In case you haven't heard, the U.S. (at least when I write this) hasn't raised its debt ceiling as it's done . . . well, forever. This is kind of bad, when you realize we can default on our loans, crash the credit-worthiness of our country, screw up the bond market, etc. You can go and do a quick search on the web to get the idea of what's going on.
Of course when you default on your debts, you get into trouble. Countries get in trouble economically as well. Yet, if you also follow the news, some politicians and pundits figure this is a good thing. Yeah. I know.
Anyway, now and then as I peruse the news, someone rants about how a default won't be bad, and usually sites either no evidence, or maybe, rarely, some crackpot theory. This struck at my Progeek core, because I realized something about the economy (and many other things).
In too many cases someone elses dumb idea is treated equal to someone's well-researched idea.
Now being a geek, and thus loving information and science, as well as 'splodey things in video games, I like knowldge and research. It's how we get stuff done.
So when someone expects me to treat their crackpot idea as equal to a well-validated one . . . no. Sorry. Not happening.
Oh, sure, now and then people invoke how great thinkers were not appreciated in their times, like Galileo. Well, true, sometimes they weren't. But also legions of people that were just stupid were also disrespected in many times – and when they did get into power things went badly.
Want to find stupidity? Not hard to find it. People are glad to push stupidity if it's profitable, gives them power, or keeps them from thinking. Or all three. Just take a good look at hack Creation science or the whole don't-vaccinate-your-kids crap.
So I have no reason to respect stupidity. It's not equal to knowledge. Ignorance does not get treated the same – you have to demonstrate your conclusions and your evidence.
We progeeks need to stand for knowledge and intelligence. We bloody well need it.