You are once again on point. Hockey is the best sporting event to watch live and in person (I’m sure high definition television makes it even fun to watch at home).
But substantively you hit a home run (sorry but hat-trick doesn’t capture the brilliance of your post). Your writing brings to mind Orwell’s 1984, in particular, “thoughtcrimes”.
In George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984, thoughtcrime refers to the act of thinking in ways not approved by the ruling Party (Ingsoc). It is the ultimate crime, encompassing any thought, idea, or feeling that deviates from the Party's ideology, regardless of whether it's expressed or acted upon.
The left and the right both want us to conform to their standards of right and wrong, but they also demand that we “think” it is right and wrong.
No longer is it enough to not say certain things in “polite” company but we must “believe” it!
Sadly, we have long since abandoned reason (way before this current decade of crazy) in both our countries. There are so many subjects to cover I will only have the stomach for a couple.
However, I must set this up by summarizing the core illness: Availability bias.
Availability bias, also known as the availability heuristic, is a cognitive bias that influences our judgments and decision-making. It refers to our tendency to rely on readily available information – the information that easily comes to mind – when evaluating a situation or making a decision.
How availability bias impacts decision making:
Overestimation of Probability: Easily remembered or frequently discussed events tend to have their likelihood overestimated. For example, hearing about a plane crash in the news may lead someone to overestimate the probability of a plane crashing.
Selective Perception: Availability bias can cause a focus on information that confirms existing beliefs, ignoring contradictory evidence that may be less prominent or available in memory.
Neglecting Statistical Data: Objective statistical data can be neglected in favor of personal anecdotes or vivid examples, leading to inaccurate assessments of risk and probability.
Impact on Various Decisions: Decisions in investments, career choices, purchasing, and medical diagnoses can be significantly influenced by availability bias.
First, I will say a word or several about sexual harassment (in the workplace) and sexual assault (in our schools). These must be paired because they are jointly responsible for the destruction of romantic relationships and the family.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I am sure that there are real cases of sexual harassment and assault. But, to be generous, it is overstated and the damage has been done. Men and women for centuries have found each other (for better or worse) during the mundane activities that bring them together. But no more because the risk is too great and the consequences are fatal.
As a father of young adults (male and female) I have heard countless stories from many, many young people who are miserable. I have read the misinformation on the frequency of both of these transgressions. If we lose our standing in the world because of depopulation, we can only blame our politicians and judges—you reap what you sow.
The final example is also responsible for tremendous harm to our children. We have allowed a lie to take root, be fertilized and grow into a paralyzing mythical monster. That lie is that if we don’t watch our children, every second, of every day, the real monsters among us will steal them away and kill them or worse. And yes, terrible people do live in our communities, but not in the numbers that are misreported (as always I encourage you to do your own research, but beware of confirming data all too available on the internet).
This has caused stunted growth in maturity and increased anxiety in many, many children and young adults (and their parents). But it is all false. The truth is our children are at greater risk when they get into our cars.
I could go on and on but I’m sure this will upset many people for which I am pleased. I hope you get so upset that you do some research (a Google search is not research!). We tend to spend more time actually researching the products we buy for our homes than we do on social and political issues. Why are we so credulous?
The AI hysteria is just another case of a boy crying wolf. Stop getting your “information” from news or podcasts and do some heavy lifting. Don’t turn another blind eye like you did when COVID hit.
I am a rational Christian. Trust me when I tell you I have learned how to be skeptical. I believe things to be untrue until I have reason to trust their veracity. I used to be a cynic, and this is much better. A cynic believes nothing is true.
Right on target, and you made me laugh, too. A two-banger today!
Glad you liked it!
Phil,
You are once again on point. Hockey is the best sporting event to watch live and in person (I’m sure high definition television makes it even fun to watch at home).
But substantively you hit a home run (sorry but hat-trick doesn’t capture the brilliance of your post). Your writing brings to mind Orwell’s 1984, in particular, “thoughtcrimes”.
