The Thing About Fake People
In a vast world, human beings have an inherited desire to be social. It goes without saying that we are social beings. During our self-development, especially throughout our earlier years, we want others to be accepting of us. We want to be able to rely on them. However, we must not be so naive. We must not fail to acknowledge that there are others who desire to take from us. To take advantage of and eliminate those they deem as unintelligent or psychologically weak. To hurt those who they fear.
Sincerity is a coveted virtue. Most people want friends and romantic partners who they feel that they can trust. However, in a society dominated by the internet, and especially social media, that can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Scammers and con-artists exist at all levels of society and can be closer to home then you would typically imagine. “Frenemies”, and resentful family members or spouses, are synonymous with domestic disputes which characterize our human relationships. Ingenuity has always been a human flaw, but in a world where the population is encouraged to communicate through more contemporary means, that flaw is significantly magnified.
Artificial Intelligence is a highly advanced technology that has the capacity to dramatically alter our perception of reality. Such a tool must be handled wisely and responsibly. However, such expectations are unreasonable at best. Aside from being a thorn in the side for the masses, AI poses a major national and international threat to organizations, businesses, and governments worldwide. Corrupt leadership, based at the top of political and corporate hierarchies, will only increase AI’s potential to create havoc within both the domestic and foreign spheres.
The thing about the fakeness of humanity is that nothing can be done to permanently address the issue. It’s a key element of the human condition. It is a preferred way of conducting business and gaining a greater following, both professionally and unprofessionally. Politicians build successful careers from it, and media profits from deceptive propaganda. Many fear that there is a personal liability in making the decision to be honest. That being real is dangerous.
Ultimately, I believe that fake people are doing what they feel is in their best interests. Whether that turns out to be self-beneficial in practice is debatable. What is abundantly evident is that their intentions are not ethical. But do we truly value ethics in our society? Don’t we actually live in a culture polluted by toxicity? Where toxic behavior is rewarded.
Our political universe is dominated by characters who strategically utilize falsities as a means to pick up more votes and maintain a competitive edge over their political rivals. As a contemporary model, Trumpism is one of the most obvious examples of this phenomenon. However, in a world also dominated by social media, basic human interactions have beared the brunt of this fog of fakeness that humanity is struggling mightily to navigate through.
Our human interactions are being undermined by fear. We fear how others might perceive us. We fear the repercussions of being forthcoming and even vulnerable. Our fears are controlling our decisions and limiting the potential of our relationships. I understand that we have passed the point of no return with technology. Artificial Intelligence and social media are here to stay. However, if we at least tried harder to resist being controlled by our fears and insecurities, then perhaps we can create a culture that is genuine, but not naive. One in which people ultimately feel more comfortable being themselves.
Humans aren’t going to be perfect. We’re going to lie and attempt to deceive. It’s in our DNA. However, I believe that we can collectively give more of a concentrated effort to be reasonably sincere individuals. Those of us who are capable should not go out of their way to mislead another person who might not only be sincere, but who might also be naive. One who possesses the strength and inner security needed in order to be sincere. We seem to forget at times that honesty and vulnerability are indicators of great strength. As the saying goes, “the truth shall set you free”.
