We are constantly encouraged to consider the dangers of false or fake information, but are certainly not informed to the nature of misdirection. Virtually every major social, political, economic, and cultural issue is the focal point of public concern, distrust, outrage, or blind acceptance. Although we communicate largely in the digital age with emojis, hashtags, memes, and abbreviations, more than anything we communicate through fallacy. From ad hominem to an appeal to ignorance, and from hasty generalization to red herring, perhaps the most popular form of argument is the false dichotomy. Other times, the misappropriation of concern and the lack of context diverts important resources for feel-good beliefs and self-fulfilling prophecy. Examples abound: we believe that social isolation will keep us healthy, though it is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke; we are informed that murders and gun violence are spiking everywhere, despite the fact that they are statistically declining; we see PSAs for alcohol and driving, but no mention that half of all drivers are using at least one form of potentially impairing medication or caffeine; we are told that most degenerative diseases are genetic, without addressing the underlying cause of environmental factors and why families pass on unhealthy habits more so than unhealthy genes. The world would seem far safer and brighter if we allowed for this type of balance - though we should never forget about the reality of what makes life unsafe and dark.
We are constantly encouraged to consider the dangers of false or fake information, but are certainly not informed to the nature of misdirection. Virtually every major social, political, economic, and cultural issue is the focal point of public concern, distrust, outrage, or blind acceptance. Although we communicate largely in the digital age with emojis, hashtags, memes, and abbreviations, more than anything we communicate through fallacy. From ad hominem to an appeal to ignorance, and from hasty generalization to red herring, perhaps the most popular form of argument is the false dichotomy. Other times, the misappropriation of concern and the lack of context diverts important resources for feel-good beliefs and self-fulfilling prophecy. Examples abound: we believe that social isolation will keep us healthy, though it is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke; we are informed that murders and gun violence are spiking everywhere, despite the fact that they are statistically declining; we see PSAs for alcohol and driving, but no mention that half of all drivers are using at least one form of potentially impairing medication or caffeine; we are told that most degenerative diseases are genetic, without addressing the underlying cause of environmental factors and why families pass on unhealthy habits more so than unhealthy genes. The world would seem far safer and brighter if we allowed for this type of balance - though we should never forget about the reality of what makes life unsafe and dark.
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