Brandolini’s Law

QUOTE

Mark Twain once said…

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.”

CONCEPT

Brandolini’s Law

Brandolini's Law, also known as the Bullshit Asymmetry Principle, is a concept that highlights the asymmetrical effort required to create false or misleading information (easy) versus the effort required to debunk it (difficult).

It emphasizes the need to be vigilant and critical of the information we consume, especially in the digital age where misinformation spreads quickly and easily, and often without review of any kind.

STORY

I Said Trust Me ... So Just Trust Me?

In the early 2010s, a Silicon Valley startup called Theranos claimed to have developed a revolutionary blood testing technology that could detect diseases with just a few drops of blood. The company, led by CEO Elizabeth Holmes, received significant media attention and was valued at $9 billion by investors.

Elizabeth Holmes claimed that her company's technology was based on a proprietary process that required only a few drops of blood, making it significantly more convenient and less painful than traditional blood tests. Holmes' charismatic personality and relentless media appearances helped to sell this narrative to investors, customers, and the public.

However, the truth was far from the narrative that Holmes had created.

The company's technology did not work as promised, and the results of the blood tests were inaccurate and unreliable. The company also engaged in a range of fraudulent practices, such as using third-party blood testing equipment to generate results and manipulating data to make it appear as if their technology was working.

Despite these red flags, many investors, journalists, and customers continued to believe in the Theranos narrative.

Holmes had created a narrative that was both compelling and difficult to disprove. Thankfully, the technology was eventually exposed as fraudulent, and Holmes was charged with multiple counts of fraud.