When war with Iran doesn’t happen (again) no one who panicked about it (again) will admit or even remember that they were wrong (again).
Screencap this—it will be very embarrassing if I’m wrong
The online panic cycle creates a self-reinforcing emotional investment in bad things happening (no one wants to admit that they were wrong) that is easily manipulated by bad actors. Many online figures have serious financial or professional incentives to make you believe the situation is far worse than it actually is. Their livelihood literally depends on it. Others are simply addicted to the strong feelings that accompany catastrophizing, or the social affirmation that follows from validating the fears of others. Some come to incorrectly believe that bad things don’t happen only because they panic. People who are perpetually volatile and defensive are unable to respond effectively to serious problems when they actually do occur.
Fear is the opposite of faith.
Affirm: I will trvst the plan next time
Affirm: I will not lose faith
Affirm: When a plan truster speaks I will sit my panician butt down and listen
IMO this was the clearest litmus test yet. Many expressed reasonable concern and criticism, but I simply could not believe the amount of people who could barely hide their excitement at a war, just to be proven right. Like people, as of a day ago, who were saying we were already in WW3. Unbelievable