On Charles Manson and conspiracy theories among other things...
I look at the world sometimes and see a major problem with people's overall ability to analyze data and draw conclusions from it. This, to me, explains the rise in conspiracy theories recently. People see certain things happening that they don't like and draw conclusions that just aren't there. They're making false connections, seeing things they want to see instead of the truth.
I believe when we analyze data, we need to do it in as unbiased a way as possible. What's there and what does it mean? Aside from our outside opinions and beliefs being drawn into it. Then, once we see the truth in the facts, we make a conclusion, and that's when outside opinions and beliefs come in. Based on this conclusion, how do I feel about the situation. Not, here's what people are saying. I'll agree or disagree depending on their religious or political beliefs and whether they agree with my own. There are both good people and liars who are Christians, atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, etc. Just like there are both good people and liars who are conservatives, liberals, and independents.
I watched some Charles Manson videos recently to re-familiarize myself with him after his death. He was a fairly intelligent man but he lacked the ability to analyze data and draw conclusions from it. Those connections just weren't there. He saw the corruption in the world. He saw the problems with greed and lust for power that we have in this country. But his thinking said the country is a sham based on money and power, everyone in a position of power is immoral, so let's go kill some actresses.
Now obviously not everyone is a murderer or cult leader, but these issues with drawing conclusions from data will always cause problems. If we draw the wrong conclusions, we'll take the wrong actions, and the results will not be good, unless by dumb luck. I believe this is something we can all conscientiously work on. We need to try to look at data in an unbiased way. We need to make sure we are getting our data from sources that are as unbiased as possible. That means not conservative or liberal. And once we get that data, we should look at it for what it is. Draw conclusions from the facts. And then act on those conclusions to make the world a better place.