The self-defeating irony that vigorously debunking a false or pseudoscientific claim can actually strengthen belief in it among its adherents. This happens through mechanisms like the backfire effect (where contradictory evidence causes people to double down), the perception of persecution (debunkers are seen as part of the conspiracy), and the reinforcement of community identity (outsider attacks increase in-group solidarity). The hard problem is that using reason and evidence against a belief system that rejects standard epistemology is like using a water gun to put out a grease fire—it just spreads the flames. The debunker's toolkit (logic, data, authority) is seen by believers as the very tools of the deception.
Example: You meticulously compile scientific studies, satellite photos, and pilot testimonies to debunk Flat Earth theory to a believer. They dismiss it all: the studies are by NASA shills, the photos are CGI, the pilots are in on it. Your effort is seen as proof of how deep the "globe conspiracy" goes. The hard problem: You cannot debunk a claim from outside a person's epistemic framework. Your facts are just more "fake news" to be filtered out. The more you fight the fantasy, the more real it feels to them, turning you into a villain in their narrative and cementing their belief. Hard Problem of Debunking.
by Enkigal January 24, 2026
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