Trying not to have uninformed opinions

Years ago, wife and I were chatting and stumbled on this idea: what if we only talked about things we actually knew about? *crickets* Yeah, we’d got lot quieter. It’s amazing how much conversation consistents of speculation, guesses, and conceptual spackle.

So you know what I do when I have opinions about something I don’t really know much about? Which is, you know, practically anything outside of musculoskeletal medicine, ultimate frisbee, tech, and science fiction movies? Here’s what I do: I shut up.

I shut up and try to stop having the opinion in the first place, because why do I even have an opinion if I don’t really know what I am talking about? This is why I am silent on so many spicy discussions on social media, and generally mute on many controversial social issues.

Sometimes I worry a little about my silence, because “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” But then I remember that listening is actually something, and I’m very busy fighting for a better world in areas where I am actually qualified to do so.