trust and the internet

I mentioned the internet a couple of days ago and how it has changed everything about our sources of information. We don’t need to rely on anyone to be a gatekeeper of “special” information. If you’re online, you’re connected. You still have to have a filter, however.

If you have a medical ailment, you can find 100 different viewpoints about what you have and how to treat it. You still need to trust a physician enough to seek help. He/she is going to make a diagnosis and treat you and this will always take more trust.

Even when you use a search engine like Google, you have to trust the network. If you have used Google long enough you know there is a certain slant on what comes up first. As long as you know the slant you’re fine.

Like anything else in life, you have to decide. You can’t be paralyzed by indecision because you don’t have enough information. You can’t be so clouded by skepticism that you miss good evidence.

Trust is essential to survive. How can I learn to trust?