Absolute Nonsense

    Ben and I are watching the news- a rare event - and laugh at a story about the "replacement theory" a mass shooter cites, that minorities are taking over white America.

    "Are they serious?" Ben is incredulous.

    "At any given time everyone-all of us- believe in something that is true or absolute nonsense, the problem is telling the difference," I reply, still snickering.

    "There's that word again," Ben counters.

    "Trust in is a better phrase, but it has the same meaning. Surely you have encountered this cognitive dissonance at Lane County Health," I point out.

    "Gad, on a daily basis, but you know some things sound crazy but end up being true and some things seem reasonable are just plain nutty," Ben says.

    "Like the Earth is flat. Honestly the first time I heard that I thought it was a joke from the Onion," I add and I'm still dumbfounded anyone takes that seriously.

    "Actually we're living in a computer simulation ala 'The Matrix'." Ben offers up his favorite.

    "The world economy is controlled by members of the Illuminati," I say with exaggerated suspicion.

    "Atlantis was real, they just moved to Egypt after it was destroyed."

    "Elvis is still alive."

    "Aliens visited Earth in ancient times and uplifted the human species."

    "Entanglement explains telepathy."

    "That actually makes sense," I stop the banter there.

    "Because it's based on science? Which has been known to get things completely wrong when their personal bias gets in the way. You know, like the Piltdown man, the Clovis People theory- eugenics, Ben rebuts.

    Good point. I am reminded that Gwen assured me I was the teacher and Ben the student. Unlike most people who yell at each other they're right and you're wrong, we engage in healthy debate to ferret out faulty logic and conclusions.

    "Yes, but science is also self correcting. Those ideas were shot down with more conclusive data," I say, pleased with my reply.

    "After fierce resistance to new data and unconventional evidence," Ben retorts.

    We sit in silence stewing in our arguments and counters when Ben speaks up in a surprisingly innocent voice.

    " Why do we believe in nonsense?"

    "Because it feels good. Reality is filled with uncertainty so embracing an idea that brings stability- even if it's an illusion- is comforting. How do you deal when discovering a cherished idea is nonsense?" I ask him.

    Ben is quiet then his upper branches rustle, a sure sign he is in deep thought. I continue with my explanation.

    "How do you wake people up? You can argue with them all you want, bombard them with irrefutable facts and they will stubbornly refuse to budge until--" I throw out my hands like I'm tossing him a hot potato.

    "Direct experience proves the nonsense," he answers.

    "Ah very good grasshopper," I say, pleased with his response.

    Some of our discussions end up like a Zen Koan; if a tree falls in the forest and there is no one to hear it, does it make a sound? These confusing and seemingly nonsensical riddles are designed to free the mind from dearly held bullshit.

    "Also the shenanigans of heratics like Charles Fort and Immanuel Velikovsky," Ben says with some amusement.

    Oh boy, if there was one person most responsible for throwing a wrench into traditional narratives, it's Fort and Velkovsky's "Worlds in Collision"  comes a close second.

    "Some people can't handle the truth so they hide," Ben concludes in exasperation.

      Sadly I have to agree with him and feel we have reached an impasse on the subject.