The “Instant Expert” Fantasy
The internet made information free. It did not make expertise free. The Instant Expert Fantasy examines the growing gap between knowledge and understanding.
critical thinking
The “Synthetic Authority” Problem
A confident voice, professional website, or AI-generated answer can appear authoritative. The Synthetic Authority Problem examines why appearances often outrun expertise.
The “Wikipedia Expert” Problem
Reading about something can make you informed. It doesn’t automatically make you an expert. The Wikipedia Expert Problem examines the gap between information and understanding.
Bombshells That Never Explode: A Headline Decoder Ring
Headlines are supposed to summarize the story. Today they often summarize the emotion the editor wants you to feel. A headline used to do one job: tell you what the article is about. Simple. Today, headlines often do a different job: trigger a reaction—anger, fear, smugness, tribal satisfaction—so you click, share, and argue before you’ve … Read more
The Myth of “Common Sense”
Everybody loves “common sense.” It’s the one thing every man claims to have, like a strong back and a firm handshake. It’s the compliment we give ourselves and the insult we aim at everyone else. “Use common sense.”“Come on, it’s just common sense.”“They have no common sense.” But here’s the punchline: Almost nobody defines it. … Read more
Why Scams Thrive in a World That Knows Better
Scams thrive not because people are dumb, but because they’re human. When you’re tired, broke, or desperate, hope sells better than honesty. The conman’s trick is knowing that the feeling of progress is often more tempting than the grind of progress itself.