RE: Cognitive Dissonance and the avoidance of Facts

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RE: Cognitive Dissonance and the avoidance of Facts - 8/22/2010 1:42:28 PM

luckydawg

Posts: 2448
Joined: 9/2/2009
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quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody

ITT - One person suggests some psychics really can really talk to the dead, another person claims WMD was not the reason given for Iraq. They proceed to point out the stupidity of each others positions.

Later on, someone claims that liberalism is essentially a mental illness.

It's a fascinating thread certainly.

actually my claim was that "WMD" is simply shorthand for a more complex statement. The claim Saddam was refusing to comply with the resolutions and inspection regiem (absolutly true and can not be disputed by any source) is changed by folks like HK and DCWoody, et al to "Saddam has a nuke ready to kill us".

And when you point out the slight of hand bullshit/Anti Logic, they get pretty upset.

_____________________________

I was posting as Right Wing Hippie, but that account got messed up.

(in reply to DCWoody)

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RE: Cognitive Dissonance and the avoidance of Facts - 8/22/2010 4:11:35 PM

DomKen

Posts: 19457
Joined: 7/4/2004
From: Chicago, IL
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster

TY for unlocking this.

Excellent post, jefff. Exactly on point, particularly the last paragraph.

Seems to me there are two ways to resolve cognitive dissonance: either assimilate new information, and change, or reject anything which contradicts one's beliefs, and remain in a state of intentional ignorance. IMO, those who believe in cosmic spooks (other than the FSM) belong in the latter category, as do the majority of conservatives.

It's not just the majority of conservatives its the majority of all people. Liberals are no exception.

Some Conservatives reject AGW or the ToE or believe there were WMD in Iraq but some liberals believe in crystals or some other variety of woo. It might be inetresting to compare the sorts of untrue thngs each side tends to believe in but I strongly disaprove of trying to claim this is solely the province of a single political philosophy.

I can't disagree with the fact that many non-cons believe in New-Agey hooey, but you'll find just as many cons who believe in Area 51 (a classic conspiracy theory) or colloidal silver or magnets or homeopathic (water) remedies.

There have been studies which correlate education with a tendency towards Progressivism. Also with more education comes a correlation with disbelief in a higher power, and other myths. I infer, therefore (and I may very well be wrong; I don't know of any studies correlating political orientation with UFOs and such), that Progressivism correlates with disbelief in conspiracy theories, alternative medicine and other junk science, and the various New Age beliefs.

If only it were so. Plenty of educated progrssive people believe some of the stupidest shit ever. I belong to a number of local progressive groups and its certain that we had plenty of truthers, new agers etc.. Truthfully they were useful idiots in that they eagerly did alot of the grunt work. You just have to avoid their conversations and don't let them be spokesperson for the group.

This might be better than the situation on the right at this momemnt in that the nuts seem to have taken over on that side but it remains dishonest to try and put the onus entirely on the cons.

(in reply to Hippiekinkster)

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RE: Cognitive Dissonance and the avoidance of Facts - 8/23/2010 2:01:38 AM

Termyn8or

Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
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HK, this is really a jumpthrough. I can't even read the entire Op because of eyestrain.

I think I understand the point though. That people hold on to their beliefes even in the face of completely contrary evidence. I have seen this in life. They just decide that they don't believe something. It doesn't fit.

And I am exactly the same, I admit it. Now understand that my education went a bit different than most. But I can say "It figures" or not. What's more to me it doesn't matter. I know what the future holds, it is already all set. I don't care who is President or anything else, the conditions exist and these things are going to happen. When is a different story, however long they can forestall it and give their buddies a chance to make more money. That's all it is.

Details upon request. But know I have no need to watch the news except maybe to get the weather. They even fuck that up. You can't trust anyone now, or what anyone says no matter who they are.

Tomorrow evening I m going to the hospital, I might be gone for a time. If they have wireless internet I will be here because it will be about all I can do rather than watch TV, and I hate TV. Otherwise I lay there waiting for them to come and poke and prod me some more.

That's it for now, I have to get up tomorrow so sianara for now.

T

(in reply to Hippiekinkster)

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RE: Cognitive Dissonance and the avoidance of Facts - 8/23/2010 5:58:38 AM

GotSteel

Posts: 5871
Joined: 2/19/2008
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: juliaoceania
Scam is trying to cheat someone out of something,and not all people who believe themselves to be psychic are out to scam people

That's not neccassarly the definition of a scam.

"Definition of SCAM

: a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation <an insurance scam>" http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scam
I think the people who have convinced themselves that they are psychic are also scamming themselves.

< Message edited by GotSteel -- 8/23/2010 5:59:48 AM >

(in reply to juliaoceania)

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Post #: 64