I did my own research [meme]

I did¹ my own² research³

1. watched
2. someone else’s
3. shitty YouTube video

I saw this incredible meme on Twitter and it can’t be more true.

Related: You don’t have a right to believe whatever you want to

Please stop saying you “researched it”

Please stop saying you “researched it”. You didn’t research anything and it’s highly probable that you don’t even know how to do so.

Did you compile a literature review and write abstracts on each article? Or better yet, did you collect a random sample of sources and perform independent probability statistics on the reported results? No?

Did you at least take each article, one by one, and look into the source (that would be the author, publisher, and funder), then critique the writing for logical fallacies, cognitive distortions, and plain inaccuracies?

Did you ask yourself why this source didn’t publish these particular results? Did you follow the trail of references and apply the same source of scrutiny to them? No?

Then you didn’t f.cking research anything. You read or watched a video, most likely with little to no objectivity. You came across something in your algorithm-manipulated feed, something that lived with your implicit biases and served your confirmation bias, and subconsciously applied your emotional filters and called it proof. Scary.

(The quote above is attributed to Linda Gamble Spadaro)

Related: No, your ignorance is not as good as an expert’s knowledge

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M. Özgür Nevres

I am a software developer, a former road racing cyclist, and a science enthusiast. In the past, I worked at the Istanbul Technical University Science Center as a science instructor. I write about the planet Earth and science on this website, ourplnt.com. I am also an animal lover! I take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

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