In George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984, thoughtcrime refers to the act of thinking in ways not approved by the ruling Party (Ingsoc). It is the ultimate crime, encompassing any thought, idea, or feeling that deviates from the Party's ideology, regardless of whether it's expressed or acted upon.
The left and the right both want us to conform to their standards of right and wrong, but they also demand that we “think” it is right and wrong.
No longer is it enough to not say certain things in “polite” company but we must “believe” it!
Sadly, we have long since abandoned reason (way before this current decade of crazy) in both our countries. There are so many subjects to cover I will only have the stomach for a couple.
However, I must set this up by summarizing the core illness: Availability bias.
Availability bias, also known as the availability heuristic, is a cognitive bias that influences our judgments and decision-making. It refers to our tendency to rely on readily available information – the information that easily comes to mind – when evaluating a situation or making a decision.
How availability bias impacts decision making:
Overestimation of Probability: Easily remembered or frequently discussed events tend to have their likelihood overestimated. For example, hearing about a plane crash in the news may lead someone to overestimate the probability of a plane crashing.
Selective Perception: Availability bias can cause a focus on information that confirms existing beliefs, ignoring contradictory evidence that may be less prominent or available in memory.
Neglecting Statistical Data: Objective statistical data can be neglected in favor of personal anecdotes or vivid examples, leading to inaccurate assessments of risk and probability.
Impact on Various Decisions: Decisions in investments, career choices, purchasing, and medical diagnoses can be significantly influenced by availability bias.
First, I will say a word or several about sexual harassment (in the workplace) and sexual assault (in our schools). These must be paired because they are jointly responsible for the destruction of romantic relationships and the family.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I am sure that there are real cases of sexual harassment and assault. But, to be generous, it is overstated and the damage has been done. Men and women for centuries have found each other (for better or worse) during the mundane activities that bring them together. But no more because the risk is too great and the consequences are fatal.
As a father of young adults (male and female) I have heard countless stories from many, many young people who are miserable. I have read the misinformation on the frequency of both of these transgressions. If we lose our standing in the world because of depopulation, we can only blame our politicians and judges—you reap what you sow.
The final example is also responsible for tremendous harm to our children. We have allowed a lie to take root, be fertilized and grow into a paralyzing mythical monster. That lie is that if we don’t watch our children, every second, of every day, the real monsters among us will steal them away and kill them or worse. And yes, terrible people do live in our communities, but not in the numbers that are misreported (as always I encourage you to do your own research, but beware of confirming data all too available on the internet).
This has caused stunted growth in maturity and increased anxiety in many, many children and young adults (and their parents). But it is all false. The truth is our children are at greater risk when they get into our cars.
I could go on and on but I’m sure this will upset many people for which I am pleased. I hope you get so upset that you do some research (a Google search is not research!). We tend to spend more time actually researching the products we buy for our homes than we do on social and political issues. Why are we so credulous?
The AI hysteria is just another case of a boy crying wolf. Stop getting your “information” from news or podcasts and do some heavy lifting. Don’t turn another blind eye like you did when COVID hit.
Sadly, no matter how accurate "availability bias" may be, people either think it only applies to others or have never heard of it.
Or are too busy watching "news" stories about all the ways they'll likely to die to do any thinking at all.
You have identified the truth of the matter—of most ills—a failure “to do any thinking at all”.
LMAO at the Three 6 reference. Pure literary genius. Bravo!
Thank you! :)
Don't worry, you're not just "old man yells at cloud."
Not yet.
Love the paraphrased quote! (Nothing quite like a good laugh to start the day. Thank you.)
Glad it made you laugh.
Sandwiched in with all the uncertainties of AI and potential (govt', perhaps corporate) abuses? Humour is all the more important.
I am a rational Christian. Trust me when I tell you I have learned how to be skeptical. I believe things to be untrue until I have reason to trust their veracity. I used to be a cynic, and this is much better. A cynic believes nothing is true.
I'd argue cynics do believe in things, just the worst things.