Quotes – 01

“It is easier to have a strong opinion when you lack information.”

- Michael Crichton

I was listening to a 2003 interview with Mr. Crichton on the “Tech Nation” podcast and he was describing a time shortly after he had written the book “Rising Sun”. There were several members on a board on which he served who were threatening to quit the board if he did not resign since Michael was obviously a racist. On being asked, none of the objecting board members had actually read the book, they had just heard that it was a racist tome.

It’s pretty obvious that, far from making decisions and issues simpler, more knowledge, more information can tease out even more issues that take you from an apparently black and white situation of an idealised fantasy world to the omnipresent gray that represents the real world.

So beware of people who tell you with confidence that their pat, simple answer is the only right way to go. They either do not know what they are talking about, they are ignoring large aspects of the situation or they are lying to you.

It is OK to have an informed opinion, but there is no opinion that is valid out of context. Be sure you understand that context.

Google Buzz

Related Posts:

Posted under Opinions, Skepticism

This post was written by Marc
on December 8, 2008 at 9:43 am

705 views

Leave a Comment

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

Comments

More Blog Posts

Next Post:
Previous Post:

Search