TFBT

A new acronym pronounced Tif-Bit came to my attention. It stands for Tiny Fact Big Theory. It is most often used in psychology but there are other examples. Let’s say you’re standing around with fellow co-workers and one of them makes an inside joke that you don’t get. That tiny fact could lead to a big theory where all of a sudden you think you don't belong. The same could happen with a bad grade and you decide that you're not smart. With a healthy self-esteem those Tif-Bits don’t carry the same potentially debilitating consequences. 

I’m seeing a lot of Tif-Bits on the news. Some cult members see an assassinated observer who has a pride flag as part of their online presence and make the big theory that she’s a “radical, professional agitator” who got what she deserved. The Secretary, also known as the dog killing cosplayer, makes outright lies by extrapolating one tiny fact into the narrative she wants. 

And this is where we get a lot of conspiracy theories; they start out with one tiny fact and grow into something like QAnon. As I’ve often said, the problem with “connecting the dots” is that it is too easy to have the wrong dots and make wrong connections. I know that in our current environment, we need to have immediate hot takes. And this leads to trouble. Instead, we need nuance, patience, and waiting for the facts to come in; we really shouldn’t take one tiny fact and turn it into some big theory; let’s slow down a little. And let the truth prevail.