March 19th, 2012

These American Lies

We now know that Mike Daisey’s This American Life segment about Apple’s factories was full of fabrications. I wrote a piece for GOOD about what it means to be told something is true, and then find out it’s not:

Nothing is more depoliticizing than being lied to, and a close second is being condescended to. An exaggeration, oversimplification, or lie is not a persuasion tool; it’s a form of coercion. It’s a way of treating adults like children—of taking away our power to make up our minds independently. When people feel forced, they don’t want to comply; they want to rebel.

Here’s a link to my chat with BBC World News about the topic.

I am a writer currently pursuing my Masters of Fine Arts in fiction at Columbia University.

I was Barack Obama's blogger. I have delivered keynote speeches on storytelling, social media, and social movements at conferences, universities, and events around the world. Interested in having me speak at your event?