I'm finding my social circles shrinking more and more everyday because of conspiracy thinking's pervasiveness. It really hit home that this isn't just a "Boomer" problem either. Younger and younger generations of adults are being sucked in to some of the most irrational thinking. And all I can imagine is that this trend is a response to our societies becoming ever more stressful. This isn't helped by many world governments not making education a top priority over national defense initiatives, I'm sure. 

Recently, my eldest son (22) reached out to me to help a lady friend of his get back on her feet after a job opportunity fell apart. She's in graphic design and I'm in digital marketing, so I'm a great resource for tips and tricks for her to rebound. I've known this young woman for a decade because of her long-term friendship with my son, so she and I immediately hit it off and got to business with how she can start improving her career and work as a freelance.  As always, we got a little off the rails in conversation, and the whole government UFO hearings came up and, at some point, chemtrails. I'd offhandedly remarked on the idiocy of one of my exes and how he, at first, couldn't believe we made it to the moon because he mistakenly thought any exposure to space radiation meant death (he didn't consider exposure time vs. shielding). Well, she pointed out that chemtrails were real and pointed out how in New York, you could see them. Needless to say, it hit me hard how quickly the young can be sucked right into this thinking nowadays and how much they need guidance in critical thinking. Of course, when asked to define what a chem trail was, we straightened it all out. Turns out she was talking about cloud seeding, which isn't a chem trail conspiracy at all. 

Occam's Razor is a straightforward baseline for an explanation before leaping to conclusions. This helps to keep things a bit more objective and makes it easier to identify one's personal bias in a situation. I thought I would share my own personal tips for overcoming subjective thinking with this principle as a start-up to my renewing this blog. So, in layman's terms, Occam's Razor is like a mental tool that says when you have a bunch of possible explanations for something, go with the simplest one unless there's a good reason not to. It's like saying, "keep it simple, stupid!" And this idea isn't just for fancy pants scientists—it's really handy when it comes to dealing with those crazy conspiracy theories we are bombarded with non-stop on social media and news. 

And before I go into my tips to keep your sanity and not sound like a rabid squirrel on meth, here's my definition of a conspiracy: theories that often sound like something out of a spy novel. They're all about secret groups scheming in the shadows, pulling off crazy plans, and covering their tracks. But applying Occam's Razor is like telling yourself, "Hold on a sec, do I really need all these twists and turns to explain what's going on?"

Let's break down why it's important:

Simpler is Easier: Simple explanations are just easier to deal with. They don't need all these wild assumptions and complex stories. So, when a conspiracy theory gets all complicated, it's worth thinking twice. The moon landing is a marvelous example of this. Saying we didn't go to the moon is really hard to argue against. Why? Think about the thousands of people that participated on that project. That's thousands of folks who would have to have kept their mouths shut. And there were multiple moon landings, so this secrecy would have to go even further than just the initial mission. It's just too complicated and there is plenty of evidence that we did go. Including China's recent mission that captured images of our landing sites.

Proof Matters: Simple explanations usually come with clearer proof. Complicated theories can be tough to prove or disprove because they've got layers of secrecy. Occam's Razor nudges us to go for explanations we can actually test with evidence. Don't just say you believe in chemtrails, find actual scientific data from legitimate studies, not special interest groups or group-think scenarios. 

Define Your Standard of Evidence: This is a big one. If you're truly interested in finding an unbiased answer, you need to be clear on your standard of proof and ACCEPT IT when it's presented to you. If you are convinced that the COVID vaccination magnetizes your arm, you need to be clear on what evidence to the contrary you would accept as evidence. If you have none, you're not being rational. 

Real-Life Odds: Imagine a conspiracy theory where a gazillion people have to work together perfectly without spilling the beans. It's like organizing a massive surprise party where nobody leaks the plan—sounds tricky, right? Occam's Razor reminds us that the chances of this happening are kind of slim.

Don't Fool Yourself: Sometimes, we believe in conspiracy theories because they feel exciting or unique. But Occam's Razor is like a reality check. It tells us to be cool and look for the most down-to-earth explanation, not just the flashy ones. If someone shows you strange cloud tracks in the sky and says, "See? Chemtrails!" Ask them to define what those are, and think about what other objects can create those. Then look it up! There are plenty of scientists (including meteorologists) online that can legitimately explain where those tracks come from. Jet tracks can stay visible for hours!

Show Me the Proof: Wild theories often need wild proof. If someone's saying aliens built the pyramids, you'd expect some seriously strong evidence, right? Occam's Razor reminds us to ask for good reasons before jumping on board. Evidence needs to be testable, too. If someone says Joe Biden is just a hologram, they need to back that up with concrete evidence, not a random YouTube video that slows and speeds up video frames to create proof.

Think It Through: Using Occam's Razor gets your brain in gear. It helps you think things over, consider different angles, and make smart decisions based on the info you've got. It can also help you analyze the evidence. Is the proof more salacious than concrete? For example, the UFO hearings. While exciting, not a single shred of evidence other than testimony was brought forward. Can you really believe it as a whole?

Stop the Crazy Train: Crazy conspiracy theories can spread faster than wildfire online. By using Occam's Razor, you're like a firefighter, stopping misinformation from going all over the place. If you want a four-alarm panic and get enjoyment out of babbling on about unfounded suspicions, you really need to take a step back and breathe for a moment. Meditate. Calm down. Then go back and rethink what information you're taking in.

So, bottom line? Occam's Razor isn't just for big-shot thinkers or scientists. It's like your trusty tool to cut through the craziness of conspiracy theories. It helps you stay smart, avoid being fooled, and keep your thinking cap on straight. And, you'll gain a lot of additional education on your way OUT of the rabbit holes you fell in.