The message or the messenger

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I have a question for anyone that reads this because I see this happening a lot.

Which do you prioritize, the message, the messenger or both?

I'll be honest and answer mine, I do both. I look at what's being said and who's speaking. I can't answer which is more important but if I thought outside my own subjective opinions, I can say it doesn't matter who is saying it, what matters is the content. Perhaps that's also subjective that's why I'll listen to your opinions on this one.

I feel as though it is a basic principle of critical thinking, and maybe not just my opinion.

Unfortunately, most people get this backwards. Instead of listening to the content of a statement, they immediately ask themselves whether the speaker is reliable and trustworthy enough for the information to be valid, which is not wrong too because what if they're right, they could avoid getting deceived.

In their minds, if the source of information looks appropriate, then the statement must be true regardless of any other factors.

But this line of thought has nothing to do with reasoning. It could be loyalty masked as logical analysis.

Do you agree with me that no lie becomes truth merely because it was stated by a reputable person? No information is false just because it comes from someone whom you don't like. The validity of a statement remains unaffected no matter what, regardless of whether you know and respect the person saying it.

It's true a lot will prefer a charismatic liar to an awkward but well informed expert. Every single time. As much as we might want to trust our intuition and feelings in this world, they cannot substitute for the objective evaluation of facts. This is how most arguments come undone. Instead of addressing the point, the people arguing try to disprove the credentials of the person making a statement and it may look like a proper rebuttal, but it isn't. So I myself always examine the information. I see if the argument is backed by facts or evidence, irrespective of who is trying to convince me that it's so.

_{Posted using SteemX}