In 2020, we see it every day—when a scientific explanation, based on years of research by skilled people, is offered as a reason for something, someone, somewhere chimes in that they know that explanation is untrue—their common sense tells them so.
How do you argue that point with someone who feels so strongly in their convictions, even though you know they’re wrong? You can start by using a chess analogy, courtesy of a Facebook user named Tom Denton.
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He points out what the chances are an average adult beating a child at chess and continues this train of thought by further noting how a high-level chess player would fare against an average adult.
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He further continues by comparing that highly-ranked player to a Grandmaster.
While a highly-ranked player may come up with a move or two that might make the Grandmaster think, he’ll always beat that player.
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To a Grandmaster, the child and the average adult are on the same level.
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Now, take anyone who is top in their field—this expert is so far beyond the amateur, that he or she can’t comprehend the expert’s thought processes.
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Therefore, common sense, based on no experience or research, is virtually worthless.
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And the people who believe this is way, are not only wrong, they don’t even know why they’re wrong.
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A lot of people REALLY agree with the post. Because they’ve run into this again…
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And again…
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And again…
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One reader called this an example of the Dunning-Kruger effect.
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Others didn’t think the analogy worked as well as Tom thought it did, as experts are human too and can sometimes make mistakes.
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Do you think that chess is a good analogy for what Tom was trying to convey?
Let us know in the comments below!
