You are what you read

A system’s output depends on its input. In computer science, this is the principle of garbage in, garbage out, and it applies to humans too. “You are what you read.”

What can a brain produce if it consumes mostly internet comments and cat videos? (He sighs, to himself, in the mirror.) A scientist can’t find eureka with flawed data. An Olympian can’t win gold by munching gummy bears.

If you choose to undertake the task of meaningful creation, you must be intentional about the ideas you put in your body. Rage bait, glurge, and insincere contrarianism are the corn snacks of modern discourse. They fill you up for the moment, but they are nutritionally bare.

Be frugal with your attention. Knowledge is not the same as information and neither is chatter. Feed the machine accordingly.