Description
Truth discernment. Uncover why some spot lies and others fall for them. Learn how to strengthen your internal truth filter and protect against misinformation.
The Truth Detector: Why Some Spot Lies While Others Fall for Them
Introduction – What Is a “Bullshit Metre”?
Location: Brisbane, 2025. You’re at a community meeting. A local MP promises housing affordability will improve—despite decades of rising rents. A few nod. Others frown. One elderly man mutters, “My bullshit metre’s off the charts.”
That instinct? That inner voice that whispers, “This doesn’t feel right”? It’s what some call the “bullshit metre.” More formally, it’s truth discernment, or our ability to assess whether a claim is truthful, deceptive, or manipulative.
But not everyone’s truth filter works the same. Some people can smell deception instantly. Others, despite confidence in their scepticism, are easily misled. And some lack the filter entirely. Why?
Let’s explore how this mental tool develops, why it’s failing so many, and how we can improve our collective discernment in an age of mass misinformation.
The Psychology Behind Truth Detection
Cognitive Biases: When Our Minds Trick Us
Human brains are wired for shortcuts. Cognitive biases like confirmation bias (believing what fits our views) or motivated reasoning (rejecting what threatens our identity) can sabotage truth discernment.
Real-world example: During the COVID-19 pandemic, some Australians refused vaccines—not due to lack of information, but because it came from government sources they distrusted.
Heuristics and Mental Shortcuts
We often use mental rules-of-thumb called heuristics to process complex information. While efficient, they’re prone to error. For instance, the availability heuristic makes us believe something is true if we’ve heard it frequently—regardless of accuracy.
Quote: “Repeat a lie often enough, and it becomes the truth.” —Attributed to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels.
Emotions and Belief
Fear, hope, anger—they’re powerful motivators. Emotional content sticks, even when it’s false. Studies show emotionally charged misinformation spreads six times faster on social media than factual content.
Thought: “I knew something felt off—but it was what I wanted to believe.”
Why Some People Have Stronger ‘Truth Filters’
Education and Media Literacy
Education doesn’t just teach facts—it teaches how to assess them. Countries with strong public education systems foster citizens less susceptible to lies. Media literacy, especially when taught young, builds mental resilience against manipulation.
Story: In Finland, students learn to analyse social media and news for bias, increasing nationwide resistance to misinformation.
Personality Traits and Cognitive Openness
Traits like openness to experience, intellectual humility, and analytical thinking correlate with better truth discernment.
Dialogue: “I’m not sure if that’s true—but I’m willing to look into it.”
Social Environment: Echo Chambers vs. Diverse Discourse
Social bubbles—especially online—reinforce biases. Exposure to diverse views, on the other hand, sharpens critical thinking and reduces ideological rigidity.
Emotional impact: Feeling challenged can be uncomfortable—but it’s also growth. Moving out of your comfort zone.
The Illusion of Discernment: When Confidence Misleads
Some people think they have excellent discernment—but are actually deep in misinformation.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect
This well-documented bias shows that those with low ability often overestimate their competence. The less people know, the more likely they are to think they know everything.
Example: Self-declared “experts” in economics who can’t define inflation yet dismiss economists as corrupt.
Real-World Consequences
From anti-vax ideologies to climate denial, misplaced confidence leads to real harm.
Dialogue: “The experts are all lying. I’ve done my own research.” (Translation: Watched three YouTube videos.)
Why Others Seem to Lack a Bullshit Metre Entirely
Some people simply absorb whatever they’re told. Why?
Propaganda and Systemic Disempowerment
A poorly educated populace, bombarded with biased messaging, lacks the tools to question power. Political interests exploit this through corporate media control, advertising, and fear-based narratives.
Story: A pensioner votes against increased aged care funding because a news program claimed it would raise taxes.
The Role of Stress and Scarcity
Stress and scarcity have a profound impact on cognitive functioning. When people are constantly worried about how they’ll pay rent, feed their families, or keep a roof over their heads, their mental resources are consumed by immediate survival needs. This is known as the scarcity mindset—a cognitive state where long-term thinking, critical analysis, and political engagement are pushed aside by pressing day-to-day concerns.
Numerous studies confirm that poverty reduces mental bandwidth. Nobel laureate economist Sendhil Mullainathan found that people under financial stress perform worse on problem-solving tasks, similar to losing 13 IQ points.
Location: A single parent in suburban Melbourne works two casual jobs. Exhausted, they scroll past headlines about corruption, budget cuts, and housing reforms.
Thought: “I don’t have time for politics. I’m just trying to survive.”
Yet, ironically, it’s politics shaping their struggle—through wages, rent prices, Centrelink policies, and healthcare funding. The very system they feel they can’t influence is the one governing their daily stress.
This disconnect doesn’t stem from apathy. It’s engineered by systems that concentrate wealth and power, while leaving everyday Australians too overburdened to resist.
Understanding this helps us see why building a more engaged, informed citizenry means more than education—it means ensuring every Australian has the time, security, and energy to participate in democracy.
How to Strengthen Your Own Truth-Detection Skills
Developing a sharper truth filter isn’t reserved for academics or journalists—it’s a skill anyone can strengthen with practice, patience, and the right mindset. Below are five essential strategies, each expanded with practical guidance, to help you improve your personal truth discernment.
1. Ask Better Questions
When you come across any claim—whether it’s in a news article, a political speech, or a social media post—pause and ask:
- Who benefits if I believe this?
