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Political conservatism is result of low-effor thinking

POSTED BY: STORYMARK
UPDATED: Monday, June 13, 2022 17:26
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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 8:51 AM

STORYMARK


Interesting. Not saying it's difinitive, or concrete, but it is interesting.

Quote:

“(P)olitical conservatism is promoted when people rely on low-effort thinking. When effortful, deliberate responding is disrupted or disengaged, thought processes become quick and efficient; these conditions promote conservative ideology… low-effort thought might promote political conservatism because its concepts are easier to process, and processing fluency increases attitude endorsement.”


http://www.politicususa.com/studies-show-political-conservatism-promot
ed-people-rely-low-effort-thinking.html



https://www.evernote.com/shard/s12/sh/25b88c91-94e8-4729-a548-f5b463bb
66ce/4be5d6f6e205896490f7c75aa398ca34/res/016c5f91-5e9e-4411-8305-585bdf2a612c/Pers%20Soc%20Psychol%20Bull-2012-Eidelman-0146167212439213.pdf

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 10:41 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!


Makes sense. Compare many Conservative ideas which can be easily summed up in a few sentences with Liberal ones which often take a few paragraghs. It could also be why many conservative never seem to understand liberal arguments and instead argue against what they think liberal arguments are.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.
A warning to everyone, AURaptor is a known liar.
...and now a Fundie!
http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.aspx?tid=53359

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 11:40 AM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important


Hello,

The result of low-effort thinking?

Wow, that seems kind of loaded. Maybe conservatism is the result of good presentation.

I think everyone enjoys easily digestable ideas and simple, relatable solutions.

I often think that liberals' primary failure is a tendency to frame arguments and ideas in ways that either don't appeal to their audience or are needlessly complicated.

It is not that liberalism is very complicated, to my mind. It's about salesmanship.

--Anthony



Note to Self:
Raptor - woman testifying about birth control is a slut (the term applies.)
Context: http://tinyurl.com/d6ozfej
Six - Wow, isn't Niki quite the CUNT? And, yes, I spell that in all caps....
http://tinyurl.com/bdjgbpe
Wulf - Niki is a stupid fucking bitch who should hurry up and die.
Context: http://tinyurl.com/afve3r9

“The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.” -T. S. Szasz

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 12:21 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by Storymark:
Interesting. Not saying it's difinitive, or concrete, but it is interesting.

Quote:

“(P)olitical conservatism is promoted when people rely on low-effort thinking. When effortful, deliberate responding is disrupted or disengaged, thought processes become quick and efficient; these conditions promote conservative ideology… low-effort thought might promote political conservatism because its concepts are easier to process, and processing fluency increases attitude endorsement.”




At the risk of pointing out the obvious...


Well, DUH!

Seriously, the Republicans might as well have nominated Herp and Derp for their candidates this year. The Herp-Derp ticket would have been about as viable with right-wingnuts.



"I supported Bush in 2000 and 2004 and intellegence [sic] had very little to do with that decision." - Hero

"I was wrong" - Hero, 2012

Mitt Romney, introducing his running mate: "Join me in welcoming the next President of the United States, Paul Ryan!"

Rappy's response? "You're lying, gullible ( believing in some BS you heard on msnbc ) or hard of hearing."

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 12:32 PM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by ANTHONYT:
Hello,

The result of low-effort thinking?

Wow, that seems kind of loaded. Maybe conservatism is the result of good presentation.

I think everyone enjoys easily digestable ideas and simple, relatable solutions.

I often think that liberals' primary failure is a tendency to frame arguments and ideas in ways that either don't appeal to their audience or are needlessly complicated.

It is not that liberalism is very complicated, to my mind. It's about salesmanship.




I think you make some fair points, but I think there's more to it than salesmanship - though simple black/white messages are easier TO sell, so there's certainly a correlation.

But I don't think it's a coincidence that conservatives are more likely to deny or ignore science, or other more complex ways of understanding things, and prefer to lean on religion, or tradition, or bumper sticker slogans parading as policy.




