Budrys Reflex
The protective response that erases the knowledge of a truth that contradicts a Widely Believed Fact to prevent the painful effects of Cognitive Dissonance.
Simply put, the way people will immediately forget the truth about something if they prefer to believe the more popular theory or idea - Most commonly seen in conspiracy theorists, the Tinfoil Hat Brigade and in political discussions.
Derived fromt he name Algis Budrys, SF writer, who wrote a story about mental and physical supermen who were ignored by the public for their acheivements by a similar effect in the story 'Nobody Bothers Gus'.
Simply put, the way people will immediately forget the truth about something if they prefer to believe the more popular theory or idea - Most commonly seen in conspiracy theorists, the Tinfoil Hat Brigade and in political discussions.
Derived fromt he name Algis Budrys, SF writer, who wrote a story about mental and physical supermen who were ignored by the public for their acheivements by a similar effect in the story 'Nobody Bothers Gus'.
A:( who suffers from Budrys Reflex) We spend too much money on the space programme - they should give that money to the teachers or sumthin' . . .
B:(Opens Federal budget) Well, look . . . Nasa gets 3.5billion bucks a year, and the HEW gets 32.1 billion - Ten times as much!
A:Oh. ( Reflex kicks in ) Oh, maybe there's more from the CIA or the Freemasons going into NASA then.
B:(Opens Federal budget) Well, look . . . Nasa gets 3.5billion bucks a year, and the HEW gets 32.1 billion - Ten times as much!
A:Oh. ( Reflex kicks in ) Oh, maybe there's more from the CIA or the Freemasons going into NASA then.
Budrys Reflex by D F Stuckey November 1, 2008
Get the Budrys Reflex mug.