I am confused some of the time. If I hear an idea that belongs to someone else, I am slow to say whether I agree or disagree. At least more hesitant than I used to be.
Why? I consider the thought or opinion from multiple angles. Perhaps from the point of religion, or my lived experience, or all the other thoughtful people I know. I ask the other to tell me how he arrived at his point of view. Have other intelligent public intellectuals taken the same position?
Where is the evidence?
When I offer my slant on a problem, if it is well organized and reasonable, my counterpart might react with, “That makes sense.”
Such acknowledgements are affirming. Still, I prefer it if my interlocutor asked a question rather than accepting my position without taking a moment to think through the concept or dig deeper. Challenges are desirable because they help me learn.
Information rains down on us at a level unknown to everyone who lived here before us. Even during the first years of television, most of us had access to three major stations; the networks signed off at midnight and returned to broadcasting the next morning.
Today, depending on the source, the news may be mere idiocy or deceit. We can be fooled without extraordinary effort. Moreover, many people find the ideas, reports, and news painful to listen to. They turn away because the full blast fire hose of disaster, unhappiness, and unfairness is too much to bear. The deluge feels like punishment, a form of battery and inundation.
It is easier to reach a quick conclusion about what is right and what is wrong than to gather information and inform ourselves. Instead, we choose to believe we have learned enough. Since we cannot tolerate more, we decide our knowledge is adequate.
In my way of living, I tend to take in more reportage and analysis than most, including different frames of reference.
Nor am I easily driven by emotions such as anger and hate. I have found that by gathering information, reading, and listening to multiple sources, I can reach a sober conclusion.
So I think.
Of course, I am not God, the Pope, or the Dalai Lama.
Yes, I have many concerns about the future of the world and the lives of my loved ones on this planet.
But.
Somehow, I sleep at night, believing I understand what I think is happening.
I have long been asking myself questions. Soon after I reached the age of double digits, I watched newsreel films about World War II on TV or in school. There he was, Chancellor of the Third Reich, wearing a toothbrush mustache—also called the Führer und Reichskanzler—ranting.
The typical response was “It can’t happen here!” Yet I found myself unsettled. What if the dark presence spoke English?
I’d reached 11 or so. Over time, I came to understand that under pressure, much of humanity is not at its best.
Part of our dilemma comes from our appreciation, enjoyment, and vulnerability to stories. Our ancient predecessors needed to be persuaded by a leader who hoped to protect their group of 20 or 30 from dangers, whether from natural disasters or enemies. Similarly, access to healthful food and avoidance of sickening or poisonous substances were essential.
Somebody would tell a story, and if the group survived, the information would spread.
We have long encountered secular, religious, and political tales, sometimes forthright, sometimes not. Their self-interested spin and opportunistic motives might influence others through storytelling.
Each country has its own history and mythology. Widely accepted origins, part legends, bind millions of people who will never meet into a community of trust, shared ideals, and cooperation.
The American history I learned in the middle of the last century made little mention of discrimination against religious minorities among early American settlers. Those books didn’t touch on how white male property owners alone possessed voting rights, or a woman’s lack of standing on numerous issues.
Neither were the brutality, unfairness, and intolerance experienced by the Native Americans, Chinese immigrants, and Japanese citizens of the West Coast a part of the story presented.
Ours was the land of the free and the home of the brave. Not of the Ku Klux Klan and the lynchings of black men.
The confusion of so many of us is exacerbated by algorithms designed to stir us up and drive us to return to the sources we visit.
We are no longer the children of devoted parents who make up stories at bedtime, as I did for my kids—a new one every night to amuse my daughters.
Now, as adults, we are left to ferret out which accounts are accurate and which play us for fools. Beware those who make us think that the other, who lives in another part of the nation, has darker skin, speaks with an accent or a twang, is our enemy.
How shall we reduce our confusion and not be overwhelmed? Take a break from the avalanche of supposed information every so often. Find joy in friendship and love. Eat well and exercise.
Talk about the turmoil, too, and find a connection so that you are not alone.
Learn new non-political things, new games that will keep your brain in shape, and remember what you can be grateful for. Then get back to a part of the news cycle you can manage, be careful of your chosen sources, and do your part to repair the world.
Yes, we are all confused, at least a bit, but there is goodness to be found in our land if we seek it and work to sustain it.
It is the work for all time and for our time.
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All the images above are sourced from Wikimedia Commons. At the top is a Confused Man by Notas de prense. Next comes Confused Young Woman by CollegeDegree360 on Flickr. Finally, Confused User Icon Red by OERDESIGN.
