Detecting Baloney
Some tips for how to detect baloney (foolish words or ideas that are nonsensical or absurd). This ought to be part of every person’s intellectual self-defense toolkit.
- Listen to or read folks like the late Carl Sagan and Michael Shermer
- A good starting point is Carl Sagan’s Baloney Detection Kit
- Two other great video clips are Michael Shermer 1 and Michael Shermer 2
- But be careful with YouTUBE and other social media algorithms in general - they can be emotionally loaded, depending on the topic
- Build your own list of trusted sources instead of relying on whatever the algorithm serves
- Cross-check claims with multiple credible outlets before accepting them
- (There are many others …)