Facts
When Wittgenstein said “the world is the totality of facts” he obviously hadn’t anticipated the “fictional turn”: the world is now the totality of feelings, fears, wishes, prejudices, allegations, insinuations, ideologies, inventions. I liked Bill Clinton’s simple contrast in his speech of last night: there is the “real Hillary” and there is the “made up Hillary”. I envisaged millions of people responding, “Say what now?” For many people “fact” is a four-letter word. Don’t bother me with facts I have my beliefs to consider!
A fact is just one tool among others in the toolbox, and the goal for most is comfort, not truth.
That is what is called being selective with the facts–only accept those facts that conduce to comfort. Pragmatism has a lot to answer for (e.g. Donald Trump).
…GW Bush too, apparently – here he appears to explain (particularly apropos at about 01:56):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjfxEejS2Y
Yes, the global warmings are happening a lot more now, probably because of the internets. Not now Condi! Dubya, we miss ya buddy.