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Over the past couple of months I’ve posted ten stories about disinformation and how to confront it. About 120 people have seen them: not bad, but no stampede, and certainly nowhere near enough to move the needle even a tiny bit vs. the propaganda and disinformation facing us. I’m neither a renowned psychologist nor a … Continue reading “Coping in the Age of Disinformation: Part 10 – That’s a Wrap”
In The Demon-Haunted World, Carl Sagan tells the story of the fire-breathing dragon living in his garage. Spoiler alert: there’s no dragon. There is, however, an amusing anecdote that demonstrates some very weird things that can happen when you ignore evidence (or the lack thereof). As Sagan tells it, a friend comes by to see … Continue reading “Coping in the Age of Disinformation: Part 9 – Evidence First”
This is part eight of a ten-part series on coping with disinformation. For part seven, visit What You Want To Hear. We talk with people we disagree with almost daily, people who hold views diametrically opposed to us, people we’re certain are operating under the influence of disinformation. You need to know how to talk … Continue reading “Coping in the Age of Disinformation: Part 8 – Talking To People You Disagree With”
This is part seven of a ten-part series on coping with disinformation. For part six, visit Cognitive Bias. The best politicians and salespeople take advantage of a universal truth: tell ’em what they want to hear, and they’re yours. “The art of propaganda is not telling lies, but rather selecting the truth you require and … Continue reading “Coping in the Age of Disinformation: Part 7 – What You Want To Hear”
This is part six of a ten-part series on coping with disinformation. For part five, visit Skepticism is a Virtue. Cognitive biases are the shortcuts we take when thinking. And like many shortcuts, they can leave you lost in the woods instead of at your destination. An ounce of awareness is worth a pound of … Continue reading “Coping in the Age of Disinformation: Part 6 – Cognitive Bias”
This is part five of a ten-part series on coping with disinformation. For part four, visit Ask Why. Skepticism gets a bad rap, thanks to frequently being confused with cynicism, but they’re not the same. Cynicism distrusts everything. Skepticism trusts evidence. You can find a more detailed definition but that’s what it boils down to: … Continue reading “Coping in the Age of Disinformation: Part 5 – Skepticism is a Virtue”
This is part four of a ten-part series on coping with disinformation. For part three, visit Ask Why. In an ideal world, we’d all be extremely well-informed. We’d have the time and leisure to read up on issues and examine different sources, educating ourselves and coming to informed decisions about everything from local politics to … Continue reading “Coping in the Age of Disinformation: Part 4 – What’s Your Source?”
This is part three of a ten-part series on coping with disinformation. For part two, visit Stay Curious. I wrote about the power of why previously, but it bears repeating, especially when countering disinformation. “Why” is a tremendously powerful word, so powerful that asking it five times was entrenched as a problem-solving tool at Toyota. … Continue reading “Coping in the Age of Disinformation: Part 3 – Ask Why”
This is part two of a ten-part series on coping with disinformation. For part one, visit Read Things you Disagree With. One of the first things you learn about negotiation (such as in these courses I took at the University of Toronto) is to stay open and curious. Without doing so, you can’t understand what’s … Continue reading “Coping in the Age of Disinformation: Part 2 – Stay Curious”
Welcome to part one of a ten-part series on coping with disinformation. In this third decade of the 21st century, we badly need dialogue on how to cope with all the misinformation and disinformation that threatens to overwhelm us. I hope you find something useful in it. Idea #1: Read things you disagree with. I … Continue reading “Coping in the Age of Disinformation: Part 1 – Read Things you Disagree With”
