Proof Against Proof
Western society, especially America, has in recent decades become increasingly skeptical and distrusting. Put simple, we lack faith and trust in each other and almost anyone in positions of authority or who claims some authority on a topic.
Pics Or It Didn’t Happen – Not That We’ll Believe The Pics
Cries, often less than joking, of, “Pics or it didn’t happen,” “Show your work,” and “What are your sources,” are rife in most discussions, debates, and arguments in the modern Western world.
More often than not, if these demands are responded to, the result is that the people do not either accept or review the image and/or sources provided; instead they declaim them as fraudulent or impugn them for some other reason, most often perceived bias due to whatever funding mechanism are in place for those sources.
Little or nothing is believed. This is certainly true of anything that contradicts people’s opinions and beliefs and I believe that even holds true for things that agree with said people’s opinions and beliefs, though they’re willing to “suspend disbelief” enough to use it to further their various agendas.
It seems to me that we as a societal whole have become cynical and skeptical enough that we’re actually proof against proof.
Tags: Distrust | Faith | Lies | Media | Media Bias | Politics | Skepticism | Society | Technology | Trust | Truth
May 12th, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Absolutely superb. Short, sharp, direct, and very true.
May 13th, 2011 at 5:59 am
Well said!