Oh, Dr. Stein! What a thoughtful analysis of the information overload the plagues us in these troubled times. The world can learn so much from your thoughtful, measured approach to events and ideas.
Thank you, Michelle. I don’t know if there is a balance that we can maintain, but we must make the effort, if, for not other reason than remaining capable of engaging with the reality we need to take on.
exactly why I seek out the tiniest little stories of kindness and good in people and places. they recenter me
Good work, Beth. I am glad you are finding those people and places. Once found, we at our best if we engage with them. Thank you.
I’m with Michelle! What a perfectly timed post for where my head is these days. I might frame this paragraph and/or print a few as flyers to hand out, as needed:
“It is easier to reach a quick conclusion about what is right and what is wrong than to gather information and inform ourselves. Instead, we choose to believe we have learned enough. Since we cannot tolerate more, we decide our knowledge is adequate.”
Oof…and yes. Thank you, Dr. Stein. This is a keep, keep, keeper of an essay. 💝
That is the exact paragraph I zeroed in on, Vicki. Why am I not surprised that you and I would be on the same wavelength? 🤗
Not surprised! See me smiling? 😊❤️😊
Thank you, Vicki. The challenge is ours as many writers are noting. Given that, we must stay healthy and prepare ourselves for the reality that confronts us.
Yes, yes, yes. In solidarity with you – yes! 💝
Every week, there is something new that leaves me confused. How can people see the same set of circumstances, even when there is video, so differently? Preying upon people’s fears that being different equals evil is one of the oldest tricks in the book that people fall for repeatedly. For a country that espouses freedom, we sure can be awfully narrow-minded.
“Do your part to repair the world.” That’s the line that fits my thinking. When I’m frustrated or angry with national or world events, the only answer for me is to try to make a difference in my community.
You have touched on a question that is essential, Pete. In my opinion, it is a part of human nature. Stories benefit us differently, depending on our preexisting emotional condition and status, the tribes we belong to, and our capacity to deny or repress certain information in favor of a different flavor that benefits our sense of wellbeing. We project our problems our troubles on to others, and leave ourselves feeling better than they are, especially those deemed potentially dangerous.
It is all very complicated and one could say more. Even freedom is defined and understood differently, and people disagree on who has the right to be free. Glad you are focused on making a difference. You have my applause.
This was the perfect thing for me to read this morning before I get ready for church, Dr. Stein. Your steady guidance is appreciated and practical. Thank you for posting it. I need calm voices in my life like yours!
Glad it helped, Lori. When the world speeds up I tend to slow down. Nonetheless, I am not immune to all that is happening. Be well.
Thank you for such a timely essay,
You are welcome, Harry. Many thanks.
This. “Learn new non-political things, new games that will keep your brain in shape, and remember what you can be grateful for. Then get back to a part of the news cycle you can manage, be careful of your chosen sources, and do your part to repair the world.”
There’s a barrage of negatives that get thrown at us daily, from multiple events and then multiple sources who keep multiplying the information, to the point that if we are trying to follow it we become overwhelmed and then tune it out. It’s almost as though this is the intent. Create a populace so ready from hearing and seeing that they tune out and then allow “others” to handle everything.
Personally, I try to keep a very light finger on the pulse of what’s going on without doing deep dives into all the opinions and articles written on it. Am I copping out of my responsibility as a citizen? Perhaps. However, my mental health needs to be given a primary consideration, so I have learned not to become emotionally attached to every single event.
Times have changed dramatically from our youth when there were far fewer sources of information, no internet and every person who had a soapbox to stand on wouldn’t be treated like a demigod. We live in a time of information overload, and this seems to empower some to become part of the headlines.
Your advice is wise. Those are the parameters I try to live by, for I recognize that I am a puny human who can be broken if I’m not careful, so I take care.
Another piece of helpful advice is to become an encourager. Was it Mr. Rogers who recommended it? Not sure. It is something I try to do, both with people online and in person. Look for their strengths and support those, instead of seeking out the weaknesses or flaws. A few gentle words of encouragement lift someone else and may give them the strength they need to keep going.
Beautifully said, Dr. Stein. I think Tamara really captured something important—how hard it can be to stay connected to global events without feeling overwhelmed. For many of us, it helps to focus on what’s right in front of us: getting involved in local efforts, supporting our communities, and helping where we can. The big stories still matter, but sometimes the best (and most sustainable) way to make a difference is by improving the corner of the world we actually touch every day.
