So how do you survive this avalanche of confusion?

You need a bullsh*t filter—a mental colander that catches the lies, exaggerations, and half-baked opinions before they sink into your brain like expired cheese dip.

Lucky for you, I’ve got the instructions right here.

🔍 Step 1: Ask the Magic Question — “Says Who?”

Before you believe anything—and I mean anything—pause and ask:

“Who’s saying this? And why do they want me to believe it?”

Is it a doctor? A scientist? A journalist? Or is it a guy named @TruthLord99 with a raccoon as his profile pic and a solid history of rage-tweeting during full moons?

People always have a reason for saying what they say. Sometimes it’s truth. Sometimes it’s clicks, cash, or clout. Knowing the source helps you separate helpful info from someone’s random Tuesday rant.

💰 Step 2: Follow the Money (or the Likes)

If someone is telling you that drinking pickle juice will reverse aging, clear your skin, and fix your taxes, ask:

• Who’s selling it?

• Who paid for the study?

• Is this a fact, or just a fancy ad in disguise?

If the article says “sponsored content” or has more pop-ups than a Whack-A-Mole machine, take it with a salt lick.

😱 Step 3: Watch for Emotional Booby Traps

The more outrageous the claim, the more likely it’s trying to hijack your feelings instead of your brain.

News flash: If it makes you angry, afraid, or ready to throw your toaster, someone is probably yanking your emotional chain.

Take a breath. Turn on your logic. Ask yourself:

“Is this really true… or am I being emotionally blackmailed by a headline?”

Remember: Your brain works better when it’s not in full-on rage-panic mode.

🎩 Step 4: Learn the Tricks (AKA How to Spot B.S. in the Wild)

Here are a few of the greatest hits from the Manipulation Playbook:

• Cherry-picking: Only showing data that supports their side—like only eating the marshmallows in Lucky Charms and calling it “breakfast.”

• False balance: Giving equal time to “scientists” and that guy who thinks the moon is a hologram.

• Whataboutism: “Yeah, I set your car on fire, but what about that time you didn’t do the dishes?”

• Straw man: Twisting what someone said to make it easier to attack. It’s like arguing with a sock puppet version of the truth.

Learn these tactics. Spot them. Laugh at them. Move on.

🧠 Step 5: Get Comfortable with “I Don’t Know”

Saying “I don’t know” in 2025 is practically revolutionary. Everyone wants to act like they’ve got all the answers, even when they clearly don’t. (Looking at you, random YouTube guy with conspiracy theories and a whiteboard.)

But here’s the deal:
Smart people question themselves. Loud people… don’t.

You don’t need to have a hot take on everything. Sometimes it’s okay to say,

“Huh. That’s interesting. I’ll look into it.”

That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.

🕵️‍♂️ Step 6: Fact-Check Without Falling into a Rabbit Hole

You don’t need to turn into Sherlock Holmes with Wi-Fi. But when something sounds off, run a quick check:

• Snopes.com – for “Did that really happen?” stories

• FactCheck.org – for political puffery and nonsense

• MediaBiasFactCheck.com – for checking if a site leans left, right, or totally off a cliff

If you’re too lazy to search, ask yourself:

“If I repeat this out loud, will I sound smart… or like I got my facts from a cereal box?”

🧘‍♀️ Step 7: Protect Your Peace (and Your Sanity)

Here’s something people forget:
You don’t have to debate everyone.
You don’t have to watch every news story.
You don’t need to explain the difference between correlation and causation to your cousin Chad.

Sometimes, the smartest move is to log off, grab a snack, and let the madness roll by.

Critical thinking isn’t just about being right. It’s about choosing where to spend your attention—and not wasting it on every shouting match.

🚀 Final Thought: Be the Filter

You’re not going to catch everything. That’s okay.

But every time you pause to question, fact-check, or call out the nonsense, you’re doing your part to bring clarity into a chaotic world.

You’re not just avoiding bullsh*t—you’re helping others escape it too.

So next time you see something wild, ask yourself:

“Do I believe this because it’s true…
or because it’s loud and kinda spicy?”

If you hesitate, good. That’s your filter doing its job.

Want more real talk without the fluff?
Sign up for Cutting Thru The Noise. We’ll send you brain food, not brain fog.

Further Reading

Calling Bullsh*t: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World By Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West

Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator By Ryan Holiday