The quasi-documentary about Elizabeth Holmes is off to a robust box-office performance on the shoulders of some rave reviews from critics. The title, “You Can See Everything”, is clearly intended to convey multiple layers of meaning, and most of the reviewers seem to go along energetically with the ambiguity.
■ But what they may need to go along with instead is a different message: One that says, “Guard carefully what you put into your mind”. The entire Holmes tale is a saga of trust and uncritical thinking. In the words of the Justice Department, “Holmes consistently provided glowing but false representations”.
■ Certain modes of information uptake are better than others at creating space for critical thinking. Reading (especially when done actively, with a pen or a highlighter) is often one of those. Watching a movie or listening to a podcast are generally much less reliable ways to encourage critical thought.
■ That isn’t the only thing that matters, of course; it can be quite enough to watch some material strictly for entertainment value. But we shouldn’t disregard the importance of cultural habits that offer some protection. Protective customs have always mattered, but they matter more than ever because the opportunities to engage in binge-level consumption without any editorial guidance in the loop are frightening.
■ There have always been hucksters and liars around, but it takes a conscious choice to elevate them in the public eye. Guarding carefully against ensorcellment isn’t a job anyone successfully undertakes all alone.