Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Graham Seibert's avatar

Trust is in people and ideas. The first question is whether you can trust a proposition.

o Does it make sense? Does it satisfy the scientific method? A great many propositions about climate, gender, race and so on are simply ideological. Don't be afraid to ask hard questions, and compare the theory with the evidence of your own eyes.

o Is somebody pushing an agenda? Cui bono? Who will benefit if I happen to believe what they are claiming?

o Is it written? Are there books about it? Even though people try to ban them, and Amazon may no longer carry them, you can know about books on every subject. Thank God you can still find them if you look.

o Is the idea under question something supported by people you trust? Trust ripples out in circles.

When it comes to people:

o What is their track record? What are their bona fides?

o Is their tone polite, receptive to rebuttal? Or are they shrill and insistent?

o Are they willing to engage in dialogue?

o What is their circle of acquaintances? Who supports them?

The Internet, and especially Substack, have ironically expanded the circle of people that I trust. I was already very skeptical of academia, medicine, and especially government. It is reassuring to find a circle of similarly skeptical people.

Expand full comment
Brigid LaSage's avatar

Maybe we should hang on to those hardback encyclopedias after all!

Expand full comment
10 more comments...

No posts