The View from Another Planet's Hell

Originally posted on Medium, 3/22/2017 In this series of columns, I will be taking on the false ‘fact’ that is endemic among political discussion and news reports, and helping readers to discern which sources of news are reputable, and which should be disregarded. I am attempting to make this as nonpartisan as possible, because false information exists on all points on the sociopolitical spectrum. I’m interested solely in giving people the tools to assess the information we receive in a critical and analytical manner. I hope to keep it from being too dry or academic in tone — I prefer to make these pieces very simple and straightforward so that everyone can benefit. However, for transparency, I will note that this series is substantiated opinion, and should be treated as such. I’ll begin with very simple ideas that apply to every part of analysis: recognizing fact and employing critical thinking. I’ll go on to examine sourcing, bias, the use of language, and skepticism, among oth...

Originally posted on Medium, 3/22/2017 To understand the world, it’s crucial to understand what fact is, and what it is not. Fact is something that cannot be changed or denied, something indisputable. ‘Water is wet’ is a fact. It is something provable via evidence, something that is tested with the same results after each test. Anything not proven or disputable is theory, hypothesis, or opinion. What’s the difference? I’ll apply the definitions of the scientific method to explain: A theory , in scientific terms, is a set of principles and related facts that are assembled into a concise view of a subject. The theory of relativity, for example, postulates that the speed of light in a vacuum is constant, and that all laws of physics are constant for non-accelerating observers. It covers a number of facts and understandings about physics into a single view that applies to all. A hypothesis is something that one believes to be true, but is not yet proven via tests. A hypothesis i...

Originally posted on Medium, 3/17/2017. 11/9 began a reality that barely seems possible — and leaves us with a future whose potential shape imposes dread and rage upon us. How many of us stared at TV screens in disbelief on Election Day this past year? Millions of people were left terrified, adrift, feeling as if everything we believed and knew was somehow rendered invalid by the nation around us. Many of us felt betrayed. All of us got angry. The anger was clear from the outset. We came out loud and strong. The second day of the new regime, over 4 million came together in protest on seven continents. Think about that for a moment — seven continents. Everywhere in this world, people stood with America on 1/21/17. I wonder how many of them would do so today, 3/17/17, just shy of two months past inauguration. I have to wonder how many nations are still hanging onto hope, and how many have begun to write us off. The state of our nation isn’t just about what lies within our borde...

I've decided that a blog is the only way to go for my writing, since Storify and Medium both annoy me with their formatting (or lack thereof). Some of you know me on Twitter as @cravennewworld , and if you do, welcome! I tend not to share much personal information. My words, my message, are where my focus lies, and I want them to be taken without any preconceptions. I'll say that I am an American of Generation X, a liberal, and a secular humanist and atheist. I'm snarky and have a foul mouth at times, for which I do not apologize. I believe in principles, ethics, scientific proof, and compassionate governance. I read. A lot. I have a wide variety of interests. I have a profane sense of humor. I have very little patience for willful ignorance. I will, however, talk to people who are willing to engage in discussion on facts and logic. I also like to hear from people who know more than I do, because it’s educational. Some of you may be familiar with my ‘Day X’ threads of...