Excuse me while I soak in all these sweet, sweet conservative tears.

"We will never have the elite, smart people on our side." -- Rick "Frothy" Santorum

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 12:54 PM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important


Quote:

Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:

Originally posted by ANTHONYT:
Hello,

The result of low-effort thinking?

Wow, that seems kind of loaded. Maybe conservatism is the result of good presentation.

I think everyone enjoys easily digestable ideas and simple, relatable solutions.

I often think that liberals' primary failure is a tendency to frame arguments and ideas in ways that either don't appeal to their audience or are needlessly complicated.

It is not that liberalism is very complicated, to my mind. It's about salesmanship.




I think you make some fair points, but I think there's more to it than salesmanship - though simple black/white messages are easier TO sell, so there's certainly a correlation.

But I don't think it's a coincidence that conservatives are more likely to deny or ignore science, or other more complex ways of understanding things, and prefer to lean on religion, or tradition, or bumper sticker slogans parading as policy.




Excuse me while I soak in all these sweet, sweet conservative tears.

"We will never have the elite, smart people on our side." -- Rick "Frothy" Santorum

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"



Quote:

I don't think it's a coincidence that conservatives are more likely to deny or ignore science


Hello,

It's bizarre to me that liberals keep talking to conservatives about science. They clearly do not believe that science is a motivator for them, but their arguments often center around science.

Let us imagine that I am selling a car. It is the fastest car in the world. It can generate 10,000 Horsepower via a micro cold-fusion laser-ignition powerplant. It is also cute as a button, the safest car in the world, the most comfortable to sit in, the easiest to drive, and it is available in any desired color.

If a hip young customer comes into my sales lot looking for a cute pink car, it does not behoove me to rattle on about the 10,000 horsepower micro cold-fusion laser-ignition powerplant. No matter how long or hard I talk about this, it will not make my customer care and it will not convince them to buy the car.

I see this happening a lot. I don't think people who 'reject science' are inherently more prone to become conservatives or embrace conservative ideas. I do think the conservative parties know how to talk to them about their product. I don't think the liberal parties do.

--Anthony

Note to Self:
Raptor - woman testifying about birth control is a slut (the term applies.)
Context: http://tinyurl.com/d6ozfej
Six - Wow, isn't Niki quite the CUNT? And, yes, I spell that in all caps....
http://tinyurl.com/bdjgbpe
Wulf - Niki is a stupid fucking bitch who should hurry up and die.
Context: http://tinyurl.com/afve3r9

“The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.” -T. S. Szasz

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 1:17 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!



Yeah... everyone who doesn't believe what I do is stupid.

Convinced me !


" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 1:53 PM

KPO

Sometimes you own the libs. Sometimes, the libs own you.


Liberal arguments are more cerebral, and conservatives on the whole are more gut-driven and lazy-minded. Just my opinion, but it seems obvious to me.

As for salesmanship, they're selling completely different philosophies, and worldviews. Liberals are selling complexity and nuance and enlightened thinking, conservatives are selling a more simple, black and white, good vs. evil, what does your gut tell you message. Conservatives can happily sell their message with anecdotes and unsubstantiated theory, but it would be anathema to liberals to argue without data, and evidence (compare the 'War against Women' and 'War against Men' threads).

It's not personal. It's just war.

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 2:15 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by kpo:
Liberal arguments are more cerebral, and conservatives on the whole are more gut-driven and lazy-minded. Just my opinion, but it seems obvious to me.



Exactly opposite, and you've got it right on.


" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 4:30 PM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important


Quote:

Originally posted by kpo:
Liberal arguments are more cerebral, and conservatives on the whole are more gut-driven and lazy-minded. Just my opinion, but it seems obvious to me.

As for salesmanship, they're selling completely different philosophies, and worldviews. Liberals are selling complexity and nuance and enlightened thinking, conservatives are selling a more simple, black and white, good vs. evil, what does your gut tell you message. Conservatives can happily sell their message with anecdotes and unsubstantiated theory, but it would be anathema to liberals to argue without data, and evidence (compare the 'War against Women' and 'War against Men' threads).

