Especially now that we have so much digital information at our
fingertips, we have to be really careful about what we believe and
don't, what applies to us and doesn't, what is old information and new,
what is biased and objective. The way information is presented and
interpreted makes a world of difference. And knowing the date and the
source of the information is critical.
When looking for
information, most people just do a quick online search and read the
first few listings that pop up. Remember that those listings are not
listed by date or by level of truth or even by best match with our
search request. The listings are not where they are by accident,
either. People, organizations and companies pay good money to get their
listings closer to the top so people will click on them. There are
several ways this can be done, and there are experts who make it
happen. It is a big industry/field of study and means big money for
those who come up at the top. What that means for the consumer (us) is
that we need to very carefully word our searches and be very selective
of what we read.
There are dozens of opinions, as
varying as you can imagine, on any topic you choose to research. Some of
those opinions are backed by scientific research and some aren't. Seems
like it would be fairly easy to distinguish between the two; just watch
for the right title or reference, right? No. You have to consider
several aspects of the referenced material: Is it worded and formatted
in a way that is professional and objective? Who is sponsoring the
research? Do they have a vested interest in the outcome, or are they a
neutral party with a genuine interest in an accurate conclusion? Who is
heading up the research? Is it always the same person or group, or are
there others who have had the same findings? Do they have a reputation
in the field, or have they created their own? Are they using titles or
positions that are deceptive (they sound official, but aren't legitimate
titles in the field)? Does the research involve a large sample
population, or is it just a small group? Is the sample random, or do
they have something in common that would influence the outcome? Was the
research conducted over a long enough period of time? Is it recent
enough, or are there newer findings? Every one of these questions
should be answered before you draw a conclusion about an opinion or
statement. And remember....just because somebody works in the industry
and writes a book or hosts a website does not mean they are an expert.
Even
after you are able to conclude whether a piece of information or an
opinion is accurate or even fairly accurate, you still need to consider
whether the information is applicable to you as an individual. You may
be the exception to the rule. There are very few truths that hold true
100% of the time. It is always best to first act on the truths that have
been scientifically proven, BUT, if that is not working for you, then
maybe it just doesn't apply to you. If there is one thing I have learned
in dealing with so much medical poop, it's that there are no absolutes.
There are always exceptions. No two bodies are identical, and no two
bodies will function or respond in the same way. You have to find what
works for you.
At the same time, there are many pieces
of information that are passed around as truths that just simply are not
true and have no validity, yet they are passed along as such when there
are several red flags flying high indicating that they are not. The
statement that "margarine is just one molecule away from plastic" is a
great example. Perform one search and you will realize this is a
ridiculous statement. Yes, margarine and plastic share many similar
molecular properties, but so do butter and plastic, and so do most other
things in our universe. The reality is that, on a molecular level, most
materials are made up of the same or similar molecules. The key is in
how those molecules are arranged. The arrangement of the molecules
determines the material formed more than the molecules themselves.
Our
DNA is an excellent example. We know that even the slightest difference
in the make-up of our DNA is what makes us all different. We humans are
extremely similar, but we are all unique. My son has a rare genetic
disorder called Dravet syndrome. It is caused by a gene mutation where
only two amino acids, out of his entire genetic make-up, are switched.
Nothing is missing, nothing is added, nothing is changed except the
line-up of the amino acids. That one change causes his brain to misfire
nearly constantly, causing seizures, disability and severe developmental
delay. So, you could say that he is one molecule away from being
normal, but he really is so very far away. :)
As a
matter of fact, I am stuck here at my laptop today, rambling at you,
because I am keeping my boy happy and entertained through a rough patch.
Lucky you! ;) Anyway, I hope this was helpful for someone. Navigating
through the mounds of information we have available to us can be a
daunting task. Maybe this will help you on your journey!
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