OPINION: Robyn Perkins – “Look at entertainment & social media. Do we really question where we get that information from?”

Robyn Perkins is the MC and performer of Comedy for the Curious: 2025, to be performed at Edinburgh Festival Fringe from July 31st – August 24th (not the 12th or 19th) at Main Room at Laughing Horse @ The Pear Tree from 19:00 (60mins). The show is non-ticketed and free at the point of entry. More information is available through the EdFringe Online Show Listing.

I was on the last train back to London after a gig in Bath, trying to do my taxes (admittedly after January 31st), and a slightly (very) intoxicated girl joins my table. I’m desperately trying not to engage, but eventually I have replied with enough single word answers that she pipes up:

Girl 1: Oh, you are American!
Me: Yea, sorry.
Girl 1: Oh I love Trump!

Oh great. I’m now focusing even harder on my computer, trying to look like I was passionately engaged in my taxes (yes, I have acting skills in addition to comedy). But another girl at our table couldn’t resist:

Girl 2: Oh no. You don’t think vaccines cause Autism, do you?
Girl 1: Of course they do.
Girl 2: How?!
Girl 1: Well, my best friend told me about a TV programme, and they mentioned this study…

Girl 2 is now fired up, explaining that the study was fraudulent and had been retracted. But it was futile. It didn’t matter what was said or how much information was brought to her attention, the drunk girl wouldn’t budge.

I wish this was more of an unbelievable story, but this isn’t even my first Vaccine/Autism argument this year. It’s frustrating because as a scientifically minded person, how can you ignore things like FACTS and LOGIC just because your friend told you so? I needed to know why.  So this year, Comedy for the Curious (my science comedy panel show) is taking a deep dive into misinformation and The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories. 

So how did we get here? 

For starters, there are so many cognitive biases that influence misinformation. We tend to believe ‘big things’ require ‘big explanations’. We tend to only see evidence that supports what we already know.  And we evolved to see patterns, where sometimes, there aren’t any (Jesus toast, anyone?).

Digging deeper, humans have a need to understand what is going on. We have a need to feel safe and in control. And we need to feel accepted.

But this still didn’t answer: why can’t we fight misinformation with facts? I finally got my answer while touring in Australia, during the panel portion of the show, day one. Our expert simply said: EMOTION. It’s all about the narrative. If you can sell someone on a story, you don’t need facts. That compelling story becomes your truth.

It makes sense. Look at entertainment & social media. Do we really question where we get that information from? Does that TikTok-er have sources, or just a hook and great content? I’m not saying to be more critical in life. But I am saying we need to be more critical of our sources.