’s leading research agencies and according to their researchers this
according to their researchers this
according to their researchers this figure of three hundred and fifty
figure of three hundred and fifty
figure of three hundred and fifty million pounds a week was false to begin
million pounds a week was false to begin
million pounds a week was false to begin with it conveniently excluded the
with it conveniently excluded the
with it conveniently excluded the millions of pounds of support that the
millions of pounds of support that the
millions of pounds of support that the European Union provided the UK with for
European Union provided the UK with for
European Union provided the UK with for their educational sectors for the
their educational sectors for the
their educational sectors for the agricultural sectors and various other
agricultural sectors and various other
agricultural sectors and various other sectors so yes the very crux of this
sectors so yes the very crux of this
sectors so yes the very crux of this claim was forced to begin with
claim was forced to begin with
claim was forced to begin with so that’s lie number two so what do we
so that’s lie number two so what do we
so that’s lie number two so what do we know about these two lies did it work
know about these two lies did it work
know about these two lies did it work did it pay off now of course we know
did it pay off now of course we know
did it pay off now of course we know that it paid off because we know of the
that it paid off because we know of the
that it paid off because we know of the phenomenon that is a brexit the leave
phenomenon that is a brexit the leave
phenomenon that is a brexit the leave campaign ended up winning the vote 52%
campaign ended up winning the vote 52%
campaign ended up winning the vote 52% to 48% but this in itself doesn’t really
to 48% but this in itself doesn’t really
to 48% but this in itself doesn’t really tell us much about the post truth aspect
tell us much about the post truth aspect
tell us much about the post truth aspect of this vote but this does 47% 47% of
of this vote but this does 47% 47% of
of this vote but this does 47% 47% of all voters who voted 47% of all voters
all voters who voted 47% of all voters
all voters who voted 47% of all voters who walked into those polling booths
who walked into those polling booths
who walked into those polling booths believed the lead campaigns claimed and
believed the lead campaigns claimed and
believed the lead campaigns claimed and the numbers to be true now this tells us
the numbers to be true now this tells us
the numbers to be true now this tells us exactly how effective these claims were
exactly how effective these claims were
exactly how effective these claims were so what happened here the people the
so what happened here the people the
so what happened here the people the citizens had an emotional response they
citizens had an emotional response they
citizens had an emotional response they acted on it they didn’t follow up they
acted on it they didn’t follow up they
acted on it they didn’t follow up they got caught up in the lies they got
got caught up in the lies they got
got caught up in the lies they got caught up in the rhetoric and the next
caught up in the rhetoric and the next
caught up in the rhetoric and the next thing you know they weren’t a member
thing you know they weren’t a member
thing you know they weren’t a member state of the
state of the
state of the anymore now that escalated pretty fast
anymore now that escalated pretty fast
anymore now that escalated pretty fast if you ask me so let’s move into the
if you ask me so let’s move into the
if you ask me so let’s move into the second event the event that had post
second event the event that had post
second event the event that had post truth written all over it from start to
truth written all over it from start to
truth written all over it from start to finish the 2016 US presidential election
the fact-checking site PolitiFact deemed
the fact-checking site PolitiFact deemed 33 of Hillary Clinton’s 263 fact check
33 of Hillary Clinton’s 263 fact check
33 of Hillary Clinton’s 263 fact check statements to be false or pence on file
statements to be false or pence on file
statements to be false or pence on file now a pants on fire statement refers to
now a pants on fire statement refers to
now a pants on fire statement refers to a statement that is worse than a false
a statement that is worse than a false
a statement that is worse than a false statement and absolutely false statement
statement and absolutely false statement
statement and absolutely false statement in the same way PolitiFact deemed 144 of
in the same way PolitiFact deemed 144 of
in the same way PolitiFact deemed 144 of donald trump’s 274 fact check statements
donald trump’s 274 fact check statements
donald trump’s 274 fact check statements to be false or pants on fire now looking
to be false or pants on fire now looking
to be false or pants on fire now looking at this to me it just seems like we had
at this to me it just seems like we had
at this to me it just seems like we had two blatant Liars running for presidency
terrorism and terrorist attacks in the
terrorism and terrorist attacks in the United States and Europe have gotten to
United States and Europe have gotten to
United States and Europe have gotten to a point where they’re not even being
a point where they’re not even being
a point where they’re not even being reported I am the only candidate who ran
reported I am the only candidate who ran
reported I am the only candidate who ran in either primary who said I will not
in either primary who said I will not
in either primary who said I will not raise taxes on the middle class now as
raise taxes on the middle class now as
raise taxes on the middle class now as you may have already guessed it wasn’t
