This evening I heard someone say proclaim that we have every bit of information at our fingertips and people are dumber than ever.
My disclaimer is – not everyone, never everyone.
But I have to agree.
When I’m faced with those who wildly defend a position or who make absolutely no sense when arguing a point, a lightbulb goes off above my head.
They’ve read a headline. They caught a news clip. Or they chatted with someone in line with them at the supermarket, bank, or some random place. Maybe they overheard people talking and walked away with information that they then passed on – nothing substantiated.
That’s how rumors start. That is the definition of ‘misinformation’ if it is not researched, sources cited, and facts checked.
I love my brain. It’s a playground.
Some days it works really well, some days – not so much. But I exercise it. I research and love to learn. I want to dig deep, uncovering the details that aren’t always apparent at first. I love to discuss, debate, then deliberate. Reflection is a way of life. Thought a constant.
Why would any of us settle for a sound bite? Why would we assume someone else’s opinion then make it our own without anything to back it up?
It’s liberating to admit that you don’t know, what you don’t know. It’s a sign of strength to ask questions, ask for help. And it’s a gift to be comfortable in your skin, confident enough to discuss controversial subjects, and agree to disagree – never turning against people because they believe in something that you oppose.
At the end of any day, most of us have good intentions.
There is so much for us to learn from each other but when we don’t make the time to support our opinion via facts, we don’t have much to offer.
I’ve not written much lately, yet this was a provoking point to ponder.
Do you make the time to research, digest, learn, then share? Or do you hear a ten second news clip then infect the world with inflated opinions based on unsupported information?
I don’t want to agree with the comment that people are ‘dumber than ever’, but some do choose to be less informed and educated – no matter how many degrees they have.
Reality TV. Keeping up with the Kardashians. The Bachelor. Tik Tok. Media. Social channels.
The dumbing down of America starts there -and I truly believe we’re more than that.
Why would we choose to give away our common sense and judgment? Our intelligence and power? Sacrifice our freedoms and liberties?
Please don’t take everyone at their word. Please don’t get caught up with media or actor persona and ego. Please don’t sit back and listen, but rather sit up and learn.
Investigate. Research. Educate. Make the time to do it all – then give your opinion and be prepared to fuel it with facts and real-life experience.
Don’t get caught up in the political game, the parties, the immaturity that is so evident today. Rise above, dig deep, then share with us all.
As I typed this, I watched two back-to-back commercials paid for by the pharma industry – one with people dancing and singing, promoting the benefits of legalized drugs, drugs that fuel our economy in countless ways. Drugs that would be averted if we made the time to tend to our health.
But we’d rather the quick fix. The sound bites. The immediacy of – something.
Stop.
Listen. Read. Interpret. Digest. Learn.
Some points to ponder.
