In a nutshell, Fact Foundations is a website I founded to show how curiosity can meet evidence. I wanted to see how I could reframe world views using facts, not just popular opinions and assumptions. My approach is to explore various views and assumptions with an open mind and see where the data takes me. I then share my results, and the fact foundations for them, with the casual reader in mind.
Fact Foundations will also provide practical information and, eventually, courses to help make people’s lives a little easier.
Foundations of Sand
“The lowest form of popular culture — lack of information, misinformation, disinformation, and a contempt for the truth or the reality of most people’s lives — has overrun real journalism. Today, ordinary Americans are being stuffed with garbage.” – Carl Bernstein
The Knowledge Paradox
While we have an absurd amount of information available at our fingertips with the internet, usually in our pocket, much of that information is low quality. Even with Artificial Intelligence (AI), readers need to check generated information for validity. We have to filter out the coarse grounds of misinformation to get down to credible facts.
Confronting Misinformation and Indoctrination
Over the years, I’ve heard countless statements which people have repeated from the people around them, social media, politicians, religious figures, and television. Rarely have I seen real evidence referenced much less shown along with such statements. I have often wondered if indoctrination was involved. Indoctrination is defined as the process of teaching someone to accept a set of beliefs without questioning them.
Especially when statements are encouraging fear or hate, I’ve wished I had solid information to counter or at least qualify what was being said. But I hadn’t gathered it.
After having this idea at the back of my mind for years, I decided it was time to actually do something about all this ignorance and assumptions — starting with my own. I decided to start digging into all these topics, controversial as well as just practical, to find out what the data says. Even if, or perhaps especially if, it turns out my initial view was wrong, I wanted to question the beliefs I’ve heard and held and see what was left after getting down to the truth.
“The duty of a journalist is to write the truth. Journalism means you go back to the actual facts, you look at the documents, you discover what the record is, and you report it.” — Noam Chomsky
Why Me
I realized that I have the potential to make meaningful contributions to society using the skills I’ve gained over the years. During my time in college at Cornell University and in grad school at Pennsylvania State University, I learned how to research as well as how to read and think critically. I know how to question ideas and determine the truth using research, science, and critical thinking.
Going beyond my capabilities, I have a drive to improve the world, even if only a little bit. For anyone who finds the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicators to be interesting or useful, I usually test as an INFJ (Introverted — Intuitive — Feeling — Judging) :
“Idealistic and principled, people with the INFJ personality type (Advocates) aren’t content to coast through life — they want to stand up and make a difference.” (https://www.16personalities.com/infj-personality).
Focusing on Impact
“Having knowledge but lacking the power to express it clearly is no better than never having any ideas at all.” – Pericles
Over the years, I’ve seen again and again how having piles of credible data doesn’t do anything. It doesn’t convince people. Most people won’t dig into it to figure out what it actually means. Similarly, even if I find good relevant data, it won’t matter unless I present it effectively.
Luckily, I enjoy data analysis and statistics. And I like solving puzzles. And I like writing and sharing information effectively. In recent years, one of my favorite books has become Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic. I’ve taken to heart many of the lessons it presents and try to make visuals as easy to understand as possible.
Bridging the Gap
After seeing the good data available and the ignorance and misinformation, I decided to try to bridge the gap between all the credible raw data available and the everyday curious reader.
Following a mindset of transparency, I decided to share the datasets I use as well as all my references. I, too, am only human, and I may sometimes miss more recent or relevant data. If you send me valid contradictory facts, I will analyze and incorporate it accordingly. Fact Foundations is a place where I can share the fruits of my data gathering and analysis. Fact Foundations allows me to encourage growth — in others and myself.
Ground Rules
I discussed what Fact Foundations is and what I aim to do with it. But there are some things it is not. It is not a place to post baseless statements or arguments. It is not a place to use religious or cultural values to try to dispute scientific or legal deductions. It is also not a place to spread or encourage hate, fear, or violence.
Bravely Face the Unquestioned
I welcome you to brave this journey with me. We will question common beliefs and establish our Fact Foundations to build well-informed perspectives about the world around us. From economics, to civics, to science, to politics — we can explore it all!
See our available insights here: Insights and some practical information here: Nuts and Bolts.
If you have any comments or suggestions, please provide them here: Contact
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Sincerely — Marissa