You take from a corrective move what you can and try to use it as a stepping stone into something other than it.

But people always find something precious that they attach themselves to and they think it will solve all the problems.

Whatever works, works only as long as it works.

No sooner is there some structure that the collective sees valuable everyone will begin glueing their own interests to it.

Reddit will go through all the similar cycles of corruption as any other posse.

You take from a corrective move what you can and try to use it as a stepping stone into something other than it.

But people always find something precious that they attach themselves to and they think it will solve all the problems.

Whatever works, works only as long as it works.

No sooner is there some structure that the collective sees valuable everyone will begin glueing their own interests to it.

Reddit will go through all the similar cycles of corruption as any other posse.

Unfortunately, what I tend to find is that the people who exhibit the most extreme cases of confirmation bias (and other logical pitfalls) never think about stuff like this, at least not in reference to their own beliefs.

Most people simply aren’t that introspective. They don’t question their own beliefs and don’t constantly try to assess their own objectivity (or lack of it).

Sadly, the truly thoughtful folks — the ones that devote time and effort to being informed and having defensible positions — are the only ones who engage in this sort of self-conscious hand wringing. So, we step back to examine what we believe and engage in what amounts to a masturbatory, neurotic exercise. I say it’s masturbatory because I often find that our political opponents don’t care that we’ve tried to maintain objectivity; our positions will still be derided as biased, partisan, and dogmatic.

Unfortunately, what I tend to find is that the people who exhibit the most extreme cases of confirmation bias (and other logical pitfalls) never think about stuff like this, at least not in reference to their own beliefs.

Most people simply aren’t that introspective. They don’t question their own beliefs and don’t constantly try to assess their own objectivity (or lack of it).

Sadly, the truly thoughtful folks — the ones that devote time and effort to being informed and having defensible positions — are the only ones who engage in this sort of self-conscious hand wringing. So, we step back to examine what we believe and engage in what amounts to a masturbatory, neurotic exercise. I say it’s masturbatory because I often find that our political opponents don’t care that we’ve tried to maintain objectivity; our positions will still be derided as biased, partisan, and dogmatic.

Watching the debate on DVR… and I get to 9:38, where Tom/Jim/John says I opposed the president “On torture of prisoners”….

Seriously, is it just me, or do the chills reverberate over the aether?!

Watching the debate on DVR… and I get to 9:38, where Tom/Jim/John says I opposed the president “On torture of prisoners”….

Seriously, is it just me, or do the chills reverberate over the aether?!

http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1242

http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1242

Of course, far too many of them to regurgitate the talking points that have already been debunked. We can only do so much.

Of course, far too many of them to regurgitate the talking points that have already been debunked. We can only do so much.

Expand your inputs. Educate yourself to expert levels on the pro AND cons on each issue from both or multiple perspectives.

I’m a Republican, and I tell people that they should be open to opposing points of view. In doing so they will either validate their own on new points, or old ones, or find that they have better choices simply because they talked about it.

Telling others to be open-minded is much easier that simply being open-minded, and yet to be assured that it’s worthwhile, I will occassionally educate the opposition in their own rhetoric, to take the conversation to the next level, and give them more than one thing to think about.

Again, I’m a Republican. It doesn’t mean I’m Pro-Life. It doesn’t mean I’m Pro-Creationist. And having any party affiliation doesn’t mean I must be closed to better options.

Daniel, please continue this line. Thank you.

-=T=-

Expand your inputs. Educate yourself to expert levels on the pro AND cons on each issue from both or multiple perspectives.

I’m a Republican, and I tell people that they should be open to opposing points of view. In doing so they will either validate their own on new points, or old ones, or find that they have better choices simply because they talked about it.

Telling others to be open-minded is much easier that simply being open-minded, and yet to be assured that it’s worthwhile, I will occassionally educate the opposition in their own rhetoric, to take the conversation to the next level, and give them more than one thing to think about.

Again, I’m a Republican. It doesn’t mean I’m Pro-Life. It doesn’t mean I’m Pro-Creationist. And having any party affiliation doesn’t mean I must be closed to better options.

Daniel, please continue this line. Thank you.

-=T=-

@Michael S Black – good commentary.

@Michael S Black – good commentary.