Opinion vs Fact

How To Think For Yourself

19 questions that will improve the quality of your ideas:

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

Is This An Opinion Or Fact?

While it seems trivial, many people mistake opinions for fact.

It’s critical to differentiate empirical knowledge from value-based interpretations of the world.

Just because you want life to be a certain way doesn’t mean it is that way.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

Where Did Your Opinion Come From?

Most of our opinions are spoon-fed by the media.

I used to read the same newspaper every day and noticed my ideas were the same as everyone else who reads that newspaper.

We place too much faith in monolithic sources.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

What Incentives Are At Play?

Liberal or conservative, most news sources are incentivized to reinforce polarizing narratives.

If the news were boring, no one would read it.

And they wouldn't make money.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

Are You Consuming Useful Information?

24-hour news + social media have created a never-ending stream of low value content.

Most tweets and posts are forgettable.

Limit your intake and you’ll see little downside.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

What Do The Classics Say?

Good ideas tend to stick around.

As the Lindy Effect states, an idea that’s been around 100 years is likely to have more staying power than today's bestseller.

Look to the thinkers of the past who are still valued in the present.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

What’s The Opposing Argument?

Charles Munger is famous for having said “I never allow myself to have an opinion on anything that I don’t know the other side’s argument better than they do.”

If you haven’t considered a different view, then you can’t properly gauge your own.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

To What Degree Is This True?

It’s easy to lose sight of nuance in the digital world.

But most of life is not black and white.

Ask yourself if something is always true, or only sometimes true.

This can be a powerful way to reveal the complexity of a topic.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

Could You Be Wrong?

No one likes being wrong.

But reflecting on whether you COULD be wrong opens a door to more objective insight.

Once you allow the possibility, you’ll find it's a lot easier to see new angles.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

Are The "Experts" Really Experts?

Humans are prone to attribute legitimacy in the presence of flimsy evidence.

We’re easily fooled by credentials and appearances.

Just because someone is on TV doesn't make them an expert.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

Are YOU Really An Expert?

Most of us aren't experts in much beyond our own experience.

This question forces you to acknowledge your limits.

It’s easy to mistake passionate opinion for expertise.

In the age of outrage, we mistake caring for authoritativeness.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

What Are You Afraid Of?

Fear can shape our beliefs in profound but unacknowledged ways.

If you’re afraid to fail, you may write off a course of action as a bad idea.

But perhaps you’re just afraid of facing your own limitations.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

What Are Your Biases?

We all have biases that affect how we form opinions.

You probably give more credibility to people who belong to your “tribes”, whether these are political, social or economic.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

Are You Being Intentional?

Many beliefs are inherited, not chosen.

Other ideas form in our subconscious throughout the course of life.

But if something is important, it’s worthwhile to stop and say - is this an intentional belief?

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

Is There Really A Wrong Answer?

Some questions don’t necessarily have a wrong answer.

They’re either opinions, values or speculation on something beyond your knowledge.

If there’s no wrong answer, then you probably don’t need to worry about it.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

Would You Be Proud To Explain This In Public?

Imagine having to articulate your belief out loud.

If it makes you squirm, you probably have ill-formed ideas or are acting on biases that you’d rather not look at.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

Can You Write It Down?

Writing doesn’t just capture clear thinking...

It brings clarity to your thoughts.

If you don’t know what you believe, or want to examine it fully, try writing it down.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

Does This Really Matter?

Life is short. Energy is limited.

Are you wasting time on opinions and beliefs that sap your time with little to no return?

There’s a reason Steve Jobs wore the same outfit everyday.

To him, it was a trivial decision that he preferred not to repeat.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

What Does Your Gut Say?

Our instincts are often right.

But be careful to distinguish instinct from bias.

Bias is liable to creep into factual decisions.

Instincts are powerful for value-based decisions and matters of preference.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023

Should You Even Have An Opinion?

You don’t need to have an opinion on everything.

In many cases, the best answer is “I don’t know.”

Try giving up the need to be right, or even well-informed, on topics beyond your life’s focus.

— Brian Bourque (@bbourque) March 26, 2023