🔔 Why is everyone always wrong about everything?

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Why is everyone always wrong about everything?

If you feel personally attacked by that question... Don't.

It's nothing personal.  

(Although if you think you're not 'everyone' then I have some news that might trouble you...)

We are all constantly wrong about all sorts of things.

Yet, despite our individual ignorance, we somehow manage to provide for ourselves and others, generally do more good than harm, muddle through, and add value to society in weird and abstract ways.

Contrary to the headlines, society is actually heading in a positive direction...

In the chat 👆 Pinker talks about “improvements in human flourishing.”

His results and data-driven conclusions are often derided (as a quick google search will confirm...)

Let's look at them anyway 👇

But the world is CLEARLY getting worse, doesn't he watch the news?

One of my favourite graphics 👇

Media coverage is one of the biggest obstacles in the pursuit pursuit of avoiding ignorance.

I prefer to define the pursuit of information as avoiding ignorance rather than seeking knowledge.

I know they sound like the same thing, but somehow my brain differentiates between the two...

a) Avoiding ignorance = Figuring out how things work

b) Seeking knowledge = Gaining intelligence

The second option either leads to intellectualism or becoming this guy 👇👇

The first option keeps that healthy curiosity alive and kicking...

So, why are we always wrong?

Well, how can anyone expect to master anything when human thinking is so ridiculously flawed?

188 cognitive biases to prove that point 👇

It's a wonder we manage to achieve anything when you see it like that, might as well just give up now...

OK, this is all pretty abstract.

Let's get more specific and use a recent example.

The UK government again.

Full of terrible monsters seeking to RUIN British farmers...

shakes fist angrily

Presumably, they're doing it in pursuit of profit for themselves and all their rich mates (those absolute bastards are always at it)

Has anyone even thought about the environmental costs of importing food halfway across the planet?  

ASSUMPTIONS

Tweet 1 assumes that more distance = more pollution

Tweet 2 assumes that self sufficiency should be a goal

Tweet 1 was expertly handled 👇

Going deeper 👇

Tweet 2 is a trickier prospect...

OK, not tricky.

It's clearly an oversimplification.

Let's be constructive and reframe the question.

Why doesn't every country aim for self-sufficiency, especially on something as fundamental as food?

As it turns out, this idea was discussed at great length back in 2008, shortly after the global food crisis.

Back then, Monsieur Barnier (remember him?) said that Europe's Common Agriculture Policy was the 'answer'

This would be the same CAP that paid farmers NOT to produce food...

A better answer to the self-sufficency question 👇

So, what can we do about the whole 'being wrong' thing?

Here's a list of 1000... Kidding.

At the root of it all, there's one over-riding value that gives most bang for the buck:

Humility