I was taught to read by my father. We had an ancient set of stained and battered encyclopaedias and we started at A and headed to Z. He likes facts. For him they are the fabric of knowledge and knowledge is paramount.
Unsurprisingly, I either inherited or imbibed that desire to know things and I long ago realised that the things most worth knowing are those which are true.
That’s why I almost became a scientist and I enjoy meeting them, because they are people looking for truth. For me science is the art of understanding truth and beauty; there is no more noble pursuit.
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It is also why I happily stand up for conservation where there is irrefutable evidence of harm – the decline in endangered birds of prey linked to grouse shooting or the unjustified culling of badgers or misguided demands to hunt foxes.
Speak out
I do so even when they are allegedly controversial and I am accused of extremism simply for stating the facts, or doubt is cast on my right to speak out because I happen to present wildlife programmes for the BBC. Such attacks show those I oppose have lost the rational case.
Of course we all like to play with opinion and subjectivity and I have my own particular emotional arena in which to do so.
I might suggest that Justin Bieber’s entire body of work is not worth one track by the Ramones, but if you disagreed with me I wouldn’t fight you over it.
As an autist I’d be surprised, but I’d let it go, for the simple reason that if you want to win an argument you must be pragmatic, dispassionate and rigorous… you must argue from a foundation of solid, measured, qualified fact. Then you should win.
Peaceful protest
I’ve learned that if you peacefully, democratically and calmly present irrefutable evidence or facts in a reasonable and polite way and consequently win an argument, then your adversaries can be left wondering how to react.
Reason says they should accept defeat and modify their stance accordingly, but we are talking about humans here, and so often this is a big ask. Ego, pride, selfishness, vested interests and, even worse, money may motivate them to refute that reason and lash out blindly and violently, ignoring the facts.
In my idealistic youth this would have angered and disappointed me but as my time to make a difference dwindles, I know I must ignore their mischief, repel their misguided energies and deliberately and calculatedly exploit their weaknesses.
For me winning is not about a victory, it’s about not giving up. And when you’ve got science as your sword and truth as your shield you really have little to fear so you can just keep going. For as long as it takes. Or for as long as you’ve got.
