+And of course, there are lots of other, subtler non-truth-tracking, non-usefulness-tracking features of an idea that could make it more memetically fit.
+
+Here's one: "You are a member of marginalized identity group Y; anyone who notices facts that could be construed to call this narrative into question is thereby hurting you by [invalidating your identity](http://unremediatedgender.space/2016/Sep/psychology-is-about-invalidating-peoples-identities/)."
+
+A human who has accepted—who has been _taken hostage by_—this idea, will feel genuine pain and distress whenever anyone notices facts that could be construed to call the narrative into question. And so the human's friends, who love and care about them, will dutifully make sure to pretend not to notice any inconvenient facts, and socially punish anyone who doesn't pretend not to notice, in order to avoid hurting their friend.
+
+Just like they would pay the ransom if their friend was kidnapped by terrorists.
+
+And with no one willing to mention any inconvenient facts for fear of being socially punished, the meme spreads.