Your Mother Says She Love You? Check It Out!

There's a tongue-in-cheek, but true, saying in journalism: "Your mother says she loves you? Check it out! Get three sources!" 

It seems to me that this attitude is one we would do well to take up these days.

Those on the left and those on a spiritual path – both camps I admit to being in – have been very fond lately of accusing conspiracy theorists, etc. of believing the misinformation they see on the web. However, folks like me can be just as guilty, so I don’t re-post anything I haven’t checked out, and it has become imperative that we all do the same. If, for instance, you read a quote by Einstein that thrills you, check it out. You might discover he never said any such thing.

Sometimes this involves some research, but often it only takes a little common sense. Recently, someone sent me a beautiful, inspiring poem supposedly written by the Sufi, Hafiz. But, I wondered, did that sound like something a 12th century Muslim would have said? No. It did not. And, in fact, it was such a loose translation that it probably would have had the poor guy rolling over in his proverbial grave.

Still, I get sucked in, too! Lately, I’ve been enthused by Facebook posts on the Fibonacci sequence: A mathematical pattern said to be found in sunflower seeds, pineapple bumps, galaxy spirals, and even whale behavior!* For me, it was evidence that order exists in the universe and that some kind of divine intelligence must be behind it all.

However, a little research shows that the Fibonacci sequence is, in fact, controversial. Although it is indeed a mathematical sequence that can be found in the spirals of sunflowers and pine cones, some scientists’ work indicates that it exists only very approximately in such things as galaxy swirls and the way whales spiral down on prey. In other words, it is not the absolute that guilty people like me wish it was, and it is not unqualified proof that there is order in the universe.



So, please, don’t take anything for granted. When you see a post on social media or find information on the web, look deeper before you believe it – and, especially, before you pass it on.

*Note that this relates to what is called the “golden ratio” in mathematics– a concept that is way beyond me.