The establishment of the internet brought great promise for future cooperation and expansion of human understanding. But it also amplified a basic human flaw that causes us to embrace and act on frightening falsehoods.

This flaw empowers propagandists to cause great harm throughout the society through the widespread dissemination of false information. When Pinocchio chose to live with truth, he was transformed from a puppet into a "real boy.

" But when this basic human flaw is triggered, that process can be reversed, causing human beings who embrace the lies in conspiracy theories to transform themselves into puppets for the authors of those lies. In The Reverse Pinocchio Effect, a computer forensic investigator describes how this innate human flaw can cause persons to make four mistakes that place them fully under the control of a propagandist, who then manipulates them through carefully crafted propaganda attacks.

Humankind is prone to believing and acting on lies, which can cause us to engage in witch hunts, attacking good people we have been falsely told are trying to harm us. When those lies are wrapped in powerful emotions, it can become nearly impossible to unravel the snarl and reassert rationality on the subject.

The Reverse Pinocchio Effect provides steps that can be used by anyone to focus any discussion toward a positive outcome. This simple methodology puts a rapid end to lies and makes it possible to turn partisan slugfests we often encounter on the internet into the exciting treasure hunts they actually can and should be.

Persons encountering opposition on the internet often view those who oppose them as "stupid" when the reality is they are just observing the effects of this basic human flaw. This places our society in internal conflict and drains our creative potential in a sea of false information.

Applying the proper techniques will dispel this mistaken view and show how creative and intelligent others actually are. With the understanding of this basic human flaw and the path to taking control of it outlined in The Reverse Pinocchio Effect, we will be better able to bring about a world of cooperative interaction and thereby realize the tremendous promise presented to us by the creation of the internet.

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