Evaluating Evidence: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #6

Summary

In this Crash Course episode, John Green emphasizes the importance of evaluating evidence when navigating digital information. He illustrates how relying on 'because I said so' is insufficient for adults and discusses the necessity of solid evidence to support claims. Green uses examples like a viral Facebook hoax and a snowball in the Senate to highlight the difference between relevant and misleading evidence. He stresses that not all evidence is equal and encourages viewers to question the credibility and relevance of the information they encounter online.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video emphasizes that as we grow older, the 'because I said so' approach doesn't suffice and evidence is required to support claims.
• 🔍 It's crucial to evaluate online information by looking for reliable sources that provide convincing evidence for their claims.
• 🤔 The credibility of a source's claims is dependent on the evidence provided, and evidence can come in various forms like text, photos, videos, and data.
• 🚫 A lack of evidence should raise suspicion, as it leaves no basis for verifying the truth of a claim.
• 🕷️ The video uses the example of a viral Facebook post about a deadly spider to illustrate how the absence of evidence can indicate misinformation.
• 🌍 The script points out that not all evidence is equal; it should come from reliable sources and be relevant to the claim being made.
• ❄️ An example of poor evidence is a snowball used to disprove global warming, showing that weather and climate are different concepts.
• 👟 The video discusses how irrelevant or spurious evidence, like the correlation between ankle boots and conspiracy theories, doesn't support the claims it's attached to.
• 🌙 It highlights the importance of lateral reading and cross-referencing information, using the moon landing conspiracy theory as an example.
• 📊 The script warns against spurious correlations, such as the incorrect link between vaccines and autism, which can have serious real-world consequences.

Q & A

Why does John Green say 'Because I said so' no longer works as a reason as you grow older?

As people grow older, they need evidence and convincing arguments to believe a claim. 'Because I said so' is no longer effective because mature individuals require logical reasoning, especially in complex situations such as negotiating a raise at work.

Why is evidence important when evaluating online information?

Evidence is crucial because it provides proof that a claim is factual. Without evidence, there is no reason to believe a claim is true, making it difficult to discern reliable information from misinformation or disinformation.

What are some forms of evidence that can be used to support a claim?

Evidence can include text, photos, videos, data, or any other material that supports a claim and gives a reason to believe it is true.

What does John Green use Nathan Fielder’s tweet as an example of?

Nathan Fielder’s tweet is used to show how evidence can fail to support a claim. In the tweet, Nathan claims to be having a great time with friends, but the photo only shows him alone, making the claim unconvincing.

What should make you suspicious of an online post with no evidence?

When a post provides no evidence to back up its claims, such as not linking to news stories or offering verifiable facts, you should be suspicious because there is no proof that the claim is true.

How was the hoax about the 'deadly spider' debunked?

The hoax was debunked by fact-checkers like Snopes.com, who found no deaths related to the spider and confirmed that the original poster had a history of spreading hoaxes. The lack of evidence in the post itself was a key sign that it was false.

Why does John Green argue that not all evidence is created equal?

Not all evidence is equally reliable or relevant. Evidence needs to come from credible sources, and it must directly support the claim being made. Using weak or irrelevant evidence can lead to misinformation.

What is an example of irrelevant evidence mentioned in the script?

An example of irrelevant evidence is someone arguing that e-cigarettes are safe for kids because they help people quit smoking. While quitting smoking is relevant to adults, it has no bearing on whether e-cigarettes are safe for children.

What is a spurious correlation, and how can it mislead people?

A spurious correlation is when two unrelated events are mistakenly linked as if one causes the other. For example, there is a correlation between Nicolas Cage movies and drowning deaths, but this doesn't mean that his movies cause drowning.

What impact has misinformation about vaccines and autism had on public health?

Misinformation falsely linking vaccines to autism has led to a decrease in vaccination rates, which in turn contributed to outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles in 2018.