Dear S.Q. I’ve stopped listening to U.S. national and international news. This government makes me sick to be an American. I argue on-line with people who used to be friends but think Trump is a god and dismiss facts that make him unacceptable as a leader. Who’s crazy here?
Dear American, No one’s crazy but many have succumbed to “confirmatory bias.” This is defined as believing new information that only agrees with their views; follow news and social media that shares their belief or spin facts that support their narrative; refuse to consider opposing perspectives; and dismiss all logical and rational facts disagreeing with their conviction.
Why does this happen? Because it’s easy. It’s easy to believe what you believe, share a comfy conversation with like-minded friends, feel righteous (with pumped up self-esteem) knowing others think as you do. So, WE must be right. Right? Wrong. Not challenging your own conclusions when opposing facts emerge is lazy thinking. And we all do it. The trick is to recognize when you are doing it and decide if you want to put in the extra mental resources to make an informed, logical opinion of value or remain brain-dead. -SQ
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