Ostomy Memories of Hearsay

“DON’T USE THE VENDING MACHINE IN THE REC ROOM,” Harry told me one day when we were in the clubhouse.  “Why not?” I asked.  “It never works right,” Harry said.  I walked over to the vending machine, put my money in the slot, punched the button for the bag of chips, and out it came.  “I use it all the time,” I told him, opening my chips.  “You got lucky.  I hear it never works right,” he groused.  “Well, that may be what you hear,” I answered, “but has it ever failed to work for you?”  Harry grimaced.  “No, ‘cause I never use it,” he said.  “Just based on what you hear?” I pressed.  Now he was getting defensive.  “Well, lots of people say it doesn’t work,” he insisted.  “And that’s enough for you?” I responded.  Harry gave me a dirty look.  This is a common phenomenon, people believing what they want to believe, any facts to the contrary notwithstanding.  “Man is a credulous animal and must believe something,” said Bertrand Russell.  “In the absence of good grounds for belief, he will be satisfied with bad ones.”  Harry seemed satisfied with hearsay, rumor, and unproven gossip, the essence of being ill-informed.  We were setting up for a game of nine ball.  “You sure you want to play?” I asked Harry.  “I hear these balls are made in China.”  

Unfortunately, the world revolves around hearsay, so I hear.

Well, maybe some people's worlds more than others.  

This is an orchid tree in our backyard that thankfully survived Ian. They (hearsay) claim it is an invasive species. It is absolutely beautiful and I do love it. I for one could never destroy it, but that is just me.

They (whoever they are?) also touted the vaccines and the boosters. I for one question the effectiveness as there are sooo many dang "they opinions" (hearsay?). But that's just me. Respectfully venting this morning.

Hearsay can get you arrested under the law. A friend of ours was arrested in NYC when his girlfriend accused him of robbery or trespass. The facts were that they shared an apartment which was in her name, but he paid the rent, and he had the checks to prove it. After a heated argument, he went back to take his belongings and left for good. She later filed robbery charges and he was arrested. Everything nice in that apartment belonged to him but he left them behind. We had to get the assistance of a diplomat, the Consul-General, to get him out.

The "they" who "touted the vaccines and boosters" were trained professional scientists. experts in immunology, who studied and tested the vaccines and boosters prior to permitting them to be released to the public.  They based their judgment upon approved, advanced methodology.  Their judgment is now acknowledged by all the recognized experts in the field, and by statistics showing how many lives have been saved (and by other numbers reflecting the vastly higher number of doubters and refusers to have gotten sick and died).  The benefit of the vaccine and its boosters is not hearsay; it is fact supported by clear evidence.

Thanks, Henry, for lowering my blood pressure!

At the risk of getting into legal mumbo jumbo, hearsay traditionally is testimony given by a person who relates not what he knows personally, but what others have said, and that is therefore dependent on the credibility of someone other than the witness.  So, in a trial, Joe shouldn't be permitted to testify to what John told him (although there are myriad exceptions).  The accusatory girlfriend, in your example, isn't spouting hearsay; she's just lying.  So hearsay shouldn't get you arrested, but a false accusation can.

Ok, Henry, you are the lawyer and judge, your verdict is accepted.

It only took me 79 years to not trust anyone - no matter their title.

Hi JB, I'm pretty cautious about who I trust, but I can't say I trust no one. The reality is, if I trusted no one, I would never leave the house, cross the street, get on a train, or plane, drive my car, accept and use a prescription drug, eat the food I purchase, etc, etc, you get the idea. Living our lives requires us to trust, whether we like it or not.

Terry

Are you 79 yet?

You may have missed my point here. I was referring to "titled people" as in doctors, lawyers, Indian Chiefs ...lol

Just because they have secured a title (in their field) I am hesitant to accept their "professional opinions" - sadly, for me, this is a result of my life experiences. Jb

I totally agree with you. There are incompetent people in every field. I've run into my fair share as well. No, I'm not 79, but I'm 71! I don't believe anyone reaches an age where they should stop learning. I still learn things every day!

Terry

They have one advantage, though. The average vaccine-denier is getting younger. And richer, too, as they inherit earlier.