Margaret Hefferman Dare to Disagree

Margaret Heffernan says that “open information isn’t the end; it’s the beginning.” That no matter how much information we have at our fingertips, the true power of the information comes when we can question its validity. And that’s the rub; with all of the information at our fingertips, we are afraid to question it. 

She suggests that this inability to question begins when we are young, and that rarely do we have the opportunity to practice acting as Devil’s Advocate. And by not practicing, we fall into compliance or inaction. She suggests that we should begin practicing the role of Devil’s advocate when we are young so that it becomes natural.

She gave an example of someone who was questioning the efficacy of a medical device. He was afraid to say something because he didn’t want to be called a “whistleblower.” yet when he finally spoke up, he was called a “leader” because he said what others were thinking. 

This is part of the problem. When someone goes against the grain, they’re considered a trouble maker or irritating. No one wants those labels. So, in addition to her suggestion that we practice questioning when we’re young, we should reinforce the act of questioning. Instead of another eye roll when the same person questions, they should be commended for having the courage to speak up.

In her opening, Hefferman tells the story of Dr. Alice Stewart and her partner George Neil. Dr. Stewart did the research, Mr. Neil tried to prove her wrong, and he never could. Hefferman said that Mr. Neil felt that it was his job to prove her wrong, and he couldn’t. She suggests that we all need to have someone speak up and prove us wrong so that we can think harder and make better decisions. She also talked about Geroge Neil and said that he “preferred numbers to people.” What would have happened if Dr. Stewart had found someone like Neil but who liked people? Who could not only look for errors in her work but could tell people when they couldn’t be found? What if Neil had shared with other doctors and people in the medical field or the greater community about the issue with X-rays? What if, instead of only trying to prove her wrong, he had also stood by her side and used his power as a man to say that she was right?

So, while I agree with Hefferman that we don’t question enough and that we need to get over the fear of being the only one or the squeaky wheel when we are the ones who have been proven wrong, it’s our job to share the news, to recognize the person who took a stand and to help them spread the word that the original word was wrong.

As facilitators, we can begin the conversation. We can pause before a decision is made and ask for any alternative views. We can ask if anyone disagrees. And if someone stands up and says they do disagree, then, as facilitators, we can praise them for their strength and courage to challenge. Also, we can ensure that when we write the ground rules, something about being the devil’s advocate is encouraged.