Be wrong

Do you know who has more power than you relize?

That person who doesn’t say anything. That person who stays online for hours of the day just learning various things.

They may seem anti-social, but there is a chance that they have done their, ahem, RESEARCH!

Yes, there is a chance that most of what they spout is conspiracy nonsense. There is a chance that they could actually have reality on their side. If you don’t agree with what they have to say, have notes to back your position up.

Why do I say this?

Recently, a discussion with a family member resulted in them putting me in an awkward place. I gave my personal position. They retorted with “bring me research or you’re lying”, so I did. They turned around after reading what I had presented them and retorted with that if I didn’t agree, I just had to say so.

They were so entrenched in their convictions that even a dose of reality sent them into a spiral and resulted in me being manipulative and condescending. They said that I could find research backing up their position, so I read some.

SURPRISE! It only kind of hinted at their position not being entirely wrong, but did nothing to back them up, as they had claimed.

Yes, this is turning into a bit of a rant. At the same time, I am kind of steering away from my initial narrative of “trust those who read too much.”

Please, allow me to course-correct.

My point is that you should not dismiss something right away, even if it goes in the face of what you think you know. Be proven wrong. Be happy that you are learning something new, even if it damages that viner that you have been cultivating all this time of you being the “professional” on a topic. It’s okay being wrong.

At least you know something new, now.