I am continually amazed at the statements made and the people who believe them. PT Barnum said that there is a sucker born every minute, and while I object to the inherent meanness in that remark, there is a potent truth there.
The internet and social media have created an information deluge that can be difficult for anyone to sort through. But every day, I see people post things on Facebook as if they are true that simply defy logic.
I use snopes frequently when a story has enough of a ring of truth to bear follow up. But many of the stories don't even come close enough to sounding real to get checked.
There are many satirical web sites that offer fake news, for entertainment purposes. I can't believe how often I see these satirical stories posted as if they are genuine news stories, and see people who have always appeared to be reasonably intelligent commenting on them as if they are real news.
Please, do yourself a favor. Don't believe everything you read. Run everything past your logic filter.
What exactly is a logic filter? It is a device that anyone can train their brain to use. I'll use a simple example. Headline reads "New weight loss drug helps suburban housewife lose 100 lbs in two months with no change in diet or exercise." Seriously? So far, the only proven weight loss method is to take in less calories than you burn. 100 lbs is 350,000 calories. That equals a 5800 calorie a day deficit. So, if we use a 250 pound 5'5 inch woman, she can burn 2535 calories an hour running 12 mph. Do you have any idea how fast that is? 12 x 5 is 60. That is 5 minute miles. Let's say she can jog. 795 an hour. Crap. How many hours of jogging is that? About 7.5 hours. So a pill can replace 7.5 hours of jogging? Not logical.
(BTW - I have previously shared that I competitively racewalk. I get about 700 calories an hour for a competitive effort, about 300 an hour in training. So, when it comes to calories burned in exercise, individual results may vary.)
(This conversation totally ignores large doses of illegal amphetamines or cocaine. Those can produce amazing results up to and including death.)
Applying your logic filter will make you less likely to fall for a con artist. It will make you more thoughtful before making a decision. Applying your logic filter will help prevent embarrassing moments. It will prevent countless disappointments.
Like any other self-discipline, applying your logic filter is a skill that improves with use. Practice. Life is really a lot easier when you don't waste time, energy and emotion on things that will never be true.
Admittedly, I used a very simple example, and many of the illogical statements you hear will be less easy to disprove. Use math, use science, use history. Don't be an easy mark for the con artists. The more of us that run things past our logic filter and don't proliferate the bad information, the less bad information will be available to deceive the next person.
Help clean up the internet. Before you hit share, run the story past a logic filter.
As Jim would say, you are dead nuts right :) To me, logic is fairly close to common sense -- which is also sorely lacking. Sometimes, people want to believe that a pill will magically change them overnight because they don't have the wherewithal/gumption/skills to actually work at what they want changed. Although those of us who regularly apply a logic filter do wish that sometimes there was an easier way and might succumb to a magic pill :)
ReplyDeleteIf I ever find an easier way, I promise to call you first.
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