A dizzying world of information
Why is it that in this world of information, I feel so little confidence in my ability to find information?During the past two days, the topics of climate change (the new buzzword for global warming) and GM crops have come across my path. I have listened, read and tried to understand - and once again, this creeping feeling of incapacity and overwhelmed-ness overtakes me. It seems that people on both sides of each debate either select their data to suit their ends, or use the SAME data and interpret it differently. The net result: I feel an increasing decline in my ability to evaluate or discover things for myself... If even the experts can't read the data, what chance do I have?
I listened to a debate on global warming on Friday night which had J hot under the collar over the incorrect use of statistics. I, on the other hand, was feeling pretty convinced by all that was being said - until my dear husband explained to me after the talk where the logical loopholes and statistical errors were in the presentation. So once again, I feel fooled by rhetoric, and a dizzying sense of alienation. I feel, in many ways, that even though I am (relatively) well educated and try to think/reason/understand - that real understanding on these issues is beyond me.
This quandary carries over to my feelings about world news. What is important to know and think about the war in Iraq? Or South African politics? Or the nuclear race? Last years' Israeli/Lebanese Hezbollah crisis was a case in point. It seems to depend on where/who/what you read. One option might be to "choose my source" and decide that I was a BBC/Fox News/News 24/New York Times or whatever girl - pick my "side" and just go with it. Or more cynical yet - I could use Jon Stewart and Wikipedia as my sole sources :-) But I'm dissatisfied with this option too.
My cowardly response is to behave like an ostrich: to ignore the "world of information" out there and hope that if something is big enough, or important enough, or clear enough - that someone else will get my attention and tell me. It's cowardice, I know, but what else can one do about this feeling of informational paralysis?
posted by Bronwyn at 5:50 am
2 Comments:
I agree with you, as I so frequently do! No label of ostrich though, just because there is a plethora of dastardly information coming from all sides with questionable agendas frequently. IF it is important enough, yes -the facts will reach you! If you must be a feathered bird Bron, I'd choose for you the label of OWL. Much love, Mom.
Hey Bron.
Interestingly, you don't make it clear whether the debate was swaying you towards or away from accepting Anthropogenic Global Warming (or maybe this was your point!) This is a subject that has become quite close to my heart - a logical progression from Renewable Energy, I suppose. I spent three days last week at a Carbon markets conference, discussing the pros and cons of the Kyoto Protocol and carbon credits. One thing that was not discussed was whether or not Anthropogenic Global Warming was a fact or not. From the evidence I have seen, climate change is a reality, and there is a high probability that humans have a lot to do with it. Can we expect to be able to pump tons of muck into the atmosphere with no effect?
But I too have become a great skeptic of the sources of information. No one desire to portray truth anymore, just their point of view. Thank the LORD that some things are known to be True - this world, with all its problems, is going to pass away, and re-created in perfection. Until then, we can try to fulfill both our 1st Commission and the Great Commission. :)
But your mom is right - so much more an owl than an ostrich! :)
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