Here is an insightful video which reveals how scaremongering has actually become a respectable enterprise, with businesses selling their goods by engaging with public anxieties. It also reveals how to treat scare stories with scepticism, expose them for what they are, and bring scare tactics firmly down to earth. And once again, let us re-emphasize that the scaremongers are wrong and the world is not such a bad place!
The Scaremongers are wrong, as spreading fear creates anxiety, plain and simple. Let us explain as we think the world is not as bad as it seems. In fact, the world has been getting better, much better over the years and centuries. If you’re not convinced I suggest grabbing “Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress”, by Steven Pinker.
It is unfortunate that peddling fear has become a way of life, but we should ignore it. Scaremongering is by no means new, but it has erupted in the digital age. Most of us hang around the web and social media at least a few times a day. And add to this the dozens of apps on our phones feeding us information, often filled with fearful stuff. The COVID panic and hysteria are the most recent episodes, but there were many more before. The past is filled with the talk of mass destruction, mass extinction, SARS, avian flue, nuclear holocaust, and cyberterrorism, among many others.
If we go 50+ years back, then we would find countless examples of scare campaigns prophesized by politicians, news outlets, celebrities and other prominent figures. Here are just a few examples of outrageously fearful predictions from Paul Ehrilch, a Nobel Prize Winner:
These doom-preaching statements of course turned out false, but this is not where the story ends. There have been many moral panics in the recent history such as the war on drugs, immigration, the red scare, HIV/AIDS, war on terror, and sexual revolution all of which turned out vastly exaggerated. And yet, baseless fearmongering in the media continue to shower with attention. And the resulting fears can unnecessarily dictate daily habits and negatively alter the way individuals lead their lives.
Here is an insightful video which reveals how scaremongering has actually become a respectable enterprise, with businesses selling their goods by engaging with public anxieties. It also reveals how to treat scare stories with scepticism, expose them for what they are, and bring scare tactics firmly down to earth.
Once again, let us re-emphasize that the scaremongers are wrong and the world is not such a bad place!
Subscribe now for thought-provoking content delivered straight to your inbox
The FutureEdge CFO Academy (“aka” Blog) is our central repository for all meaningful information and content that FutureEdge CFO cares for and supports, which we package and make accessible to anyone who visits our site to facilitate creative thinking and inner reflection. We aspire to cultivate a growing body of knowledge that is uniquely our own, but is acquired externally, and we share it to promote the values we stand for, but also to help make sound decisions and take the most effective action.
Effective change management is the cornerstone of successful M&A integration, providing a structured approach to align systems, processes, and people while addressing challenges like cultural alignment and employee resistance to ensure seamless transitions and lasting value creation.
Read More
Porter’s 5 Forces Model helps businesses analyze their competitive landscape by evaluating rivalry, new entrants, supplier and buyer power, and substitutes. Use this framework to craft winning strategies.
Read More
The 5 Pillar SaaS Model provides a comprehensive framework for SaaS success by focusing on Growth, Retention, Gross Margins, Profitability, and Efficiency. This holistic approach helps businesses optimize key metrics, adapt to their lifecycle stage, and build a scalable, sustainable company.
Read More
Is your business stuck in competitive Red Oceans, or are you exploring opportunity-rich Blue Oceans? Transitioning requires smart market analysis: uncover gaps, address unmet needs, and innovate. Learn how companies like Tesla and Netflix redefined industries and created fresh demand. Chart your path to growth by embracing innovation and creating your Blue Ocean.
Read More
High-performing teams aren’t built by HR—they’re shaped by leaders who inspire purpose, foster trust, and create clarity. While HR provides tools and frameworks, the real work happens in daily interactions, decisions, and leadership accountability. Discover the five pillars of exceptional teams and how leaders can drive extraordinary results.
Read More
In today’s competitive business environment, strategic clarity is essential. A well-defined mission, vision, and values framework serves as a guiding star for decision-making and ensures alignment across operations. Central to achieving this clarity is understanding your business’s value chain—a powerful tool that dissects your operations into distinct activities to identify where value is created, costs are incurred, and competitive advantages can be leveraged. This article explores the value chain concept and provides a practical three-step framework to analyse and align it with your mission, vision, and values, helping businesses optimize operations, reduce costs, and enhance their competitive edge.
Read More
EN 
DE 
FR