Mark Twain wrote, “When in doubt, tell the truth.” That seems, on its face, to be simple enough, but what does it mean? We live in a land of lawyers, where what is the truth becomes more and more a matter for speculation. POTUS has labeled a whole genre of purported information as “Fake News.” But what does that mean? Does it mean news that he doesn’t like, or does it mean misinformation for which determinate proof of falsity exists?
Tag: evidence
When Smart People Unwittingly Embarrass Themselves
I shouldn’t be embarrassed for other people when they say stupid things. But I am. I can’t help it. I want to help them stop saying dumb things and embarrassing themselves. But when they refuse to see that what they said is dumb, due to being blinded by their superstition, they won’t believe they need to change. It’s sad. And painfully embarrassing.
“Statistics” are Irrelevant
Even if some former slaves die after being freed (and the evidence is pretty clear that a lot of them did die as a direct result of “emancipation”) you still have no right to enslave anyone for any reason. Not for their own good, not “for the children”, and not because the cotton won’t be picked otherwise.
Uncertainty is the Root of the Current Market Craziness
Investors put their money into enterprises under certain tax and regulatory conditions. When those conditions start suddenly changing or looking like they may change, the investors worry. And when they worry, they get more cautious about where their money is and what it’s being used for. They sell off, move their money into what they hope are less volatile assets, and the stock market takes a hit.
The Denial is Strong in This One
In the past I have pondered whether it is ethical to accept “welfare” from government, but I have never doubted that it is dangerous. I have compared it to milking a grizzly bear.
Leftist Lessons of The Case Against Education
Overall, reactions to The Case Against Education have been civil and fair. While I’ve been heavily criticized, I’ve been criticized for what I actually said and believe. My main disappointment: While the quality of the left-wing critiques has been fine, the quantity is modest.
Righteousness vs. Church; Education vs. School
Church attendance may or may not aid in the cause of becoming more righteous. Similarly, school may or may not aid in the cause of education. There is ample evidence that it hampers the process far more than it helps. But even school optimists will concede that learning and schooling are two separate things.
That’s Not Feminism: 3 Ways Women Advocate For Their Own Oppression
Something I often see in the feminist movement (and I am a feminist!) is women demanding for something that appears on the outside will liberate them, but in reality, it only furthers their oppression. Usually, the very nature of the thing they are asking for, the very concept of it is bred from patriarchal ideals and ways of thinking.
Anti-Gun Laws Good for Criminals
Anti-gun laws make criminals safer. “Gun free zones” are gun free only until some evil loser decides to go on a killing spree and chooses a target where he knows he’ll be free to kill. When that happens there are suddenly too few guns; the only guns present being in the wrong hands. This is mandated by law. It makes the killer’s cruel task easier and deadlier, and doesn’t boost the safety of the kids or teachers.
Many Crappy Studies = One Good Study
“One study, which didn’t directly examine this topic, but was following a sort of similar thing 20 years ago, although controversial and some say non-reproducible, might not have had the proper data collecting methods and didn’t control for X,Y, and Z, but seemed to show a relationship like this, and that kind of seems to imply this other relationship I’m talking about. Of course it’s not definitive so take it with a grain of salt, but even if just roughly, directionally true, it at least doesn’t disprove my theory.”