Reliable knowledge is important. I saw how fragile it is, and how often nonsense gets pedalled after getting into paramotoring (see FootFlyer.com) and seeing just out how much misinformation was out there. Only a couple years in revealed that much of what was taught regarding safety was wrong. I’d get bits and pieces of good advice most of the time, but in some areas, it was just wrong. With encouragement from well-known ultralight author Dennis Pagen, I wound up writing the Powered Paragliding Bible.
Eventually I also fully embraced 1) critical thinking, 2) an understanding of what was constituted quality evidence, and 3) employed many of the tools described in Michael Shermer’s Baloney Detection Kit (14 minute video).
When we can apply the tools to every area of knowledge, better decisions are likely.