I had an interesting experience recently that made me confront how I see and experience the world around me.
A friend and I overheard a disagreement between two people.
Afterwards, I commented how quickly that conversation got out of control with raised voices, confrontational language and ultimately left unresolved.
My friend said, “No, they weren’t upset. They were just passionate about their own positions and wanted the other to understand it. They didn’t need agreement; they just wanted to be heard.”
I was confused by how we could see the same thing in such a different light.
Obviously, we both interpreted the scene through our own unseen biases and received it as reality.
One situation, two people, two lenses and two perceived “realities.”
Most people think of a bias as something that distorts reality, and certainly it can.
But, more specifically your bias is your conscious (or unconscious) tendency to favor perspectives, interpretations and information over others.
And, while we understand we have a bias, it’s so difficult to confront and address our own unique biases.
So, most of us will naturally lean toward information that confirms our biases and disregards that which challenges our biases.
We can see this whenever we buy a new car, and suddenly that brand of car begins appearing all over the roads.
Or, maybe we have a coworker who we deem as “lazy.”
Every late task is proof of their laziness, while when they go above and beyond, we may simply see it as an attempt to make up for their laziness.
Once we’ve made a decision about a person or an idea, we can begin interpreting everything through that opinion.
The internet further complicates and compounds our biases.
Every link you click, every time you pause on a picture or post while scrolling, the algorithm takes note and sends more of that your way.
Eventually, the algorithm becomes a mirror that feeds back your biased opinions to yourself.
Rather than challenging your own beliefs, the algorithmic mirror sends back what you already hold to be true.
This is called an echo chamber, and eventually the echo you keep hearing begins to feel more like evidence for your beliefs, rather than just a regurgitated version of your own stances. We so desperately need intellectual humility. The recognition that we do not have all of the data, that the information we’ve received came from a specific slant, and most importantly, most of the daily information we receive was filtered through an algorithm designed for engagement, not truth.
We cannot pretend we do not have a bias.
Rather, we must continually admit that we do not have all of the answers.
Furthermore, the first answer we receive may not be the best answer.
The wisdom of the Proverbs recognized this problem even in the ancient world: “The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him.” (Prov. 18:17, NASB) Have we cultivated the ability to examine our own beliefs objectively?
Can we review our own assumptions?
Do we fully understand opposing positions?
Could the other position be right, and am I comfortable being wrong?
James warns us to be “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.” (James 1:19, NASB) We will never approach the world without a perspective.
That is not the goal.
Our experiences, loves, convictions and relationships are not only how we interpret the world, but they also have helped form us into who we are today.
Our goal should be to recognize that our perspective is never complete.
There is always more information and more perspectives.
We would be wise to confront the fact that our own biases can fool us more than the people we disagree with.
We should begin to cultivate intellectual humility in our own lives, strengthening our positions while offering intellectual charity and grace to those with opposing views.
Steve Stanley is a Providence Village resident with a doctorate in ministerial leadership with a platform on YouTube, https://www. youtube.com/@Formed-NotPerformed, and on Instagram, https://www.instagram. com/formed_not_ performed. He can be reached at [email protected].
