Summary of the Key Points
This article reveals a crucial shift in people's information-seeking behavior through a comment from a netizen: “As long as the content makes me feel comfortable, whether it’s true or not.” The primary motivation for consuming information—whether reading articles or otherwise—has shifted from seeking truth, knowledge, or inspiration to seeking emotional comfort. This change is driven by the widespread anxiety and stress in real life, which has turned “emotional value” into a basic need. People are willing to accept even false or useless content as long as it provides psychological satisfaction. The author argues that we are entering an era where emotions take precedence over facts, logic, and reason, which is a typical characteristic of the “post-truth” era.
Analysis and Interpretation
1. The Shift from Seeking Truth to Seeking Comfort
In the past, when we read articles, we hoped to gain something valuable—new insights, useful information, or inspiration. It was like studying from textbooks; we had to endure the boredom because the content was considered beneficial. But now things have changed. No matter how accurate or true an article is, if it makes us feel uncomfortable, we’re unlikely to read it again. The netizen’s comment “As long as it’s comfortable” reflects the real mindset of many people: we read articles not to learn but to relieve stress. For example, after a tiring day at work, we don’t want to see articles about rising housing prices or workplace competition; instead, we prefer content that tells us “it’s okay to relax” or “bosses are idiots”—even if these statements lack logic and just make us feel better.
2. Why Comfort Has Become a Basic Need?
The reason people value comfort so much is that real life offers few moments of relief. Articles point out that people, regardless of their income, experience anxiety: those who are busy have no time to breathe, while those who are idle feel restless and unsure about their frustrations. In such situations, what we want from an article is not profound wisdom but emotional comfort—just like after a long day, we don’t need someone to teach us about fitness; we need a massage to relieve tension.
3. What Is Emotional Value?
Emotional value refers to content that makes us feel good. It doesn’t necessarily have practical benefits but meets our psychological needs. For instance:
- When we agree with a viewpoint and see it expressed more sharply or provocatively, we feel validated.
- We may believe a “fact” (even if false), such as a celebrity scandal, because we dislike that person and find the news satisfying.
- Even buying an useless toy (like the labubu mentioned in the article) can bring us joy simply because it’s cute. These things don’t solve problems but help us temporarily forget our worries.
4. The “Emotional Premium” in Consumption
The article illustrates this with the example of Hema’s 5-yuan meat filling (practical) versus a costly labubu toy (useless). This phenomenon is common in modern consumption: milk tea isn’t consumed for its taste but for sharing photos on social media; blind boxes are bought for the surprise; celebrity merchandise is purchased for the sense of belonging they provide. These “virtual” items are more expensive because they offer emotional value.
5. An Era Where Emotions Take Precedence
The author suggests that while we used to emphasize truth, goodness, and beauty, now we might need to add “emotion” to that list—emotions come first. This means that facts and logic are no longer the top priorities; false information can still be believed if it makes us feel better. Online rumors, for example, are often shared widely because they resonate with people’s emotions (e.g., “all rich people are bad” or “society is unfair”). The author doesn’t judge this as good or bad but notes that such beliefs are simply a reality of the post-truth era.
Final Thoughts
This article highlights how the information landscape has shifted from being driven by reason to being influenced by emotions. Understanding this helps us explain why some articles become popular despite their lack of substance and why certain products are expensive despite their usefulness. It’s important to recognize that while emotions are powerful, we should also maintain a degree of rationality in an anxious world. After all, comfort is temporary, and solving real problems is what truly matters.