- Is this supported by verifiable evidence?
- What’s missing from this narrative?
Develop a habit of curiosity. Asking better questions turns passive information consumption into active analysis. For example, instead of accepting a politician’s claim at face value, ask: “What is their motive? Who funds them? Is there an independent source confirming this?”
2. Check the Source
Not all sources are equal. Learn to evaluate credibility:
Reputable outlets: While the ABC and SBS continue to provide broadly factual reporting, they face political pressure and funding constraints that can subtly shape coverage.
The Guardian Australia offers investigative journalism and diverse opinion pieces but is centre left in editorial leaning. Critically reading these sources and comparing their reports with those of independent outlets is essential.
Top independent investigative outlets: These include:
Michael West Media – Renowned for exposing corporate and government misconduct.
Independent Australia – Covers politics, environment, and social justice with in-depth features.
Juice Media – Satirical but informative, with their “Honest Government Ads” revealing real policy impacts.
Punters Politics – Offers grassroots-level political insights and commentary.
John Menadue’s Pearls and Irritations – Features expert commentary from former public servants and academics.
Declassified Australia – Investigative journalism on foreign policy and national security issues.
The Australian Independent Media Network (AIMN) is a valuable addition to Australia’s independent media landscape. It publishes commentary, analysis, and opinion pieces that challenge mainstream narratives and often give voice to progressive and alternative viewpoints.
🔎 Strengths:
– Citizen Journalism: AIMN encourages everyday Australians to contribute, empowering diverse voices often excluded from corporate media.
– Focus on Social Justice: Many articles tackle inequality, political accountability, media bias, and environmental sustainability.
– Editorial Freedom: Free from corporate advertising, AIMN often covers topics other outlets ignore or downplay.
⚠ Considerations:
– Opinion-Driven: Much of AIMN’s content is commentary rather than investigative reporting, so it’s best read alongside fact-based reporting for a full picture.
– Limited Resources: As a grassroots outlet, it may lack the institutional capacity for deep investigations like Michael West Media or Declassified Australia.
✅ Recommendation:
AIMN is a useful truth discernment tool, especially when paired with independent investigative outlets and fact-checked news. It helps readers understand how political narratives are shaped and offers analysis grounded in lived experience and public interest.
Academic and peer-reviewed sources: Universities, think tanks, and peer-reviewed journals offer data-based analysis.
Red flags: Watch out for anonymous authors, excessive emotional language, or headlines in ALL CAPS.
Use tools like Media Bias/Fact Check or Ad Fontes Media to assess outlet reliability.
3. Understand Your Biases
We all have biases, shaped by upbringing, culture, and lived experience. Recognising your own filters is key to developing true discernment.
Example: If you deeply distrust the government, you may be inclined to disbelieve any official statement—even when it’s accurate. Awareness of this tendency lets you pause and consider the evidence more objectively.
Reflect on your emotional reactions. If a piece of information makes you angry or overly excited, take a step back. That’s a signal to double-check the facts.
4. Cross-Verify Information
Don’t rely on a single source—especially when the topic is controversial. Check multiple, diverse outlets:
Look for corroboration from outlets with differing political leanings.
Use fact-checking websites like RMIT ABC Fact Check or Snopes.
Search for the original data or full context when statistics are cited.
This method not only strengthens your understanding but exposes you to different interpretations of the same issue.
5. Cultivate Intellectual Humility
The ability to say “I don’t know” is a strength, not a weakness. Be open to changing your mind in light of new evidence.
Stay engaged in lifelong learning. Read books that challenge your worldview. Listen to people with different perspectives—not to argue, but to understand.
Thought: “I used to think that—but I’ve since learned more.”
Engaging in civil discourse with intellectual humility fosters stronger communities and healthier democracies.
Bonus Tip: Slow Down
In the age of instant information, speed kills discernment. Take your time before reacting, sharing, or forming an opinion. That pause is your most powerful tool.
Together, these habits form a foundation for navigating today’s chaotic information environment with clarity and confidence.
Australia’s Dollar Sovereignty: Investing in Truth
Australia has currency sovereignty—meaning our federal government creates its own currency. We are not revenue-constrained like households or states. We can fund large-scale, permanent investments in:
• Universal media literacy education
• Free public universities
• Independent investigative journalism
These initiatives can raise national discernment levels. Public money should serve people, not subsidise corporate misinformation.
From Bullshit Metres to Informed Citizens
Some trust their intuition—and get it right. Others are misled, manipulated, or overwhelmed. Truth discernment is not a fixed trait; it’s a skill.
Strengthening our collective bullshit metre requires:
• Education that promotes critical thinking
• Media systems free from corporate capture
• A public motivated to ask questions, not just absorb answers
Australia has the public money and political power to make this happen. The only question is: will we demand it?
Question for Readers
Have you ever trusted a source, only to find out later it misled you? What helped you see through the misinformation?
Q&A Section
Q1: What is a bullshit metre in psychological terms?
It’s an informal term for “truth discernment” or “epistemic vigilance”—our mental ability to evaluate whether a claim is trustworthy.
Q2: Can critical thinking really be taught?
Yes. Studies show media literacy programs, debate practice, and logic training significantly improve discernment.
Q3: Why do smart people fall for misinformation?
Even highly educated people can be vulnerable due to emotional investment, ideological bias, or social influence.
Call to Action
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