As we progress through 2014 I want to encourage you to be skeptical and encourage your kids to be skeptical. What does it mean to be a skeptic? A skeptic is not someone who believes in crazy conspiracy theories. In fact, a skeptic is the exact opposite. A skeptic is someone who questions claims that are made in the lack of evidence to backup said claim. A skeptic is someone who carefully analyzes the direct data that is available to support a claim. Let me provide an example.
Most of us have heard of essential oils and many of you may use essential oils. Many companies sell essential oils with claims that they can help cure arthritis, cancer, and Alzheimer's. Immediately I'm skeptical of this. First, if essential oils could cure cancer, wouldn't you think doctors would use them as part of cancer treatments? If essential oils could cure Alzheimer's, wouldn't you think the number of Alzheimer's patients would be decreasing world wide? On top of that, these companies provide no data to support their claims. They're claims made out of thin air with no support whatsoever.
This isn't to say you can't buy essential oils. Do whatever you want. Some people like the aroma that essential oils provide. I get that, although essential oils can be quite expensive and you can find other, cheaper methods to provide a nice aroma for your room. My point is that everyone needs to be a skeptic. Don't believe something simply because a company says it. If it sounds too good to be true (e.g. curing cancer), it probably is. My goal for you for 2014 is to be a skeptic. Don't accept a claim without data backing up that claim.
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