It's not personal. It's just war.




Hello,

They're selling 'How to operate our government/run our world.'

Let me take a different angle. We all know that Global Warming is a contentious issue on the Right. Some of them don't believe it. Some of them don't believe it's related to human activity. Etc.

The Left believes it to be real, and they want to take real steps to prevent it, minimize it, and prepare for it.

The major approach of the Left so far has been to say, "We need to take XYZ steps in order to prevent Global Warming, which is indicated by ABC scientific evidence."

But the minute they say Global Warming (or Climate Change or whatnot) they might as well stop talking because opponents of Global Warming have stopped listening.

However, XYZ steps, which the Left deems helpful to prevent Global Warming, can be sold on merits that do not even require Global Warming to be mentioned.

Rather than double-down on Global Warming's evidence and science and make the doubters entrench themselves irretrievably, why not abandon Global Warming as a talking point altogether and just focus on good ideas that Freedom-Loving Wholesome Americans Can Agree On?

When the Left speaks to the Right, why are they using the language of the Left? It's like going to Italy and speaking Cherokee.

It's possible that my ideas aren't valid, but I'd love to see some new angles taken that don't involve ignoring the nature of the audience being spoken to.

--Anthony


Note to Self:
Raptor - woman testifying about birth control is a slut (the term applies.)
Context: http://tinyurl.com/d6ozfej
Six - Wow, isn't Niki quite the CUNT? And, yes, I spell that in all caps....
http://tinyurl.com/bdjgbpe
Wulf - Niki is a stupid fucking bitch who should hurry up and die.
Context: http://tinyurl.com/afve3r9

“The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.” -T. S. Szasz

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 5:41 PM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT


Conservatism is basically about, " the way things are is good enough, so let's not change anything." Ya could practically fit that in a telegram, certainly on a postcard. Not a whole lotta thought there.

On the other hand, if liberalism is the opposite, it's idea is, " Things are f****d UP! so we gotta change 'em." That opens a door to lots of hard detail work. Which things, specifically and exactly? How did they get that way? How bad are things really? OK, now whadda we gotta do to fix 'em? How much will it cost? Who will benefit, who suffer? How can we be sure that what we do won't make things worse, either obviously or by an unintended consequence, or by people opposing the change?

By the time you've asked ALL those questions, and thought about the answers, you've done a lot of work, and you've still only written the menu. Then you gotta cook the dinner...

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:45 PM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht


Someone could write an article entitled "Liberals have no backbone and can't control themselves so want all social rules abandoned for instant gradification 'what-ever-I-want-NOW country". But that, like the article mentioned in the thread title, is not going to win friends or influence people. I think Anthony is hitting on some good points, in this consumer society sometimes it is all in how you package it.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 2:30 AM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:

Originally posted by ANTHONYT:
Quote:

Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:

Originally posted by ANTHONYT:
Hello,

The result of low-effort thinking?

Wow, that seems kind of loaded. Maybe conservatism is the result of good presentation.

I think everyone enjoys easily digestable ideas and simple, relatable solutions.

I often think that liberals' primary failure is a tendency to frame arguments and ideas in ways that either don't appeal to their audience or are needlessly complicated.

It is not that liberalism is very complicated, to my mind. It's about salesmanship.




I think you make some fair points, but I think there's more to it than salesmanship - though simple black/white messages are easier TO sell, so there's certainly a correlation.

But I don't think it's a coincidence that conservatives are more likely to deny or ignore science, or other more complex ways of understanding things, and prefer to lean on religion, or tradition, or bumper sticker slogans parading as policy.




Excuse me while I soak in all these sweet, sweet conservative tears.

"We will never have the elite, smart people on our side." -- Rick "Frothy" Santorum

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"



Quote:

I don't think it's a coincidence that conservatives are more likely to deny or ignore science


Hello,

It's bizarre to me that liberals keep talking to conservatives about science. They clearly do not believe that science is a motivator for them, but their arguments often center around science.

