The Inner Monologue

Ah, yes, the timeless, totally groundbreaking advice to “question everything.” How revolutionary. How brave. Socrates would be so proud—if he weren’t already busy rolling his eyes from the afterlife.

Let’s be clear: “Question everything” doesn’t mean “believe nothing.” That’s just nihilism with extra steps. No, the real trick is to question intelligently, which—shockingly—most people don’t do. They either swallow every shiny claim whole or reject anything that doesn’t fit their pre-packaged worldview. Neither is skepticism. Both are laziness in different fonts.

The Fine Art of Not Being a Sucker

When someone says something that feels true—that tingles your confirmation bias just right—that’s exactly when you should be suspicious. Because if it’s that easy to accept, you’re probably not thinking. You’re just nodding along like a bobblehead at a TED Talk.

So, here’s your handy-dandy “Question Everything” Starter Pack™:

1. “Is this true?” – Basic, but you’d be amazed how many people skip this step.
2. “If it is true, why did they say it?” – Altruism? Manipulation? Ego? Boredom?
3. “Why now?” – Timing is never an accident.
4. “Who benefits if I believe this?” – Follow the incentives. Always.
5. “Would silence have been better?” – If the answer is yes, we’re back to: Why wasn’t it silent?

Trust, But Verify (Unless They’re Full of It)

• Trust the trustworthy – They exist. Rare, but real.
• Doubt the liars – They’re more common than you think.
• Fact-check the idiot – They’re not malicious, just dangerously wrong.
• Ponder the expert – Because even they have biases, blind spots, and sometimes, agendas.

And remember, as some dead guy (probably) once said: “If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.” Refusing to question is just choosing to be gullible.

So go forth, interrogate reality, and for the love of critical thinking—stop treating clichés as wisdom unless you’ve actually thought about them first.

(But hey, don’t take my word for it. Question this, too.)