From quote-mining to sensationalized headlines, it is difficult for people to figure out what is real and what is not. It’s become even harder to sleuth through media news of any kind, especially in 2022.
Science Friction is a fascinating documentary, directed by Emery Emery and executive produced by Brian Dunning, that gives many examples of how we are deceived time and time again. Critical thinking is a skill that is not always used when it is something very personal. We often rely on the integrity of news journalists to tell us true information, but are there any of those even left?
Scientists like Dr. Steven Novella (Neurologist), Dr. Ken Feder (Professor of Archaeology) Dr. Janine Krippner (Volcanologist), Jonathan Davis (Marine Biologist), and other experts, delve into their own personal experiences and frustrations, especially being on tv shows like Dr Oz, Discovery and the History Channel that have edited, misrepresented or completely taken out of context what they’ve said.
There are despicable people who prey on the vulnerable for their own greedy pockets and that is not something new. It can be devastating outcomes. Not just financial, but emotional too.
Celebrities are notorious for promoting questionable practices. A perfect example clip shows Oprah bringing on a psychic and allowing them to do what is called a cold-reading on an audience member. A little trickery and no one watching the show actually knew what had happened the previous day to facilitate the “wow that was amazing!” look on everyone’s faces.
Quite a shocking revelation for some, but all too common of a practice for those who know the tricks, especially magicians, like Jamy Ian Swiss, who appears in the doc and talks about deception in the realm of magic. Magicians are skilled performers who are upfront telling their audience that what they do is in no way real, it is an illusion and trickery. They have spent many years of life perfecting the art of being 'honest liars' - I should know, I'm married to one! :)
Some people are skeptical of certain things yet hold strong beliefs in other aspects of their life even when all evidence points to the contrary. One area that often has feverish debates is: Medicine vs alternative medicine. Does holistic medicine offer any insight into curing chronic disease or is Big Pharma (often quoted as such) just trying to keep us sick? Depending on who you ask, you are going to get very different responses. As an example, Tim Minchin a ridiculously talented and outspoken Aussie comedian, composer, and science advocate states 'You know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work? - Medicine.’
When all evidence points to the contrary of one’s belief system, should we challenge those thoughts? After watching this documentary, there are a lot of questions to ponder and the dire need that reminds us the importance of teaching critical thinking skills from infancy all the way into our wiser years.
Although in my own life, I would like to say I have evolved towards more of a skeptical mindset, which has helped me navigate the media information/misinformation highway, I know that I can still be caught off guard and bamboozled just as easily as anyone else. Knowing that is scary yet empowering at the same time.
Stay skeptical my friends.
💜Check out the trailer and learn more at Science Friction
💜Skeptoid Programming (free, entertaining and educational)
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