I just had an encounter elsewhere with the Do You Have Evidence Guy. DYHEG pops up and asks for a “study” or “proof” of something you’ve noticed that’s obvious.
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In this case, I was noticing the decline in literacy and knowledge among the young generations. DYHEG was not satisfied with this noticing, and demanded “evidence.”
Take a short but related detour with me about what “evidence” means. Call to mind a news anchor saying there's no "evidence" of, say, Covid vaccine harms. They're using the word wrong, but you don't pick up on it. Start picking up on it--it's crucial.
That is, in fact, "evidence." It is literally what courts consider "evidence." It is what lawyers introduce and the courts accept as "evidence." What the "there's no evidence" people are ACTUALLY saying is "there's no final dispositive proof."
That's very, very different. They're slipping "evidence" past you to shut you down from even making the case necessary to get to the spot where you can have it out and adjudicate the entire thing with proof.