I have a confession to make: I get into fierce arguments on Facebook. Yes, I'm one of those people. I fight with anti-GMO activists, alternative health enthusiasists, anti-vaxxers, and lately, some dude who wants to dismantle our government and our education system and let a bunch of profiteers take over.
Now, I fully believe people are free to believe whatever they choose but what bugs me is when many of the above individuals speak from a position of authority. My hackles rise whenever I read or hear this:
- History shows us....
- Most experts say/agree that....
- Most doctors say/agree that....
And that's all you get. What doctors? What experts? Who are they? What are their credentials? Yes, I ask these questions because I passionately support information science and critical thinking; something these three statements lack due to absence of supporting evidence.
So, I ask for citations. Yes, I even ask for APA format sometimes (I know, it's being snarky, sometimes I can't resist). I'm sure some of you are wondering if the shoe was ever on the other foot. Oh yeah, I had someone ask me for citations once. I consider it a challenge (and I rose to it). Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way.
Often, when I challenge someone to cite evidence to back their claim, they refuse. When I point out they haven't proven anything without evidence, the usual comeback is "why would I waste my time?" This reminds me of a schoolyard argument I had once with a classmate circa fourth grade:
Me: I think you're a hypocrite!
Classmate: No, you're a hypocrite!
Me: You don't know what that means.
Classmate: Yes, I do!
Me: Ok, what?
Classmate: I know, but I'm not gonna tell you!
This is usually when I'm accused of being an intellectual snob. One dude even called me a "pompous pedant" (he really broke out the thesaurus, didn't he?). Yeah, I get it; no one likes a know-it-all. On the other hand, it's a step up from being called a nerd, I guess. Still, it's disappointing that in spite of "nerd culture's" popularity, intelligence is still not highly prized in American culture.
Now, back to the subject. I've seen and heard some doozies.
- You need to detox because your liver becomes overworked.
- History shows us private education is the only hope for our future.
- There wasn't cancer in our grandparents' time.
- Most doctors say (name of specific vaccine) is unnecessary if you've never had (name of specific disease).
Most of these come from Facebook forums. Of the few who actually try to rise to the challenge, they present links to Web sites of conspiracy theorists, people with no clear education in or experience with the subject, people who are clearly hawking a product of some kind, etc. There's the lack of critical thinking and information literacy.
Here's the deal: your libraries have access to databases containing professional publications. You can even access it online! I know this because I've seen them. Libraries in my state even have access to an alternative health publication database. The last guy I argued with (Mr. Pompous Pedant) fell into the "I know but I'm not telling you" camp. Within five minutes, I used my library's access to Ebsco Host to find two articles that rebutted his claims.
Now, here comes the other problem: even when these individuals manage to cite honest-to-God research publications, they can't comprehend what they're saying. Bear witness to Mr. Pompous Pedant; he actually thought a marginal increase in private school student's performance over their public school peers was an argument in his favor. (BTW-this is not a criticism of anyone who chooses private schools; you have a right to educate your children however you choose).
In the end, my main point is this: don't spout off a statement of authority if you can't handle someone challenging you to back your claim. If you're online, you really have no excuse. For that matter, if you have a smartphone, you don't have an excuse. You live in one of the most amazing times: the Age of Information. Credible, professional and authoritative resources are available at our fingertips. Ask your librarian how to use it.
