So,
Ever argued on the internet? Have you ever “won” an argument on the internet? The process usually starts with bravado and is matched with the same energy from a near-opposite position. Sometimes, you might even go so far down the rabbit hole that you find sources that agree with your belief without fully vetting them. It feels soooo satisfying to be right… right?
This has probably happened to all of us. Maybe we believe something strongly, but when checked on our belief, we discover an entire iceberg of counterarguments beneath the ocean’s surface. But, we rarely—if ever—consciously consider the flaws in our logic. We may instead respond with an “I ain’t reading allat” or a meme. Why do we hold our beliefs so strongly and rarely amend them, even when we must reckon with our limited knowledge on any given topic?
I have seen this everywhere. I saw this at the protests around and inside The University of Michigan’s student government. I saw this at the many Regents’ meetings I have attended. I still see this in my own home and family. It all boils down to one thing: You have been taught to be punished for your lack of knowledge. If you don’t know a lot about a “culture war” topic, shut the %#%! up! Were you not aware of a problematic University policy? You are complicit! You didn’t watch this TV show fear-mongering about immigrants? You must hate America!
I wish I could say some of the above is exaggerated. In my experience and in those of the many students I have interviewed, sometimes this is even an understatement. While I realize the irony of claiming that intellectual curiosity is dying at a massive public University; if it is truly becoming the reality here, imagine the reality for your average American, struggling to get by with no motivation nor energy to pursue a healthy, ever-evolving worldview.
Whether it’s mental health, trauma, or even outright abuse, we all have formative experiences that cut off oxygen to a potential fascination. Think about the last time someone shamed you. What did that person say? And how did that make you feel? I think rarely, if ever, does an interaction like that encourage you to learn more. No matter how knowledgeable you are on one topic, there will always be another where you have not passed 101; and that’s perfectly fine, as long as you are actually willing to pursue knowledge and opinions on the matter! But, even if someone steps into your realm of expertise with a “bold” opinion, be courteous and kind, even if what they say makes you want to scream (or listen to nu-metal), please empathize with their position, even if ignorant.
Humans are naturally curious, and it is only through our social conditioning that our curiosity is stamped out. You can’t force a cat to be an herbivore, after all. Losing curiosity is not healthy and plenty of research shows that. If someone is saying something blatantly wrong, by all means fact-check them. However, do not attack them and do not make the facts feel like their position is inferior to yours—-even if their position might have truly reprehensible consequences if pursued. Offer them a conversation and companionship. If they respond rudely, be direct in your confrontation but do not participate in kind. More often than not, even a person you may think is awful and unsalvageable has a lifeline of hope beneath their guarded surface. We are humans, and if that defensive posture can be learned, it can be unlearned too. However, our self-reinforcing, polarizing culture needs to change as a whole, and our participation must be unwavering in our empathy and understanding.
In today’s climate, it seems that intellectual curiosity, whether it’s pursued and debated through books, hobbies, or even a new podcast, is not only overshadowed but actively discouraged. You cannot ask good-faith questions without someone who claims to know more about everything judging and shaming you for being “ignorant.” So few people are asking those questions. The right blames the left. The left blames the right. I blame myself as an independent. And understandably, like most of us tired of fruitless debating, the next generation is largely not participating. Who can blame them? Who wants to learn how to think and apply that to a topic, all while being harassed and cyberbullied the whole time? Hell, I’m sure I’ll get flack from this article that would still miss my overarching point.
If we don’t encourage learning, even by asking simple, naive questions, we destroy the next generation of leaders before it starts. Please: Be kind to others. If someone has 0 clue what they are talking about but is clearly not malicious, politely point them in the right direction. If this article changes one mind—-just one—-I’ll be a happy man. All I ask is that you give your fellow human a chance to succeed and be compassionate in their educational journey. The future of intellectual curiosity is counting on you.
