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Helen’s Place LLC Update March 14, 2024
Birds Aren’t Real; Lies Are Stupid
Millions of Americans believe in lies and conspiracy theories.
Critics say those who lack the ability to discern or accept fact from fiction – from T.V., social media, and other sources, are difficult to comprehend.
This is why long after the Maga Era ends, people will puzzle over the reasons for what appears to be a form of mass delusion. But many other theories exist, and it may be years before all causes are identified for consideration in American history.
One person’s attempt to deal with brainwashed people led to the founding of the “Birds Aren’t Real” movement by Peter McIndoe. Peter surmised that there was no hope talking people out of their views once they became entrenched in their beliefs, so it was up to every person to cope with insanity the best way they could.
In a 60 minutes interview on May 1, 2022, Peter explained his frustration and how he was compelled to take action while witnessing a conspiracy rally in Nashville, TN in 2017.
At that moment, he decided he couldn’t take it anymore, made a sign, and wrote on it the most absurd thing he could think of off the top of his head – “Birds Aren’t Real.” Then he joined the conspiracy group chanting the phrase at the top of his lungs.
The use of satire was the way Peter’s brain worked overtime to resist lies. Notably, the image of birds came to him at random. Later, he developed a back story for how surveillance birds took over the world.
More recently, Peter was the keynote speaker at the SNF Agora Institute’s Democracy and Freedom Festival on Feb. 8, 2024.
Because birds are inspirational, the Birds Aren’t Real (BAR) Movement has literally taken flight.
What’s important about BAR, is that it’s an antidote to disinformation being fed into the brains of the misinformed from right-wing propagandists. Humor, it turns out, is one of the best ways to counteract it.
Sadly, in addition to propping up false causes, liars frequently take advantage of the weak minded by bilking them of their money. Believing in things that are obviously false is disturbing – like that JFK Jr. is returning to save us all. Seriously folks – birds aren’t real! Come on – say it loudly now! Get a grip on reality!
As BAR protesters yell, the free speech right for people at rallies – to believe whatever they want to believe – is acknowledged.
But by chanting “birds aren’t real,” the group effectively chants, “lies are stupid,” because when you believe or repeat something that isn’t true, you’ve outed yourself as a person who’s vulnerable to being played, and it’s time to wake-up and figure out how this happened to you.
Additionally, BAR members chant “birds aren’t real,” for strength and resistance because they recognize the absurdity that American’s pride themselves in how independent they are without realizing how influenced they are.
In this way, they join a cadre of comics across the country using humor to wake people up to defuse conspiracy theories from Q-Anon and other right-wing propaganda that promotes:
- Discrimination against LGTBQ peopleAntivaxxer Beliefs;
- Book Banning;
- The Big Lie/Stop the Steal of 2020 and future elections, and;
- Stopping Critical Race Theory (seen as rewriting history in favor of black people);
- Stopping Reproductive Rights;
- Stopping Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement;
- Stopping Gun Reform/March for Our Lives Movement.
- Stopping Immigration/Replacement Theory (seen as designed to wipe-out white people).
And BAR drives home the point that things aren’t equal in the sense that crazies spew whatever they want and seem to get away with it, while everyone else has to worry about offending someone and getting ridiculed and annihilated by cancel culture on social media. To them, it just isn’t fair.
The wise guys at BAR, truly want people to become savvier against being manipulated.
Points to Remember Inspired by the Birds Aren’t Real Movement:
- Try to be a good human, even if it’s unpopular and difficult;
- Use a diatribe of words to cope – swearing under your breath always helps;
- Focus on doing the right thing and telling the truth; don’t worry so much about how to say it;
- Care about the people around you who are failing to be kind and respectful.
- Be mindful of who you hang out with, as they influence you more than you realize.
- Be patient with people who were already nuts, or became nuts in the Maga Era; some of whom you don’t recognize anymore.
- Use social media without being enslaved by it.
- Look at both sides of an argument before making up your mind;
- Fight hard to maintain your own sanity in an insane world.
Cognitive Science/Emotional Fitness Ideas for Teachers and Students
Work out lesson plans for teaching students fact from fiction. Suggestions include:
- Reading the manifesto from the BAR website and pick-out all the absurd lies they are telling to make a point.
- Reading “The Sky is Falling” article and watch the fairytale in the Helen’s Place link provided below.
- Creating stories with coping strategies for how to personally resist disinformation.
Related audio/video recording:
60 minute interview about the Birds Aren’t Real Movement (BAR):
YouTube, CBS News, 60 Minutes, May 01, 2022, interview, “Birds Aren’t Real.”
Other related articles you may be interested in:
Updates about the Birds Aren’t Real Movement (BAR):
John Hopkins University, Hub, Aleyna Rentz, February 7, 2024, “Birds Aren’t Real.”
A true story with a fairytale ending:
Helen’s Place LLC, December 21, 2021, “How Story of Chicken Little and the Sky is Falling is True.”
Another article about American culture and how to survive it:
Helen’s Place LLC, January 31, 2024, “How to survive the 2024 election season: Humor and Resolve.”
Helen’s Place LLC is an information and educational materials company celebrating English Language Arts, Cognitive Science and the love of birds.
It’s the maker of printed instructional, educational, and teaching materials for children and adults in the field of English Language Arts and Cognitive Science.
Your comments are greatly appreciated. Send them to Helen’s Place LLC via email to info@helensplacenet.com. We’re always interested in learning more about you and the issues that are important to you.
