Wisdom

Epistemology: the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope, and the distinction between justified belief and opinion. (Wikipedia)

Conviction: being certain of what you know.

Foolishness: acting on conviction without thoughtful consideration of the evidence.

Wisdom: knowing that you don't know.

Life: learning from experience.

You may wonder why I am bringing this up again like it's all I have to write about. Here's why. Four years ago when the dirty business of social media involvement in the US election was exposed, I retired my Facebook account. A few weeks ago, because of the pandemic lockdown I opened a new account on Facebook so I could keep in touch. I have been lurking there for a while and it seems that nothing has changed. Mark Zuckerberg would still like to make money by selling me to advertisers. Today they matched me with Real Estate, Bell, Netflix and the World Food Programme. 

Some of my friends are still ranting on the same old themes unaware that Mark Zuckerberg is selling them to advertisers. As well, many of us (me included) are posting trivia and reposting warm fuzzy memes so we can get that little dopamine rush that comes from being noticed with a thumbs up or a smiley face without realizing that this is all about selling us to the advertisers. 

Meanwhile, propaganda fed to us to get our attention cynically polarizes our opinions while offering us up as likely marks to advertisers selected just for us depending on where we stand on the issues.

We need a vaccine against such mind control. PBS has produced one in the form of a four-part documentary, "Hacking Your Mind". I have been taking the cure. 

Let there be wisdom and life.