(Don’t) Question Everything

I remember when it used to be a sign of advanced thinking to question everything we were told, especially by those in power. Somewhere along the way that flipped. We are now supposed to believe everyone (at least the right someones) implicitly. To do otherwise is victim-shaming, racism, empowering the oppressor, etc. We’re supposed to accept at face value that everyone is trustworthy and has no ulterior motives for anything. Unless they’re the wrong people. Then we should never believe a word they say.

The funny thing is that who the automatically-trustworthy and the completely-unreliable are varies by which side you identify with. If you’re on the Left, no one on the right can ever be trusted, and they can never have anyone else’s best interests at heart, while everyone on the Left is a paragon of virtue. Of course if you’re on the Right, the opposite applies.

At times like this cynicism is safer than trust. But at the very least, ask question. Poke holes. They’ll try and convince you you’re a horrible person for doing so, but as a general rule, the more they complain the more you should probe. Validate, verify, and make up your own mind. It’s generally safest.