Assume your opinions have been shaped by forces outside your awareness

Because US businesses spend nearly $100B a year on advertising and PRUS businesses spend nearly $100B a year on advertising and PR
(Source.)

It's not just billboards and puff pieces, either. It's mass-posting negative book reviews, paying scientists to publish favorable research, and compiling dossiers on celebrities.

Assu..., and We all justify our actions after the fact, often without realizing itWe all justify our actions after the fact, often without realizing it
Post hoc rationalization is default mode for humans. It can happen so fast we don't have time to notice it.

Assume everyone's reasons for their past behavior are made-up stories. (Especially your ....