Ryan

My idea worth spreading is that ignorance is a gateway to learning, not an end point of stupidity, and that young people are in the best position to embrace this and advance new ideas for good in the world.

Traditional mainstream media incumbents (many of whose opinions are is characterised by entrenched ideological bigotry) take up space in a media landscape that desperately needs innovative, liberal ideas.

We have an unprecedented level of access to information these days, which helps to combat the inherent human tendency toward confirmation bias, which leads to ideological bigotry if we are not sufficiently critical of our own opinions and the opinions of our peers. We are able to research and verify things quickly and easily: there is no longer any excuse for assuming you know the facts based on hearsay.

Some people think they shouldn't express their opinions because they don't know enough about the facts – they feel ignorant. But opinions are just that: opinions, not facts. Expressing your half-informed opinions online is a great way to get feedback and to expand your understanding.

We must act on the understanding we have in the moment, and be prepared to adjust that knowledge as new evidence comes to hand. One of my favourite quotes about this is from Bertrand Russell:

The essence of the liberal outlook lies not in what opinions are held, but in how they are held: instead of being held dogmatically, they are held tentatively, and with a consciousness that new evidence may at any moment lead to their abandonment.