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| We Tend To Reinforce Our Beliefs, For Better Or Worse. |
| I have been reading certain shout boxes of my macroevolutionary opponents and see that they encourage each other to be strong "in the faith," building each other up. We all tend to get together with those who believe the same as us and ridicule the opposition to reinforce ourselves. |
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Yes that is how organized religion works.
In fact I even go as far as to say that is how any affiliation works.
A married couple will agree with each other even though they once held quite differing beliefs. |
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I don't know that ridicule is all that helpful, and it tends to display weakness, pettiness and
arrogance.
However, yeah it is natural to protect that which you hold dear.
I get bored by the "you're wrong i'm right" stuff, but when there is intelligent discourse i am
interested. |
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Agreed.
The term bias is an interesting one. Most of us have a strong sense of "psychological bias", that
is hopefully a degree of certainty in having a position on something that is based on the fact that
we have looked and perhaps thought about the issue. If we don't develop a degree of certainty than
why study anything? If we have a "psychological bias" on something then it makes alot of sense to
"hang around" people who have a similar view on the issue. (unless one loves to debate!!).
Now, there is also "rational bias". This is how stuck we are in our viewpoints. That is, are we
able to hear evidence that is contrary to what we previously thought we knew, that might have a
bearing on the degree of certainty we have on a given issue. Some are really closed in this regard
and some are better at it; although, I admit, it is at times quite hard to do. Have you ever
changed your mind on an issue? If you have, that probably represents some degree of "rational
nonbias". Sometimes I deliberately try to say to myself: I'm quite certain about this issue, BUT I
COULD BE WRONG! (I could be better at reminding myself of this! |
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I would have to agree with you. For once. It is natural to be happy to be right and feel daft when
you are wrong.
That said I know this post is in reference to me and I maintain that if I had some feasible evidence
to show that I was wrong I would happily change my mind. I have done on many subjects since I was
your age. You will too. But it is much much harder for someone so heavily influenced by religion
and how it dictates their lives to admit they are wrong. You will fight tooth and nail to the last,
even fall back on the faith thing, rather than face having to change your whole lifestyle. The same
does not apply to me. I would eat a little humble pie and that is it. |
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Unfortunately true. People are often more interested in how their beliefs make them feel than if
their beliefs are factually true. That's why they turn to other similarly-minded people for comfort
and support instead of simply going where the evidence leads. It's likely a society-building
evolutionary trait which brings people who may tend to cooperate and have similar beliefs together,
but it's hardly rational.
Something that is true, is true, no matter how it makes you feel. Something that is false, is
false, likewise. The world doesn't exist to give you warm fuzzies, it's up to you to deal with the
reality that actually exists, not the reality you wish was real. |
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Yes, i'd agree with that. Everyone is guilty of that to an extent - some more so than others. I
suppose its just natural human behaviour. |
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 For and Against Recent Activity
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23 Apr 2008 20:48
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