you may have already guessed it wasn’t
you may have already guessed it wasn’t entirely difficult for me to find these
entirely difficult for me to find these
entirely difficult for me to find these two examples but who said what the dates
two examples but who said what the dates
two examples but who said what the dates should give you a bit of a clue but
should give you a bit of a clue but
should give you a bit of a clue but there you go now I’m not going to say
there you go now I’m not going to say
there you go now I’m not going to say anything more about these two statements
anything more about these two statements
anything more about these two statements instead let’s see what PolitiFact
instead let’s see what PolitiFact
instead let’s see what PolitiFact had to say about them
now I know by now that I don’t need to
now I know by now that I don’t need to explain why these lies and so many of
explain why these lies and so many of
explain why these lies and so many of the other lies were said right
the other lies were said right
the other lies were said right throughout the campaign it was to appeal
throughout the campaign it was to appeal
throughout the campaign it was to appeal emotionally to the voters it was to sway
emotionally to the voters it was to sway
emotionally to the voters it was to sway their perception the very same voters
their perception the very same voters
their perception the very same voters who would have believed close to
who would have believed close to
who would have believed close to anything that either one of the
anything that either one of the
anything that either one of the candidates would have gone on to see but
candidates would have gone on to see but
candidates would have gone on to see but this election was interesting because
this election was interesting because
this election was interesting because there was more than just two candidates
there was more than just two candidates
there was more than just two candidates trying to bend the truth to their favor
trying to bend the truth to their favor
trying to bend the truth to their favor there was also an alarming number of
there was also an alarming number of
there was also an alarming number of inaccurate news Hillary Clinton is
inaccurate news Hillary Clinton is
inaccurate news Hillary Clinton is running a child sex ring out of a pizza
running a child sex ring out of a pizza
running a child sex ring out of a pizza shop Democrats want to impose Islamic
shop Democrats want to impose Islamic
shop Democrats want to impose Islamic law in Florida thousands of people at a
law in Florida thousands of people at a
law in Florida thousands of people at a Donald Trump rally in Manhattan chanted
Donald Trump rally in Manhattan chanted
Donald Trump rally in Manhattan chanted we hate Muslims we hate blacks we want
we hate Muslims we hate blacks we want
we hate Muslims we hate blacks we want so a great country back and so I’m gonna
so a great country back and so I’m gonna
so a great country back and so I’m gonna say it one more time
say it one more time
say it one more time we hate Muslims we hate blacks we want
we hate Muslims we hate blacks we want
we hate Muslims we hate blacks we want our great country back very very catchy
our great country back very very catchy
our great country back very very catchy also very very untrue in fact none of
also very very untrue in fact none of
also very very untrue in fact none of these three news items ever happened
these three news items ever happened
these three news items ever happened anywhere in the United States the one
anywhere in the United States the one
anywhere in the United States the one thing that we need to acknowledge is
thing that we need to acknowledge is
thing that we need to acknowledge is that technology and its advancement has
that technology and its advancement has
that technology and its advancement has always been a part and parcel of the
always been a part and parcel of the
always been a part and parcel of the rise in this concept of post truth in
rise in this concept of post truth in
rise in this concept of post truth in our society technology or more
our society technology or more
our society technology or more specifically the Internet is the primary
specifically the Internet is the primary
specifically the Internet is the primary method by which inaccurate news gets
method by which inaccurate news gets
method by which inaccurate news gets disseminated so how do we protect
disseminated so how do we protect
disseminated so how do we protect ourselves from post truth or most
ourselves from post truth or most
ourselves from post truth or most specifically inaccurate news now I admit
specifically inaccurate news now I admit
specifically inaccurate news now I admit it I love Facebook I love it I won’t lie
it I love Facebook I love it I won’t lie
it I love Facebook I love it I won’t lie but I love it for the right reasons in
but I love it for the right reasons in
but I love it for the right reasons in 2004 when Mark Zuckerberg and his
2004 when Mark Zuckerberg and his
2004 when Mark Zuckerberg and his colleagues first launched Facebook they
colleagues first launched Facebook they
colleagues first launched Facebook they named it a social networking site they
named it a social networking site they
named it a social networking site they never named
never named
never named News Agency they never named it a new
News Agency they never named it a new
News Agency they never named it a new source and news website or anything of
source and news website or anything of
source and news website or anything of the sort
the sort
the sort unfortunately that is how a majority of
unfortunately that is how a majority of
unfortunately that is how a majority of the people in our society today are
the people in our society today are
