Quantum Happiness Series: Critical consideration

The important thing is to never stop questioning.”

—Albert Einstein

We are sll born with a built-in bullshit detector. However, when in the grip of ennui, we sometimes bury our heads in the sand and refuse to use it. To break the grip of ennui, we must unearth that detector and turn it to high. 

When you suspect you either aren’t being told the truth or possibly not seeing the whole picture, chances are you aren’t. Don’t ignore it and hope that it will go away. It won’t. Instead, tackle it head-on and determine what the real matter is.

In this age of technology, facts have never been easier to verify or disprove. There is no excuse for ignorance. Find out.

Fact finding

 Are you dealing with fact or opinion? A fact is information that you can verify. For instance:

Tammy Kearce was a college professor from 2001-2012”

That is a fact.

However:

Tammy Kearce was a good college professor from 2001-2012.

That is a matter of opinion.

This distinction is also known as objective vs. subjective information.

·        Objective information relays verifiable facts.

·        Subjective information is opinion and subject to interpretation.

Spin it

“Spin,” is a communications term that refers to selecting information to fit an objective. 

Often, opinion is presented as fact, and it is up to us to determine which we are dealing with and how to proceed with the information we are given. Political campaigns are a great example of subjective information being cloaked as objective fact, so pay attention to the next round of political ads you see and try to divide the objective facts from the subjective opinions.

Subjective ads usually have an emotional component while objective ads have verifiable information and statistics, and most are a blend of the two. Even when an ad appears objective on the surface, statistics and quotes can be skewed and taken out of context to spin the content in a particular direction.

Stereotypes

It is human nature to be wary of things that are different. Therefore, we unconsciously form stereotypes when encountering new people or confronting new cultures. While stereotyping is a natural human response, making judgements about an entire group based on the actions of a few is a recipe for disaster and should be avoided at all costs. 

There is no such thing as a positive stereotype. All stereotypes are offensive to those being judged. It’s simply disrespectful.

Information will not hurt you, but misinformation will. So, do some research of your own before drawing conclusions about places or people that you don’t know or understand.

Mexican misinformation

My sister-in-law is married to a man from Mexico, and they recently moved from Florida to an area outside Mexico City. They love it there. The weather is great. The people are nice. The cost of living is reasonable. It’s a lovely place to live.

But when we tell people where she is, we are often asked,

“Is that safe?” 

While I understand their concern, I encourage them to look further than what they see on the news or hear from politicians.

·        Do your own research.

·        Ask questions.

·        Make informed decisions.

Blond bombshell

I was blond for much of my adult life, and as you may know, blonds are stereotyped as being bubbly and outgoing (among other things). But in my case, that could not be further from the truth. I am no bubblier nor more outgoing than my dark-haired friends. In fact, just the opposite.

As I age, my hair becomes more and more grey. Of course, that brings a whole new set of stereotypes: old, feeble, slow…. But again, not so much. I am as nimble and quick as ever, and I refuse to cover the gray in my hair because I like it. In fact, if I could encourage it, I would.  

Subtle stereotypes:

Most of us are familiar with the most common stereotypes: gender, race, religion, nationality, economic status, education, etc., but stop and think about hidden stereotypes, which can be just as damaging.

Take me for instance. I am a 50-year-old, white, married, female, living in the U.S. On the surface, I may not seem to wrestle with many stereotypes, but look more closely:

·        I was a journalist for 20 years.

·        I was a college professor.

·        I’ve been married since I was 17.

·        I’m a native of a small southern town.

All carry possible stereotypes. The list goes on and on. We all deal with these automatic assumptions every day, so it pays to be aware of the stereotypes we face, as well as those that we project onto others, because the first step is to admit there is a problem.

So, when you find yourself making judgments or assumptions about people or places that you aren’t personally acquainted with, slow down and check it out. You may be surprised by what you find.

Engagement exercise 1:
Pay attention to the next three advertisements you see and try to divide the objective facts from the subjective opinions.

Advertisement 1

Objective facts: ______________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Subjective opinions: ___________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Advertisement 2

Objective facts: ______________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Subjective opinions: ___________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Advertisement 3

Objective facts: ______________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Subjective opinions: __________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Engagement exercise 2:

To better understand stereotypes, try seeing the world from another’s perspective.

Imagine what it is like to be a person of another race. Spend three minutes imagining life through their eyes and document your discoveries.

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Now, imagine what it is like to be a person of another gender. Take three minutes to see life through their eyes and document your discoveries.

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Now imagine what it is like to be your pet (No kidding. This is an exercise in perception). Take three minutes to see life through their eyes and document your discoveries.  
____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

 

Engagement exercise 3:
Name five obvious and five hidden stereotypes that you face and how they affect your everyday life.

Obvious:

1)     _________________________________________

2)     _________________________________________

3)     _________________________________________

4)     _________________________________________

5)     _________________________________________

 

Hidden:

1)     _________________________________________

2)     _________________________________________

3)     _________________________________________

4)     _________________________________________

Vacay Q&A Playlist: Critical Consideration