June 18th, 2025

Believe What I Believe

I had a text conversation recently. A friend was telling me that there was reason to believe a suspect in a recent crime is innocent. In fact, there was a conspiracy. The conspiracy was perpetrated by a foreign government as retribution to the victim. The foreign power also chose a patsy who was acting out of character.

It was much easier for me to believe the suspect had committed the crime. But I was sure not to say that I knew anything as fact. At that point in the investigation, there wasn’t much information. Nor was there much evidence. The evidence the police had pointed to their suspect. Their suspect also had a motive.

The conversation got derailed into talk about a 9/11 conspiracy theory. I decided to watch the videos my friend suggested about the conspiracy. They are pretty good. The video used appeal to authority and ad hominem, but it is convincing nevertheless. So I also decided to watch a video which countered the claims of the conspiracy theory. I found that video convincing too. I told my friend exactly this. I said that I wasn’t going to repeat the conspiracy theory as fact because I didn’t fully believe it.

That wasn’t what he wanted to hear. He seemed to be intent on convincing me. I told him that I had no issue with his conviction, and that I found the simpler theory more plausible. But I also stated that there was plenty of room for doubt. What do you do when experts disagree? I don’t necessarily take a side. But I decided to just be honest and say I found one argument to be more convincing.

When he wouldn’t let the point rest, I continued to assure him that I may be wrong. At one point he said that I may not be able to handle the truth. I agreed. I stated that I am not a good judge of my own character. I really didn’t know what to say.

I didn’t want to convince him to side with me. I wonder (a bit) why it mattered that I didn’t agree with him. I guess I feel good about that. It is nice to think that my opinion matters. I am also happy that I didn’t resort to hostility over the issue. Was I just trying to take the high road and act nice? I hope not. I genuinely believe it’s okay to disagree. It was a good exercise in debate. At least for me, it was a chance to discuss the merits of a claim, without being married to my interpretation.