Let us imagine that I am selling a car. It is the fastest car in the world. It can generate 10,000 Horsepower via a micro cold-fusion laser-ignition powerplant. It is also cute as a button, the safest car in the world, the most comfortable to sit in, the easiest to drive, and it is available in any desired color.

If a hip young customer comes into my sales lot looking for a cute pink car, it does not behoove me to rattle on about the 10,000 horsepower micro cold-fusion laser-ignition powerplant. No matter how long or hard I talk about this, it will not make my customer care and it will not convince them to buy the car.

I see this happening a lot. I don't think people who 'reject science' are inherently more prone to become conservatives or embrace conservative ideas. I do think the conservative parties know how to talk to them about their product. I don't think the liberal parties do.

--Anthony

Note to Self:
Raptor - woman testifying about birth control is a slut (the term applies.)
Context: http://tinyurl.com/d6ozfej
Six - Wow, isn't Niki quite the CUNT? And, yes, I spell that in all caps....
http://tinyurl.com/bdjgbpe
Wulf - Niki is a stupid fucking bitch who should hurry up and die.
Context: http://tinyurl.com/afve3r9

“The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.” -T. S. Szasz




You've got a good point.

Climate change: Maybe it's time to stop talking about the science of it and start putting it in real-world terms that conservatives can understand. "Climate change causes sea level to rise. That means less real estate to buy."



"I supported Bush in 2000 and 2004 and intellegence [sic] had very little to do with that decision." - Hero

"I was wrong" - Hero, 2012

Mitt Romney, introducing his running mate: "Join me in welcoming the next President of the United States, Paul Ryan!"

Rappy's response? "You're lying, gullible ( believing in some BS you heard on msnbc ) or hard of hearing."

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 4:29 AM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important


Hello Mike,

You're starting to get the idea, but no need to use the term 'climate change.' It doesn't help sell the argument. Back away from the issue a couple more steps, and start selling the steps you want to take, and not the effects of a disputed event.

Also, I want to shy away from the idea that Conservative thinking is somehow 'lazy.' That's like calling someone who is bad at math but good at creative writing a 'lazy thinker' because they can't figure out algebra. Just because someone is wired to process information differently doesn't make them 'lazy.' I think emotional processors and data processors can come to the same conclusions.

--Anthony

Note to Self:
Raptor - woman testifying about birth control is a slut (the term applies.)
Context: http://tinyurl.com/d6ozfej
Six - Wow, isn't Niki quite the CUNT? And, yes, I spell that in all caps....
http://tinyurl.com/bdjgbpe
Wulf - Niki is a stupid fucking bitch who should hurry up and die.
Context: http://tinyurl.com/afve3r9

“The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.” -T. S. Szasz

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 6:04 AM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht


Sometimes its all about buzz words. For instance if someone refers to her friend as "intelligent" then I think "that's cool, this person will probably be interesting to talk to." But if someone refers to her friend as "cerebral" I will totally turn off and be utterly uninterested in meeting or conversing with this person, unless this person has some other notable qualities which would benefit me.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 7:14 AM

KPO

Sometimes you own the libs. Sometimes, the libs own you.


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:

Originally posted by kpo:
Liberal arguments are more cerebral, and conservatives on the whole are more gut-driven and lazy-minded. Just my opinion, but it seems obvious to me.



Exactly opposite, and you've got it right on.


Ha! You prove my point about lazy-minded conservatives. The second you see any criticism directed at conservatives - "Quick! Without thinking, turn it around and make the exact same criticism against liberals!"



It's not personal. It's just war.

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 7:57 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


I'm not sure I'd characterize it the same, but there's something to this, in my opinion. Something along the lines of "simplistic" thinking, or "emotional" v. "logical". I just see so much illogical thinking regarding the stances POLITICIANS on the right seem to take, that I'm not sure what's behind it, but believe SOMETHING must be.

