Opinion

Jake O'Kane: Why I'm blocking the Covid deniers and the anti-vaxx and mask lobby

I've a definite bias towards the views of medics, scientists, virologists and epidemiologists regarding the pandemic. I'm less interested in the views of a plumber on the efficacy of vaccines

Jake O'Kane

Jake O'Kane

Jake is a comic, columnist and contrarian.

A shopper in Belfast city centre puts on a face covering - but not everyone is following the rules. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire
A shopper in Belfast city centre puts on a face covering - but not everyone is following the rules. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire A shopper in Belfast city centre puts on a face covering - but not everyone is following the rules. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire

I AM writing this on Wednesday December 22 2021. I think it is important to do a date check, as the world is changing with such rapidity that what I write today may seem completely irrelevant in a week's time.

As of today, NI posted its highest ever daily number of Covid cases at 3,231. It feels as if we're on the edge of a cliff of Omicron infections, yet there is none of the fear or panic common when Covid first hit.

I was in Belfast today to pick up a prescription and was shocked by the numbers of unmasked people in shops, even though it's mandated to wear a mask.

Signs at the main Boots chemist on Donegall Place informed customers they'd run out of lateral flow tests and nowhere was social distancing being implemented.

In short, be it due to pandemic fatigue or selfish ignorance, we seem to be running, lemming-like, towards the cliff face, seemingly content to risk all to complete our Christmas shopping.

I've stopped arguing with Covid deniers and the anti-vaxx/mask lobby. Instead, I block them on my social media, which has left me open to accusations of creating an echo chamber devoid of alternative opinions.

I suppose this is to some extent correct; I am selective who I choose to listen to about Covid.

For instance, I've a definite bias towards the views of medics, scientists, virologists and epidemiologists regarding the pandemic. If honest, I'm less interested in the views of a plumber who, having spent most of his life fixing leaks, now lectures on the efficacy of vaccines.

What I've learned over the last few years is the futility of debating with those who hold extreme opinions... about anything. My decision to block rather than engage on social media is my attempt to save both myself and those I'd cross swords with.

As a comic, I've spent decades dealing with hecklers, and am painfully aware of my capacity to sarcastically demolish people with language. I also understand any momentary ego boost I'd gain by doing this would be a pyrrhic victory.

Having humiliated a stranger online, I'd be left feeling guilt and remorse. I'm also aware the whole exercise would be the definition of futility as I'd never change their mind, no matter how rational or evidence-based my arguments.

There are two psychological theories I believe should be taught in our schools; one is the Dunning-Kruger effect, and the second confirmation bias.

Both relate to the spike in conspiracy theories and disinformation prevalent within society about Covid and vaccines.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias whereby people with limited knowledge or competence in a given intellectual or social domain greatly overestimate their own knowledge or competence relative to objective criteria or to the performance of their peers or of people in general.

Or put another way, we are overly confident we know more about a subject than we do.

Confirmation bias is a cognitive tendency in people to favour information that confirms their existing beliefs or hypotheses. Or put another way, a preference to agree with information which backs up what we already believe.

When you combine these two psychological traits you have a perfect storm, where ignorance is no block to assertions of expertise, which is then reinforced by looking for evidence supporting the flawed knowledge already arrived at.

While research on both psychological traits is new, what they explain has long been understood. The philosopher, Bertrand Russell, concisely captured it when he said: "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people are so full of doubts."

The internet, once viewed as an epoch-changing vehicle for the dissemination of knowledge, has somehow morphed into a cesspit of conspiracy theories and lunacy. The problem with everyone having an equal voice is that the loudest or most outrageous voices garner most attention.

Where previously we judged the importance of a person's views by their experience or qualifications, today all you need is the ability to conceive a conspiracy theory and gather a following, and suddenly you're a self-appointed prophet.

There is no doubt that the misinformation and disinformation peddled online has resulted in lost lives; tragically, this trend seems certain to continue, with humanity showing signs of entering a new Dark Age.

As we step into the new year, I pray more of us can utter the sentence which opens the door to all knowledge: "I don't know, maybe I'm wrong."