Whoever, whatever, whenever... when you are presented with a choice, and a sense of urgency that stops you from questioning the message, that's a great part of the problem. The message is delivered, changed, recanted, modified, and it's all done to keep your critical thinking in flux. We live in a time equally comprised of 15 minute breaking news, that while often valid, deprives the chance to weight and consider. Your points are valid. I get exactly what your highlighting.
Trust and Truth have 4 letters in common. The unshared S and H from each put together make the universal sound and the voiceless post-aveolar fricative "sh". 🤫 As in be quiet. Or, in less polite vernacular: "shut the fuck up!"
The lesson, when one is being asked by any source to trust that what they are giving you to hear or to see or to believe is the "truth" or "the facts", is to shut up and then really listen to what your gut, your instincts, and your BS detector is telling you about what is being given to you as "truth".
And always remember, despite what all the talking heads out there would have us believe: OPINIONS are NOT FACTS!
And in the event, which is often the case, it's someone advocating doing something (eg: the politician who vows to reduce crime by . . . .); How will the doing of that achieve the desired outcome, and how will we know whether it has?
As always well said. I am more interested now in how to use my comments to encourage critical thought in an era of rampant information and misinformation.
It’s just too easy to present opinion as fact and too many have been rushed into belief.
Whoever, whatever, whenever... when you are presented with a choice, and a sense of urgency that stops you from questioning the message, that's a great part of the problem. The message is delivered, changed, recanted, modified, and it's all done to keep your critical thinking in flux. We live in a time equally comprised of 15 minute breaking news, that while often valid, deprives the chance to weight and consider. Your points are valid. I get exactly what your highlighting.
Thanks Fred.
Thanks, Pete.
I think urgency is the enemy of good thinking.
If someone insists I have to decide right now, that's usually when I slow down and ask, "What's the truth about what I'm being asked to believe?"
Sometimes the best decision is to wait until the dust settles.
Well, I guess you and I are doomed, Fred, as I (almost always) agree with you! (so I guess we now have to be suspicious of each other! ;-) ).
But seriously, a well-written summary about critical thinking - and something one has to really keep in mind when working with AI.
😂 Careful, Grant... we may have to start fact-checking each other!
Seriously though, that's exactly the point.
I don't want people to agree with me because I'm Fred.
I want them to question me the same way I question everyone else... including AI.
If we keep doing that, we're probably on the right track.
My beloved Gram said: People love the sound of their own voice. Ignore what they say. Watch what they do.
Your Gram was a wise woman, Bev.
That's one of those simple observations that holds up over a lifetime.
Words can persuade, but actions usually tell the real story.
Thanks for sharing that little gem. 😊
Your Gram wasn't misleading you. Wise.... certainly.
Geezer - Another old geezer here. This is so true.
Keep beating the drum.
Thank you for a refreshing thoughtful article.❤️
That is critical thinking and like you I investigate
Trust and Truth have 4 letters in common. The unshared S and H from each put together make the universal sound and the voiceless post-aveolar fricative "sh". 🤫 As in be quiet. Or, in less polite vernacular: "shut the fuck up!"
The lesson, when one is being asked by any source to trust that what they are giving you to hear or to see or to believe is the "truth" or "the facts", is to shut up and then really listen to what your gut, your instincts, and your BS detector is telling you about what is being given to you as "truth".
And always remember, despite what all the talking heads out there would have us believe: OPINIONS are NOT FACTS!
❤️🇨🇦
Well said, Cath. 👍
I think our gut can be a useful early warning system... but I don't let it make the final decision.
It tells me to slow down, ask questions, and look for evidence.
And you're absolutely right: opinions are everywhere, but they're not the same thing as facts. ❤️
I come at it from a slightly different angle.
What does the evidence say?
Is that logical?
And in the event, which is often the case, it's someone advocating doing something (eg: the politician who vows to reduce crime by . . . .); How will the doing of that achieve the desired outcome, and how will we know whether it has?
That's not really a different angle, Brad... it's the next step. 😊
Once I ask, "What's the truth about what I'm being asked to believe?" the next questions are exactly the ones you listed...
What's the evidence?
Is it logical?
And how will we know if it actually worked?
That's critical thinking in action.
As always well said. I am more interested now in how to use my comments to encourage critical thought in an era of rampant information and misinformation.
It’s just too easy to present opinion as fact and too many have been rushed into belief.
Thanks, John.
I think that's one of the best things any of us can do... ask questions that help people think instead of telling them what to think.
If this article encourages even a few more people to pause before accepting or rejecting a claim, then it was worth writing.