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19 more thoughts from 2019
20. If the headline says “New study finds…” or “Researchers discover…” then I might read the story. If the headline begins with “Science says…” or ends with “…., says science,” then I skip it.
21. “Science says…” is passive-aggressive phrasing meant to imply that you’re fool or a kook to disagree. Those you use it intend to shut down alternative interpretations through shaming.
22. You’ve heard it said, “You’re entitled to your own opinion, but you’re not entitled to your own facts.” It’s kind of a moot statement. Very little of what I know as “fact” comes from reason and experience, most comes from what I’m told by others. And I am entitled to choose for myself who to trust for information.
23. You’ve heard it said that Einstein said: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” The first person who attributed the quote to Einstein was lying.
24. Attributing one’s opinion to Einstein is to appeal to authority: “You may disagree with me, but how can you disagree with Einstein?” That’s why so many memes are fake Einstein quotes. But wisdom is wisdom regardless of its origin. And this “insanity” definition isn’t even wisdom.
25. It’s simplistic at best to say “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Practice and persistence through repitition don’t always deliver the results as soon as we want them…
