There is apparently some subtle self-correcting mechanism at play

But this metaphor holds up a bit too well. It may be that this is better on average. But this possibility would be contingent on information sources having a hivemind-like structure. And this is where the analogy breaks down. Fears that media and politics are manipulating the populous in harmful ways are as old as…
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Candace:
Then I find out before she was with me she had sex with over 20 random guys in like 3 nights and that again had me looking iffy . But still I chose to stay.
(19 December 2016)

Candace:
But since she lied I felt betrayed and hurt but I stuck around.
(19 December 2016)

Candace:
Me and my girlfriend have been dating for 3 years and the first month as great but then I found out she was still hanging out with her ex that became a huge terrible problem for me I had to beg her to leave her ex alone.
(19 December 2016)

Gail:
Why is he leading me on?
(19 December 2016)

Gail:
Or do you think he is interested and im just expecting too much?
(19 December 2016)

Gail:
I'd rather him just reject me flat out.
(19 December 2016)

Gail:
Im just super confused as to why he's leading me on like this.
(19 December 2016)

Gail:
I'm not going to reach out to him again, it's time for him to make some effort.
(19 December 2016)

Gail:
Then he continued the conversation for a little, (not even acknowledging the fact that he ghosted me for the past two weeks.) Then the conversation fell dead before we could even plan a date and a time.
(19 December 2016)

Gail:
I asked him to get coffee sometime soon and to my surprise he enthusiastically agreed.
(19 December 2016)