Should we verify EVERYTHING or trust until something is proven false?NEWS | 27 February 2026The cold war concept of 'Trust but Verify', I agree with, JGunn. Works well on big issues and decisions. The problem today is that we encounter an ENDLESS STREAM of possibly fake images and stories. Personally, I don't do the social media thing, or doom-scroll much, so my exposure is limited, but even the relatively small amount of internet slop I experience is WAY too much to fully verify. So I am left with my own common sense.
If something seems extreme, I wait for multiple sources to agree. Sometimes I'll even research if the issue will significantly change my behavior or world view. But really...how do we trust ANY source of information? Most of them are influenced by a pretty small number of entities that may or may not be interested in actual truth at any given time. So I am ultimately left with common sense again.
What would be best would be a general public that knew the difference between 'I bet that's true' and 'FACT'. Hard reach now that 'Alternative Facts' are an accepted thing for much of the population.
Critical thinking is the only real defense against fakery, and our system has to establish that as Bedrock for education. Whatever that may cost, I'd be happy to help pay.Author: Deni Ellis Béchard. Source
