Seeing is Believing

I suppose as you age, you remember more and more. All the posts about shaving and increased hair growth made me recall my “off the wall” one-of-a-kind mother.

I admit it, I was a total “momma’s boy” and that’s probably why I’m pro-women. But my nutty mom had this idea: she believed the earth was FLAT! During my whole life she would argue with me about this — always saying, “A flat earth is what I SEE.”

I never knew if she was being serious, or if she was putting me on. Even during her last few weeks alive, she gave me no peace! She even had her own explanation about orbiting satellites: they went around the outer perimeter. And the stars, moon and sun? The whole thing was crazy.

But there it is. People believe what they see and experience, and that is the truth for them. As many of you have pointed out, thankfully that’s not how science works.

True. There is no reality, only perception. That’s why it can be very hard to get through to people who have no experience with the matter at hand.

It happens to me all the time, particularly when I ask for advice. Of course I follow the recommendations if it makes sense but if it doesn’t, or if it isn’t adequately explained, I’ll probably opt not to do it. :whistle:

Only to find out why it was advised in the first place. :o

I kinda like it when someone makes a statement that makes me re-think my beliefs. Sometimes it strengthens my belief and sometimes it make me look at the situation in a different light.

Michael, do you think that your Mom was trying to help you to develop critical thinking?

Hey Barbara … NO doubt about it!

Hahaha. Well, you know what the smartest people out there say: the more they learn, the more they realize how much they don’t know.