In today's world facts are king. What ever comment you wish to make, even the most banal, self evident observations such as people are stressed these days, someone in the crowd of listeners will invariably ask: what are your supporting facts? At this point, unless you're prepared to provide a detailed summary of some definitive study on the subject, the questioner comes out as the victor, and you appear foolish and opinionated.

Whereas in the famous salons of yesteryear, intelligence was measured by originality and wit, now all one need do to appear like a true expert on any subject is have the ability to utter the words: what are you supporting facts? , with just the most subtle hint of incredulity in your voice.

The irony of course is that it is so very easy to lie with facts. All we have to do is quote this body or that study and you can fabricate the most improbable conclusion. The risk of being caught out is extremely slim since by the time you have finished your argument you can rest assured that the listeners have long forgotten any of the specifics. The only thing that they are likely to take away from the conversation is the impression of how well informed you are.

What is behind our love affair with facts? By referring to facts we don't have to think for ourselves. We can rely upon this or that authority to do the thinking for us. We believe what we believe, not because it makes sense, but because it is supported by the authority of "hard facts".

Any muscle, if it is not used regularly, begins to atrophy. The brain is no exception. Even before the time most of us leave school, it seems that we have simply stopped thinking. As they find themselves deluged by the inexhaustible minutia of adult life- job, kids, vacation plans, mortgage payments, in-laws- data processing replaces thinking. We become very efficient at assembling the mountains of factual data, but we somehow seemed to lose the capacity to actually ask ourselves the simple question: does this make sense?

Thinking requires energy. We only invest energy and something where there is some likely pay off down the line. What is the payoff for thinking? If in a world such as ours all thinking is likely to do is make you question the box you occupy. If you then proceed to the next step and begin to make some casual observations about your world, you are beginning to venture out on thin ice. For one day you might slip up and share these casual observations in public. No sooner will the words leave your lips that you will know you are in trouble. Your companions will smile triumphantly and ask you that dreaded question: "and what are your facts?"

Check and checkmate!