General Discussion

HuckleB

(35,773 posts) Mon Mar 21, 2016, 12:24 PM Mar 2016

Is Everything You Think You Know Wrong?

http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/is-everything-you-think-you-know-wrong/

"Does sugar make kids hyper? Has science proven bumble bees can’t fly? Does the average person only use 10% of their brain capacity? Are routine multivitamins good for you? Were the dinosaurs killed off by an asteroid impact?

It is often observed that when a fact is accepted uncritically because, “everyone knows it to be true,” it is probably false. The answers to the above questions are no, no, no, probably not, and it’s more complicated than you think.

The best way to drive this home for many people is this – think of the one area of knowledge in which you have the greatest expertise. This does not have to be your job, it can be just a hobby. Now, how accurate are news reports that deal with your area of extensive knowledge? How much does the average person know? Does anyone other than a fellow enthusiast or expert ever get it quite right?

The universal experience (according to my informal survey over many years) is that the general public is full of misinformation and oversimplifications about your area of knowledge. Now extrapolate that experience to all other areas of knowledge. This means that you are full of misinformation and oversimplifications about every area in which you are not an expert.

..."

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A truly worthy piece for every person on the planet. I plan to read it every day for a while.

14 replies

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Highlight:

Is Everything You Think You Know Wrong? (Original Post) HuckleB Mar 2016 OP

Very good advice. HassleCat Mar 2016 #1

Indeed. HuckleB Mar 2016 #8

If you've ever been quoted in the press (and this goes back to the days we actually had a press), Kip Humphrey Mar 2016 #2

Heck, the things they'll do to LTTE turn the author's meaning upside down. HuckleB Mar 2016 #3

seriously??? wow. Kip Humphrey Mar 2016 #4

It may sometimes be a college intern who doesn't know how to edit. HuckleB Mar 2016 #5

Great article. Kicked and enthusiastically Rec'd. Iggo Mar 2016 #6

Thank you! I agree! HuckleB Mar 2016 #7

This reminds me of a show I just saw recently. Adam Ruins Everything. kcr Mar 2016 #9

Nice! HuckleB Mar 2016 #11

''I never lie, and I'm always right.'' Gabi Hayes Mar 2016 #10

People should ask themselves questions about their "faith" in the supernatural. Arugula Latte Mar 2016 #12

If you knew everything, would that be satisfying or extremely dull? Rex Mar 2016 #13

No question about it. -eom- HuckleB Mar 2016 #14

HassleCat

(6,409 posts)

1. Very good advice.

Reply to HuckleB (Original post)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 12:29 PM

Mar 2016

I have, at various times, operated a nuclear reactor, repaired electronic equipment, and fought wild fires. News reports on these subjects are often superficial, full of incorrect information, lacking in detail, etc.

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)

8. Indeed.

Reply to HassleCat (Reply #1)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 05:00 PM

Mar 2016

It's amazing how bad it is getting, as news organization gut themselves.

Kip Humphrey

(4,753 posts)

2. If you've ever been quoted in the press (and this goes back to the days we actually had a press),

Reply to HuckleB (Original post)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 12:30 PM

Mar 2016

you know the press gets it wrong with a high degree of frequency. In the current era of propaganda and purchased press advocacy, truth is no longer a driver.

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)

3. Heck, the things they'll do to LTTE turn the author's meaning upside down.

Reply to Kip Humphrey (Reply #2)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 12:36 PM

Mar 2016

I used to send LTTEs quite frequently, but, over time, the editors just hacked to find the "meaning" they wanted from them. No more.

NYT used to call/fax to get approval on LTTE edits. Not anymore.

Kip Humphrey

(4,753 posts)

4. seriously??? wow.

Reply to HuckleB (Reply #3)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 12:38 PM

Mar 2016

Not being a LTTE writer, I did not know this. This is such a totalitarian tactic!

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)

5. It may sometimes be a college intern who doesn't know how to edit.

Reply to Kip Humphrey (Reply #4)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 12:41 PM

Mar 2016

But my suspicions that that's not always the case remain high. I will claim that's the likely case for the things local weeklies do. They used to be among the best at investigative journalism, now they just want to rile up the hits online, and turning locals into idiots by editing their LTTEs is one way they seem to do just that.

Bad editing, rushed editing, or purposeful manipulation: If the end is the same, it probably doesn't matter.

Iggo

(47,561 posts)

6. Great article. Kicked and enthusiastically Rec'd.

Reply to HuckleB (Original post)

Mon Mar 21, 2016, 12:44 PM

Mar 2016

I especially like this paragraph:

"People have limited time and mental energy. Any one person can only ever scratch the surface of even existing human knowledge, and that knowledge is exploding. So we have to take shortcuts, oversimplify, and settle for decent approximations. Just don’t fool yourself into thinking this is definitive knowledge, or ignore the vast depth of knowledge that you don’t have. If you are going to settle for good enough, then be realistic about what that means."

Words to live by. I think I'll frame it and put it on the wall.