Show Me the Evidence

Anyone can claim anything. "This supplement cures anxiety." "Crime is at an all-time high." "I read that coffee is bad for you." Without evidence, these statements are just noise. The critical thinker's reflex is simple and powerful: show me the evidence.

This does not mean you need to become a scientist to have an opinion. It means you should calibrate your confidence to the strength of the evidence. Strong evidence? Strong confidence. Weak evidence? Hold the belief loosely. No evidence? Do not believe it yet.