RE: The Age of Distrust

But what we need isn’t more cynicism. What we need is sharper skepticism.
Skepticism and cynicism are often mistaken for the same thing, but they couldn’t be more different. Skepticism is measured. It questions, evaluates, and skepticism seeks truth.

These words are enlightening and thought-provoking, reek of clarity of a wise mind.

While trust is the vehicle of a social relationship, it can not always be measured and does not always guarantee that what hitherto has been a trustworthy person has cashed his/her trust into something distasteful.

There’s a reason the old adage “Trust but verify” remains timeless. Blind trust makes you vulnerable, while blind cynicism isolates you completely.

In cybersecurity Govt issues advisory, NEVER TRUST, ALWAYS VERIFY....but we can not apply it in a social relationship. In fact, it's the other way round, we have to trust first before we could verify.

America, like much of the rest of the world, has become a 24/7 political spectacle, where social media spreads ideological spin at warp speed. People no longer analyze information; they absorb and repeat it, so long as it aligns with their pre-existing beliefs

I believe not just America, it's everywhere, there is an undeclared misinformation infodemic.

The most surprising part? How easily people fall for manipulation

That's because we have not worked on our conscious capital. We have outsourced and delegated our discerning capacity to others.

Cynicism fuels this cycle, breeding fear and outrage while shutting down curiosity, conversation, and even the possibility of common ground

We should be all ears, even for the conflicting opinions. The discourse should not be undermined for expediency. The dialectism should be encouraged to reach synthesis for a healthy society.

Thanks a lot, Sir @ericvancewalton, for writing this excellent article. I really loved it. It was like romance with words chosen & articulated, and quite thought provoking.

Thank you.
🙏🙏🙏