Devil's Trap
Once I've formed an opinion about something, in an attempt to not live in a vacuum of self-importance, I always ask myself, "What if I'm wrong?" Then I argue with myself about both sides. Of course its better to have this actual conversation with someone who has a different opinion - I can't think of everything - but the problem, the real problem ( Read more... )
Beautiful, well-articulated word, and a gorgeous supposition! Of course that's probably it exactly (and a very dentin answer to boot). Which is why of course IT NEVER CROSSED MY MIND. So many failings in my experiences, mostly surrounding emotions. It would appear that you actually can't go through life completely logical after all, so much you miss!
Do you think people who have this emotional tie-in are aware of it? That they understand how it works? How very interesting. I know people like this. And they very occasionally scare me!
Yet these norms are made under the guise of shared values, and a cohesive society, as if questioning and curiosity were a danger to such things.
But we're a part of that society! We should be the ones to incrementally modify them as they've been incrementally modified before us. This is what I don't get - why that process is so....slow. Or why its fought against so vehemently. Yes, emotional tie-in, sure. But that can't be everyone can it?
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I read your post to my mom. She said she knows that she has emotional reactions to some topics (in her case religion) due to her upbringing. However, she is aware of them. She asked, "Does this make her close-minded for having them or open minded for having them, yet acknowledging them?" I laughed and said she should comment. She'd prefer to have the discussion with you face to face. :-)
That said, I think being aware of emotional trigger points and being able to identify them as she has is a rare thing. Most people just accept them, and refuse to question their existence and source as my mom does.
I believe it was Dentin who commented on one of your blogs that studies have shown that there are actual genetic predispositions for being conservative (maintaining the status quo, only slow change) versus being a more progressive thinker / risk taker. He said, the conservatives significantly outnumber the risk takers, and that this is probably safer for the progression of society in general, evolutionarily speaking.
I wish I could remember which blog it was. His comment was much more eloquent. I am afraid I am not doing it justice.
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Actually, I can and I did. Its only recently I've become aware that there are other avenues to the same end. Live and learn. I'm not saying one is right and the other wrong, only that the one I am not familiar with is entirely foreign to me.
"Does this make her close-minded for having them or open minded for having them, yet acknowledging them?"
WOW! An actual test subject! Well, knowing your mother, and her ability to have a rational discussion on hot-button topics on which we sit on opposite sides of the fence, I would have to say open-minded for being aware of them and acknowledging that they modify her behavior where those issues are concerned. Hell, I probably have some to. I just don't know what they are. But I'm always willing to find out!
I wish I could remember which blog it was.
I remember. Brilliant man that. And thanks for the reminder. Of course that's why. A whole planet of you and I? WE WOULD EAT OUR YOUNG. Let's hear it for the status quo.
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Hmmm..., tasty? LOL! Seriously, I don't think we would eat our young per se, but we might try to get them to grow wings, implant direct computer access into their brains, or see if we could teleport them into the future. Yeah, it might be a rather strange world.
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