Maybe our biggest problem as a people is our flawed ability at pattern recognition. When it happens in a simple situation, usually no harm is done. But when it happens on a grander scale or when a life is at stake, failures can have dangerous ramifications.
Previously, I have mentioned the pitfalls of pattern recognition. Jeff Minick wrote an article that defined paraidolia and apophenia on 28 Aug 2020 and I agree with a few of his observations that fall right in line with my posts on critical thinking. These failures of pattern recognition are negatively impacting the perceptions of many people on the events around us. People have died as a result. Practically any situation with the least amount of nuance can be twisted to fit one of the tribal-like narratives that drive news media. The audience for those outlets are already primed to recognize the given patterns being promoted on the slightest piece of information that matches the pattern. This is why riots are breaking on to loot and pillage cites when a suspected rapist is injured while resisting arrest. How many people are being hurt because of bad pattern recognition? You can look at events going on and see the examples of bad pattern recognition everywhere. Do you see who is providing the pieces of information that triggered the pattern? Can you trust them to tell you the whole story?
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