The Bathroom Scale and Confirmation Bias
Day 228
Do you ever feel like the scale is lying to you? You look down, see an undesirable number staring back up, and you think, “This can’t be right. This darn scale is off.” I’ve certainly been there. Also, there are times when I step on that same scale, the one right outside my bathroom, and the number is lower than I expected. Now I think, “Man, I am looking gooooood,” and don’t call into question the accuracy of this $20 scale from Bed, Bath and Beyond.
When the answer is unsatisfactory, we question the source. When the answer is pleasing to us, we are quick to accept it. This confirmation bias is not limited to numbers on a scale. Every piece of information is accepted by some while being rejected by others, and that’s totally fine.
I am not upset by a difference of opinions. Discourse and discussion are the best way to learn about the world and learn about the experiences of other people. My problem is that few people have that DESIRE to learn something new. Everyone’s mind already seems made up — on everything.
We have our favorite news sources that share our same biases, we curate our social media news feeds and timelines, essentially creating online-group-think (gotta love that unfollow feature), and we throw around words like “conservative” “liberal” “republican” “democrat” as if they were insults. Again, it’s fine to disagree, but how the hell are we going to make any progress if everyone’s mind is already made up?
The last few weeks have affected all of us. The deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile followed by the shooting of police officers in Dallas have sparked several difficult conversations. I’ll say it again — difficult conversations are great. Difficult people are the problem. Everyone wants to be heard, yet no one is willing to listen.
Multiple things can be true at the same time. Being a cop IS a tough job. AND minorities, particularly black men, are victims of unwarranted police shootings. Yes #BlackLivesMatter AND #ALLLivesMatter.
An “us and them” has formed on every issue we deal with as humans. Each side rejects all information, thoughts and opinions that are coming from the other side. AGAIN, having convictions and taking stances are fine — But at least be open to having a conversation with “them”. Be respectful to “them”. Try to empathize with “them”.
The world is not one big debate class. There’s no deduction of points for allowing yourself to be wrong, changing your mind or accepting another point of view.
So do me a favor — read an article (without judgement) from a different news source. Connect with your friend on social media that posts things that typically make you angry, and be willing to have your mind changed. Stop labeling people that have different opinions, and truly be empathetic towards their perspective — (Alright, that was asking a few favors, but at least try one of those).
— Going back to the original analogy about the scale —
In the end, the number on the scale does not matter. All that matters is if I am living as healthy as I possibly can. Am I eating healthy and am I working out?
translation
(In the end, the anger on my social media news feed does not matter. All that matters is what I do in real life. Am I kind to others and am I trying to get better everyday?)
