An Educational Contrarian

Formal standards standardize something. It is useful to standardize some things, such as electrical outlets, allowable car emissions, and the minimum requirements to become a doctor, lawyer, or nurse. Standardizing the outlet means that any electrical device with a compliant plug will fit, regardless of who manufactured either of them. Standardizing allowable car emissions helps keep the air clean. Standardizing minimum requirements to enter certain professions is intended to ensure a basic level of quality and protect citizens from those selling snake oil. It should be noted that the standards that exist in the world have a profound impact on each of our daily lives. I can go to any gas station and know that the gas nozzle will fit in my car, rather than having to find a Honda nozzle for my Honda car. I can buy a car and trust it will meet federal standards regarding emissions. I can go to the doctor and know that at the very least they met the compliance requirements to be a doctor...

It is a natural thing to seek out messages that confirm our preexisting beliefs or ideas about the world and other people. It is also fairly common to interpret unclear messages in a manner favorable to the beliefs or ideas we hold. However, just because it is natural or common does not mean it is also good or right. It is not—in fact, just the opposite. The tendency to seek out confirming messages is called confirmation bias. The trouble with confirmation bias is that it always risks replacing the truth with what we might want to hear. Any resulting action then risks being the wrong action when the truth is considered, while appearing to be the right action given the bias. It allows any judgment and subsequent action to appear and feel appropriate, while it may be entirely wrong given the underlying realities. Our preexisting beliefs or ideas can occur from a dizzying array of possibilities, can be subtle or blatant, and can be sexist or racist. They may resonate from surface rese...