Believe it or Not, Skepticism Is More Important Than Ever

Would you believe me if I told you it’s International Skeptics Day? Or would you stop and Google it just to double-check? Don’t worry, I won’t be offended if it’s the latter. In fact, I hope it is, because what better way to mark this auspicious occasion, right?

In Chicago news industry lore there’s an old saying: “If your mother says she loves you, check it out.” It’s a great reminder that no matter what you think you may know, it’s always best to get confirmation. Assumptions are the enemy.

In the investigations business, a healthy dose of skepticism is essential. We are trained not only to find information but to develop our inner BS detector – that is, to recognize when a piece of the puzzle doesn’t fit. For instance, many of us have done pre-employment background checks on individuals who, on the surface, appear to be model job candidates. Their resumes are impeccable. They have no criminal record, and press research identifies no negative or concerning information. But as you dig deeper you find that beneath this pristine surface, there are red flags: a divorce with troubling allegations of domestic abuse, or social media posts that suggest racist or sexist attitudes. Perhaps, on a hunch, you place a call to a former coworker of the subject only to learn he or she left the job amid allegations of harassing behavior, something that typically would not show up in the public record. The point is not to doubt that there are wonderful job candidates out there with no skeletons in their closets. Rather, it’s to always look out for blemishes in what might at first appear to be a perfectly rosy picture.

Seeing What the Client Can’t

Another scenario we sometimes encounter involves clients who conduct business with people they don’t know personally, but who have close ties to friends or family members. For instance, a family member’s new romantic partner or a friend of a friend might approach them about a business venture. They let their guard down in these situations for fear of offending someone close to them, and then later, when problems emerge, they seek our help to find out just who they’re dealing with. In these unfortunate cases, the skepticism comes too late.

It's important to remember that as investigators it’s sometimes our job to think critically on behalf of a client who may be hoping we find nothing at all. Employers planning to add a new member to their organization or private equity professionals hoping to close a deal may have blinders on when it comes to an individual subject, lest their hard work to that point go for naught. It’s our responsibility to ask hard questions and to introduce that healthy skepticism that clients may not even realize they need.  

Skepticism in the Internet Age

In some ways, skepticism is more important now than ever. In an age when we all are heavily reliant on the Internet as a source of information, taking that information at face value, especially when it comes from unvetted sources, can be a recipe for disaster. There are an endless number of bad actors out there – from trouble-making individuals to hostile nations attempting to spread disinformation and sew chaos – who prey on the naïve and unsuspecting. Nowhere is this more true than on social media. Whether it’s fake influencers trying to make themselves look rich or political activists spreading propaganda, social media is a cesspool of deception and half-truths. Unfortunately, it’s also where around half of all Americans get at least some of their news, according to a Pew Research Center poll. The algorithms used by social media platforms are easily exploited by those with a social or political agenda, meaning any information gleaned there is best taken with a grain of salt unless coming from a verified, credible source.

We all know that friend or family member who unwittingly surrendered personal information or spread false stories simply because they were not thinking critically while reading them. I think this is where the expression “healthy dose of skepticism” comes from. Ignoring such an approach can be hazardous to your financial and emotional well-being.