Skepticism is a strength. It is an engine of positive progress. And it’s foundational to science. It drives great leaps forward, like when scientists across the globe worked to develop safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines. And it’s behind baby steps, too, like when the CDC changes its recommendations as our knowledge compounds.

Cynicism, on the other hand, is a weakness. It often masquerades as skepticism, but it’s an engine of decay, not progress. Cynics arrive at conclusions despite the evidence. They ignore whatever counters their beliefs and cherry-pick supporting evidence, no matter its quality.

Cynicism drives almost every decision to do nothing when evidence suggests that something must be done — for example, when someone at high risk for Covid-19 refuses a vaccine with no long-term side effects because they claim it is riskier than a contagious disease that has killed more than 5 million people and burdened many millions more with long-term side effects such as fatigue, insomnia, cognitive dysfunction and other hallmarks of long Covid.