Facts

A long time ago, I learned a four-letter word that begins with F. No word is inherently dirty. They become so because humans assign meanings to them. Saying this word can enrage people and cause division amongst friends.

I am, of course, talking about the word fact. Over the past handful of years, we have heard more and more about facts, alternative facts, fact-checking, and questioning what fact is and if facts matter. Spoiler alert – they matter.

Facts are bedrock: facts ground opinions, choices, and decisions. Facts are stable, unlike emotions and beliefs that can change at the drop of a hat. They are not wishy-washy, nor are they subject to debate. While they may be updated as new information comes available or is collected, a fact is a fact because the available empirical evidence makes it true.

I am always amazed when I run into people who don’t make decisions grounded in fact. People who aren’t open to new factual information because it might cause them to examine their beliefs and find out they have put their support in the wrong place. Humans don’t like discomfort and having an idea challenged, especially a deeply-held view that makes them feel warm and safe inside is very uncomfortable. Most people can’t handle that kind of discomfort. This is called cognitive dissonance, the discomfort experienced by a person when they hold two ideas that are not compatible with each other. For example, a person who values honesty may feel discomfort when they realize that they will need to tell a white lie to prevent hurting a friend’s feelings. To save ourselves from facing this discomfort, we may rationalize our choices or lie to ourselves. We may choose to believe in lies rather than facts.

I am no different. I struggle with having my beliefs and opinions challenged, but given time, I will work through the discomfort, consider the new information, and make adjustments as needed.

We have taken a step away from fact and rely more on feelings and beliefs to chart our course. This behavior is like building a castle on sand, expecting it to last centuries. A good rainstorm or a few strong waves will easily damage the foundation and make the structure unstable. The castle will either collapse or take immense resources to keep standing.

Dealing with our discomfort is how a healthy society and people function. It allows us to face uncomfortable facts, reconsider our current beliefs, and find a more informed way forward. I hope we will be a society that values facts more than our comfort one day. Where lies are given no oxygen and truth always has our ear.

Only this way will we indeed be great again.