How Not to Believe Every Stupid Thing You Hear

We’re living in a time when we’re hit with information non-stop. You open your phone and in five minutes, you’ll see someone claiming that sunscreen causes cancer, someone else swearing celery juice heals everything from acne to arthritis, and, somehow, another person arguing the Earth is flat.

Some of it sounds ridiculous right away. But some of it is dressed up to look smart. It’s said with confidence, paired with slick graphics, or delivered by people with big followings and impressive titles. And that’s how nonsense spreads. Not because people are dumb-but because they’re human.

This isn’t about making fun of anyone who’s gotten it wrong. It’s about how to avoid getting pulled into the same trap. Whether it’s a friend, a podcast, a YouTube video, a news anchor, or even a teacher-yes, even they can get it wrong.

Here are a few things that help keep your brain clear.

Silence is underrated.

When someone throws a “fact” at you, try doing nothing. Just pause. No nodding. No arguing. Just...quiet. Most bad ideas don’t do well in silence. They need quick reactions, emotional responses, or group energy. Silence interrupts that.

Ask yourself, “Where did that come from?”

You don’t need to say it out loud every time. But in your head, always ask. “Where did that come from?” If the answer is “I saw it online” or “my friend told me,” that’s not good enough. You don’t need to be rude, but you also don’t have to pretend a vague source is worth much.

Get comfortable with saying, “I don’t know.”

Seriously. This one is gold. It gives you breathing room. You’re under no obligation to have an opinion on every topic that pops up. Saying, “I don’t know enough to say,” makes you harder to manipulate. It’s also something more people should say out loud.

Watch your emotions.

If something you hear makes you feel angry, afraid, or smug, pause. Most junk information works by firing up your emotions. It wants you to react fast, not think clearly. Fear, especially, short-circuits logic. And outrage is profitable now. Entire industries feed off it.

Stories are tricky.

We love stories. We’re built for them. But stories can trick your brain. They don’t rely on logic, they just stick. One emotional story can cancel out a mountain of boring facts. Just because someone’s cousin fainted after a vaccine or saw a UFO doesn’t make it true. Stories feel true. That doesn’t make them real.

Repetition isn’t proof.

Hearing the same thing again and again makes it sound true, even when it’s not. Social media loves repetition. Bad ideas bounce around in different packaging until they seem like “common sense.” But noise isn’t proof. Ask where the idea came from, not how often it shows up.

Watch out for self-declared experts.

The real ones? They’re often cautious. They double-check. They admit when they don’t know. They’re rarely flashy. The ones you need to watch are the ones who have confident opinions on every topic, don’t show sources, and throw around “do your own research” while hoping you won’t.

Don’t be afraid to change your mind.

It might feel embarrassing at first. Like you’re giving something up. But really, you’re gaining. When someone shows you stronger evidence, thank them. You’re not losing. You’re learning. It’s a good thing.

Don’t tie your identity to your beliefs.

This one’s hard. But if your sense of self is built around a belief-about food, politics, health, whatever, then any disagreement feels personal. That makes it hard to think clearly. You’re allowed to change your mind. That’s what thinking people do.

You don’t have to go along with nonsense.

If someone starts ranting about 5G or chemtrails or some other wild claim, you’re not required to smile and nod. You don’t have to argue either. Just don’t play along. You can say, “Hmm, I’m not sure that’s true,” and walk away. That simple moment might matter more than you think.

I still fall for stuff sometimes. But not as often. I’ve learned to pause. To ask better questions. To care less about being “right” and more about being honest.

You don’t need a PhD or a professional fact-checker in your pocket. All you really need is a little space between hearing and believing. A few seconds of silence. That space can make all the difference.

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