Thank you, Erin. I know you are hard pressed by circumstances and appreciate what you do in your own community. My thoughts on our larger scale dilemma is reflected in what I wrote to good Tamara. I am proud to know you both.
Since I have read your posts for a while, I can well imagine why it is necessary to live as you do, Tamara. You are a fine human being.
I would add, nonetheless, that the group of those who are able to be more engaged and emotionally capable of action will be necessary to prevent the further advance of intolerable conditions. I am speaking of conditions both civil and environmental.
If the group at work to forestall and overcome the worst is not large enough, all of us will suffer, including those who do not or are unable to do more.
The example of the 2024 election results demonstrates part of the problem. According to the US. Census Bureau, “In the 2024 presidential election, 73.6% (or 174 million people) of the citizen voting-age population was registered to vote and 65.3% (or 154 million people) voted according to new voting and registration tables released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.”
Thanks for your sound advice, Dr. Stein. I have also “found that by gathering information, reading, and listening to multiple sources, I can reach a sober conclusion.”
I also sleep at night—well, most nights at least—and I have a fairly good picture of what is occurring. One solution I found was to stop watching the 24/7 news cycle and instead sit and enjoy The Economist and The Wall Street Journal in their paper editions. I did this because I was tired of getting bits and pieces of news and trying to put it all together. I needed to read long-form journalism to get informed, not just about what is going on in this country, but around the world.
We live in an interconnected world, and events happening in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia will affect the U.S., and vice versa. What we see on cable and online news is essentially an influence campaign that is driving citizens crazy, often without them realizing it. News companies, influencers, and politicians know how to use this, and they are doing so very effectively. As a result, people are making rash decisions, and anxiety is probably at its highest since the pandemic.
Your advice to take a break, find joy in friendship and love, eat well, and exercise is spot on. We need more of that, and then we can reengage and use discernment while trying to understand the world.
I also avoid almost all of the tv and radio news, preferring to read or listen to thoughtful writers, including a well known award-winning economist and a couple of historians. You are certainly correct about how we are being used, threatened, and many have reached the point of distraction.
As a boy I wondered how I would deal with things like a pandemic, the Great Depression, and WWII, all of which had been endured by my father and, save the pandemic, by my mother. Even though I recognized that we were vulnerable to fascism, I never actually thought it would happen. Surprise! We are in one of those moments the Stoics talked about in terms of being tested. I imagine you know this from personal experience. Whether we like it or not, we are finding out who we are. Thanks for your thoughtful responses, as always, Edward.
You’re very welcome. I’m glad that you mentioned the Stoics, because what we are currently living through is the perfect case study. I can see how pertinent that philosophy is, and CBT is a perfect fit, especially when anxiety starts to creep in.
Feeling confused seems to put it mildly. I’d sleep better at night if that was the case…overwhelmed, burned-out, anxious, angry seems more apt, though I like your reminders, suggestions, and gentle manner.
I think there is both the confusion question and the nature and knowledge of what is happening in the world, Evelyn. That said, I take your point. Thank you for your comment and sleep well!
“How shall we reduce our confusion and not be overwhelmed? Take a break from the avalanche of supposed information every so often. Find joy in friendship and love. Eat well and exercise.” Such great advice, Dr. Stein.
And in that we find the strength for Tikkun Olam. We all need to do our part and reduce our confusion so that we can.
Thank you for this thoughtful essay and encouragement, Dr. Stein!
My pleasure, Wynne. Thank you for encouraging me!
[…] overload, and misinformation overload, is a reality of life in the age of AI. In this brilliant post, Dr. Stein provides a thoughtful analysis of the information overload the plagues us in these […]
Thank you again, Michelle, for drawing attention to my writing. Here’s to Canada, too!
I enjoyed your blog entry, Dr. S. And I’m barely returning to WordPress as a reader only. I don’t blog, and I doubt I ever will. But I appreciate reading blogs like yours (and Evelyn’s).
In response to your entry here, I limit my time online, unless I’m connecting with others via email. I’m no longer on Facebook or other social media platforms (for the most part), though I might look into gaming as a hobby (with an alias, of course). I have been living the past few years embracing life offline, and I enjoy it better. I find my life offline is less confusing, more peaceful, more integrated – though with a few different challenges related to social anxiety.
I must add, however, that sometimes being less confused brings about its own challenges. Sometimes knowing can be painful, depending. I’ve learned that from personal experience.
Thank you, Gayle. I am glad things are better. Your thoughts have always been interesting. I hope life treats you well.