the people in our society today are using Facebook and so many of the other
using Facebook and so many of the other
using Facebook and so many of the other social networking sites this is how we
social networking sites this is how we
social networking sites this is how we allow ourselves to be susceptible to
allow ourselves to be susceptible to
allow ourselves to be susceptible to post truth and inaccurate news now I
post truth and inaccurate news now I
post truth and inaccurate news now I want to share something with you that I
want to share something with you that I
want to share something with you that I use on a day to day basis
use on a day to day basis
use on a day to day basis this is fib it is a google chrome
this is fib it is a google chrome
this is fib it is a google chrome plug-in developed by for christian
plug-in developed by for christian
plug-in developed by for christian graduates and it detects inaccurate news
graduates and it detects inaccurate news
graduates and it detects inaccurate news on facebook very effective the
on facebook very effective the
on facebook very effective the advancement of technology has also
advancement of technology has also
advancement of technology has also provided us with an abundance of methods
provided us with an abundance of methods
provided us with an abundance of methods for us to protect ourselves from post
for us to protect ourselves from post
for us to protect ourselves from post truth and inaccurate news fib just being
truth and inaccurate news fib just being
truth and inaccurate news fib just being one of them now the technology aside
one of them now the technology aside
one of them now the technology aside what we need to know is that post truth
what we need to know is that post truth
what we need to know is that post truth in itself is a deep cultural mutation
in itself is a deep cultural mutation
in itself is a deep cultural mutation that we need to better understand if we
that we need to better understand if we
that we need to better understand if we want to avoid the horrible specters of
want to avoid the horrible specters of
want to avoid the horrible specters of the past the horrible specters including
the past the horrible specters including
the past the horrible specters including the likes of brexit and the 2016 US
the likes of brexit and the 2016 US
the likes of brexit and the 2016 US presidential election as global citizens
presidential election as global citizens
presidential election as global citizens we must always be aware and always
we must always be aware and always
we must always be aware and always follow up regardless of what emotions
follow up regardless of what emotions
follow up regardless of what emotions may be invoked after all keeping in line
may be invoked after all keeping in line
may be invoked after all keeping in line with this year’s theme where is the
with this year’s theme where is the
with this year’s theme where is the disruption if we allow ourselves to be
disruption if we allow ourselves to be
disruption if we allow ourselves to be susceptible to false political rhetoric
susceptible to false political rhetoric
susceptible to false political rhetoric where is the disruption if we let
where is the disruption if we let
where is the disruption if we let ourselves be gullible to false facts
ourselves be gullible to false facts
ourselves be gullible to false facts where is the disruption if you’ve
where is the disruption if you’ve
where is the disruption if you’ve believed every single word I’ve said up
believed every single word I’ve said up
believed every single word I’ve said up until this point and you’re not gonna
until this point and you’re not gonna
until this point and you’re not gonna follow it up for yourselves now I’d like
follow it up for yourselves now I’d like
follow it up for yourselves now I’d like to tie this back to where I’m from while
to tie this back to where I’m from while
to tie this back to where I’m from while it has been an absolute honor standing
it has been an absolute honor standing
it has been an absolute honor standing here in front of you
here in front of you
here in front of you representing my country sharing my
representing my country sharing my
representing my country sharing my research through a bilateral platform
research through a bilateral platform
research through a bilateral platform like TEDx sometimes my mind wanders I
like TEDx sometimes my mind wanders I
like TEDx sometimes my mind wanders I think about what Sri Lanka as the
think about what Sri Lanka as the
think about what Sri Lanka as the country could have avoided if we were
country could have avoided if we were
country could have avoided if we were able to travel back in time say 40 or 50
able to travel back in time say 40 or 50
able to travel back in time say 40 or 50 years I think about what we could have
years I think about what we could have
years I think about what we could have avoided as a country if we had never
avoided as a country if we had never
avoided as a country if we had never left the minorities in Sri Lanka be
left the minorities in Sri Lanka be
left the minorities in Sri Lanka be oppressed if we had never left political
oppressed if we had never left political
oppressed if we had never left political rhetoric made the decisions for the
rhetoric made the decisions for the
rhetoric made the decisions for the people of Sri Lanka who knows what might
people of Sri Lanka who knows what might
people of Sri Lanka who knows what might have changed maybe just maybe this
have changed maybe just maybe this
have changed maybe just maybe this picture you’re looking at right now
picture you’re looking at right now
picture you’re looking at right now would never have existed thank you
would never have existed thank you
would never have existed thank you [Applause]
”
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