Thing is, it seems to be changing...or something. The ultra-right seems to be being rejected by many, and a lot of those rejecting them HAVE to be (officially at least) "Republicans". Dunno if the message has gotten too virulent, or too illogical, or what, but there does seem to be a turn away from the tea party's simplistic "solutions" and positions. Or not. Just seems that way to me. You wouldn't know it from the POLITICIANS, but why else do a LOT more Americans believe the rich should pay more taxes (like 58% versus 26%)? ( http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57501245/most-americans-say-rich-s
hould-pay-more-taxes-according-to-new-survey/
]) Why do more than half of Americans now support same-sex marriage? ( http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/support-for-gay-ma
rriage-outweighs-opposition-in-polls/
]) Why do a majority of Americans support immigration reform? ( http://blog.timesunion.com/politicssource/poll-shows-majority-of-ameri
cans-support-immigration-reform/3033/
) Why do a majority of Americans support legalized marijuana for personal use (Same)

It goes on and on. These are positions Republican candidates, politicians, and ESPECIALLY the Tea Partiers are vehemently against. So something's going on. Perhaps, while simplistic thinking is something USED by politicians, over time some (many? most?) people give more thought to issues and make up their own minds. Or not. What the hell do I know? ;o)

Tit for tat got us where we are today. If we want to be grownups, we need to resist the ugliness. If we each did, this would be a better reflection on Firefly and a more welcome place. I will try.

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 8:06 AM

KPO

Sometimes you own the libs. Sometimes, the libs own you.


Quote:

I think emotional processors and data processors can come to the same conclusions.

Sometimes. But a big problem I have with purely 'emotional processors' (we're all emotional processors to some degree) is getting them to be honest about something. There's no emotional appeal to being honest. Honesty hurts - it's like intellectual masochism. All right, there's a certain amount of pride and intellectual smugness (an emotional boon) that comes from self-identifying as an intellectually honest person - but dishonest people can do that just as well!

What's needed, I'm sorry to say, is a certain level of intellectualism, and mental sharpness. You have to be ABLE TO SEE that you're wrong, even if it hurts to accept that fact (and it also helps if you have a certain amount of intellectual vanity that you FEAR being visibly wrong). But if you don't meet this requirement, you're not going to positively contribute to the political discourse.

It's not personal. It's just war.

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 8:27 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


Mmmmm, I kind of disagree...at least that it takes "a certain level of intellectualism, and mental sharpness". I've known many very intellectual people, mentally sharp, who would pretty much die rather than admit they're wrong--and in some cases, are unable to even SEE they are wrong. I would more attribute it to a certain willingness to see more than one side of things, a certain amount of self-awareness (such as the awareness that one MIGHT be wrong), than intellectuality or mental sharpness. Those two have to be APPLIED to an issue at least somewhat openly for there to be any recognition of a differing opinion to be right, just having them doesn't necessarily follow. I think honesty follows openness, self-awareness, and mental sharpness/intellectuality can be applied to honesty.

Tit for tat got us where we are today. If we want to be grownups, we need to resist the ugliness. If we each did, this would be a better reflection on Firefly and a more welcome place. I will try.

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 8:40 AM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important


Hello,

I also disagree.

A purely intellectual individual may find very good reasons to lie. This is especially true in the preservation of self or the preservation of a system one wishes to foster.

Feeling badly about lying, feeling shame about wrongdoing, wanting to uphold honorable conduct, desiring to be moral and good and just... I do not find these to be particularly intellectual or cerebral, but rather emotional concepts.

Emotional thinkers are likely willing to be good and honest. They are likely willing to help the environment, save people from starvation and illness. But the concepts have to be sold to them on a basis they can relate to.

Many of the philosophies the Left abhors are the product of intellectuals finding ways to dismantle the natural compassion of emotional thinkers.

--Anthony

Note to Self:
Raptor - woman testifying about birth control is a slut (the term applies.)
Context: http://tinyurl.com/d6ozfej
Six - Wow, isn't Niki quite the CUNT? And, yes, I spell that in all caps....
http://tinyurl.com/bdjgbpe
Wulf - Niki is a stupid fucking bitch who should hurry up and die.
Context: http://tinyurl.com/afve3r9

“The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.” -T. S. Szasz

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 8:56 AM

KPO

Sometimes you own the libs. Sometimes, the libs own you.


