Think Critically
Times are kind of crazy right now, I must say. In my lifetime, I haven’t had to deal with something like this. I know there were other virus outbreaks like the SARS and N1H1 but I didn’t feel as threatened by those as I do now by Covid 19. Perhaps being a parent has amplified these feelings and justifiably so. The rate of transmission and mortality is of grave concern and it’s important to stay level headed and analytical during these times.
The divisiveness over this outbreak has been interesting to witness. Of course there’s a spectrum here and everyone has their take on what’s going on and how to react but it’s important to look at the data and make reasonable decisions. It is said that, in any scenario, when looking for the truth, it generally lies somewhere in the middle. In this case, it would be somewhere between complacency and panic. While I can understand peoples overwhelming feelings of doom, and how it may lead to panic, it’s important to look at information with a critical eye and make a decision based on science and not by all the naysayer or apocalyptic rhetoric that’s swirling around on the internet right now. And this is no time to be dismissive. Considering what our planet is facing, it’s important to focus on what would serve human kind best and that would be to treat ourselves as if we were sick no mater the lack of symptoms.
A critical thinker will take all available data, run it through their own analysis engine, throw out the bullshit, which usually lies at either end of the spectrum, and come to a reasonable conclusion with which to shape their behavior around. My experience with this definitely has a bias, and that bias is science.
As a podcast host and producer, most of my information comes from that medium. Peter Attia, Sam Harris, Kevin Rose and Joe Rogan have all had doctors, scientists, virologists and biologists speak to the issues facing us with Covid 19 and have published hours of conversations with hard, unbiased data for us, the consumers, to use to make well educated decisions. Some of this information was generously brought forward from within paywalls due to its importance. The issue with giving credence to what some media outlets are feeding us means that you may succumb to their biases, which are generally focused around generating clicks and not spreading useful information.
If you read the headline “US-Canada Border to close amid virus crisis” and not delve any deeper, you’re not getting the whole story. That headline, in and of itself, provides no insight and if you’re going to make decisions based merely on the headlines you read, you’re going to be misinformed and start propagating inaccurate data which could cause people more stress and anxiety or worse, ambivalence.
The World Health Organization has worked for years to keep us earthlings safe and healthy on a planet rife with disease. This should be the first place we look to collect data that is accurate and unbiased. They are a global organization whose best interest, I feel, is in the health of human beings and not in manipulating the people to get votes. Next, you should visit your country’s website to keep abreast of the recommendations that are passed down from the W.H.O. to keep us safe.
In a time where our world political leaders make it feel like we’re watching a bad after school movie full of insecure name callers with clique driven narratives. Where these people give false impressions of power and culpability, I think I will lean toward science as my top source of information. I would encourage you to listen to some of the podcasts that I have included in this piece to truly get up to speed on the reality of Covid 19.
Wash your hands and keep your distance. Get outside and be with nature. Ground yourself and above all, take care of one another.
