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“So how do you know that?”
“Well, it’s common knowledge. Doesn’t everyone know it?” I answered, surprised at the question.
“Well, I didn’t know that and I go there all the time. In fact I have no recollection of that ever being the case.”
I thought about that. “Maybe I’m remembering wrong, but I don’t think so. I’ll check it out and let you know what I find out.”
His honest, non-threatening question made me wonder. Was I taking too much for granted? I needed to find out the truth.
After doing a little research I found out that my information, though technically accurate, was really inconsequential in its scope. In other words, it wasn’t worth acknowledging or acting upon. So the stress I put on my supposed “common knowledge” that made my friend ask the question, WAS really in error.
How much do I believe, talk about, act upon without really understanding the ins and outs? How much do I pass along without finding out the real deal?
I’ve been paying more attention to those things, those ideas that I have accepted without giving it a second thought. I’m trying to listen for those underlying assumptions to which I blindly acquiesce. Our culture is filled with all kinds of ideas we operate on or agree to because they sound good or because someone we think we can trust said it. However, with a little reasoning or research we might just see them fall apart.
What 'common knowledge' are you accepting that may be based in error? What ideas are you holding onto that have just enough verisimilitude to be convincing, but lead you to wrong conclusions?
I am grateful my friend asked that simple question, “How do you know that?” to prompt me to find out the truth.
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