Are you among the other 86% who fell for this?

What you are reading may not be what it seems

Photo by Larisa Birta on Unsplash

You may wonder about the title and how it relates to you.

Allow me to explain.

Imagine I presented to you with information that is scientifically correct and true.

It concerns the dangers of a compound called Dihydrogen Monoxide(DHMO).

Imagine I said to you:

This compound has been implicated in thousands of deaths in Americans annually.

Complete withdrawal from DHMO can even lead to death for those dependent on it

DHMO can cause severe burns

symptoms of consumption include bloating, excessive urination and sweating.

Additionally, DHMO can contribute to the corrosion and rusting of many metals

It is even used for the production of styrofoam.

Surprisingly, this substance is found in every river, stream and lake in America.

Based on this information, would you ban this substance?

Give yourself some time to think.

The twist lies in the fact that Dihydrogen Monoxide(DHMO) is H20, water.

This experiment was stemmed from a project at high school conducted by a 14-year-old student called Nathan Zohner in 1997.

He presented 50 of the students with a report called “Dihydrogen Monoxide: The Unrecognized Killer,” which was scientifically accurate regarding the dangers of DHMO.

Astonishingly, 86% of Nathan’s peers, 43 out 50, voted in favour to ban DHMO.

6 students were undecided.

1 student was against the ban.

The fact that these young students, who were taking chemistry classes, fell for the ruse demonstrates how important critical thinking and scientific literacy are in preventing fear-mongering tactics.

While technically all of the information presented was correct, the information was presented in a way to mislead his classmates and lead to false conclusions.

It provides a strong reminder to critically evaluate information, question sources, and seek reliable evidence before drawing conclusions or making decisions.

This led to the term “Zohnerism” created by James K. Glassman used to refer to “the use of a fact to lead a scientifically and mathematically ignorant public to a false conclusion”

In addition, with the increasing rise of AI, it is pertinent that we think more critically and inform ourselves before making any judgement on any information.

Examples relating to misinformation include:

• MMR vaccines responsible for autism which has been widely disproven by scientific research
• the misinformation to downplay the effects of climate change.
• hydroxychloroquine considered as a potential treatment for COVID-19, despite the lack of scientific studies and clinical trials to show evidence of its effectiveness.

These are also used in our conversations as well not just case studies such as hearing that “too much sugar is bad for us.”

But too much anything is pretty much bad for us whether that be water or exercise. Having a balance and the right amount is important.

Therefore we must protect ourselves from Zohnerism

The strategies to protect ourselves from Zohnerism

To protect ourselves from falling victim to being misled by false or misleading information, here are some strategies to consider:

1. Develop your critical thinking: When presented with information question the information presented and critically questions its validity. Try to seek evidence and evaluate your sources.
2. Fact-Checking: It can be easy to see a particular quote online or a piece of fact and share it online. However, verifying that information from reliable sources before accepting it as accurate is important to spread misinformation.
3. Be Skeptical: Don’t nod your head to something that seems to connect the dots based on your anecdotes and lack of information. Try to question and ask questions to gain more information such as Why? and How?
4. Consider Multiple Perspectives: Opening your eyes to different viewpoints and opinions can allow you to have a well-rounded understanding and avoid confirmation bias, which is favouring information that confirms with your existing beliefs.

It is crucial to acknowledge situations when you are uncertain about a particular topic and say “I don’t know” because this prevents misinformation and creates an opportunity for you to research the topic.

Sometimes all it takes is a few minutes to spend time critically thinking and fact-checking to reduce misinformation before sharing information or commenting.

So let us not make the same mistake as DHMO, water.