Quote:

I've known many very intellectual people, mentally sharp, who would pretty much die rather than admit they're wrong--and in some cases, are unable to even SEE they are wrong.

Right, but I'm talking about people who can almost never tell when they are wrong - even very simple things that are staring them in the face.

And I'm talking about a very basic requirement - a cut-off point at which you give up on people completely. Someone who can't EVER see that they're wrong, you're not going to manage to persuade them of anything.

Intellectualism is secondary, and I think I actually meant to delete that word. It's logic, I think, that is the main thing.

Quote:

I think honesty follows openness, self-awareness, and mental sharpness/intellectuality can be applied to honesty.

Ok that sounds good. Let's add honesty to logic. I neglected to reason that minds that aren't very sharp can still be quite honest, and therefore reasonable. But if you have *neither* honesty nor logic (or not in any meaningful amounts), well you're the worst kind of person when it comes to political discourse...

It's not personal. It's just war.

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 9:22 AM

KPO

Sometimes you own the libs. Sometimes, the libs own you.


Quote:

A purely intellectual individual may find very good reasons to lie.

I'm dispensing with the 'intellectualism' criterion, but my point was that if you have a certain amount of intellectual vanity, you won't lie about EVERYTHING. You'll fear the embarrassment of being caught out, if nothing else. If you're unscrupulous you may still lie about some things, but on others you can be trusted, and therefore you're not totally useless for political discussion.

Quote:

Emotional thinkers are likely willing to be good and honest.

You're thinking in terms of man's noble emotions: compassion, empathy etc. What about man's ignoble emotions: bigotry and xenophobia and spite?

Quote:

Many of the philosophies the Left abhors are the product of intellectuals finding ways to dismantle the natural compassion of emotional thinkers.

Yep. I wasn't trying to exalt intellectualism. I think it's a healthy thing to have a certain basic level of it in a country's political discourse - but I guess that's probably another discussion.

It's not personal. It's just war.

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 11:18 AM

HKCAVALIER


The premise of this thread is kinda horrendous. I don't see how anything good comes out of thinking your political opponents are all imbeciles.

I go back to my buddy Wilhelm Reich and his contention that liberalism and conservatism are both mental disorders. Here's the skinny: all of us humans have a deep down vicious/selfish streak. All of us. It's not pretty, but it's there. It comes in handy sometimes to keep us breathing. The only way to "combat" it is to get to know it, integrate it and move on. Both the liberal thinker and the conservative thinker are unable to accept this about human nature.

So, the liberal's solution is to deny it by retreating into an idealized sense of self in the imagination. People are all fundamentally rational--or could be if they tried real hard!--and all the ugliness in the world can be gotten rid of! As this kind of liberalism progresses, the patient gets more and more rigid and dogmatic and that's where you get the constant harping on global warming, the obsessive and pointless appeal to "reason."

In contrast, the conservative strategy for dealing with the brutish ungovernable aspects of human nature is to project them onto "the other." I guess it could be argued here that this is less "intellectually complex" and so "lazy" compared with the mental gymnastics the liberal mind so readily performs--TA DA! But both methods remain in serious need of some personal introspection.

I'd say, in general, liberals would do well to keep reminding themselves that RATIONALITY CANNOT AND WILL NEVER SOLVE EVERYTHING and conservatives would do well to remind themselves that ALL THE EVIL I SEE IN MY ENEMIES LIVES IN MY HEART AS WELL.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 12:16 PM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht


I don't think its accurate to say that conservatives are more emotional thinkers than liberals, I think its common in both populations, I think they express and use it differently though.

I like what Cav said (minus the mental disorders parts, because that's just silly), but he makes some good points in his post.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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Thursday, November 29, 2012 1:12 PM

FREMDFIRMA


Quote:

Originally posted by HKCavalier:
The premise of this thread is kinda horrendous. I don't see how anything good comes out of thinking your political opponents are all imbeciles.

I go back to my buddy Wilhelm Reich and his contention that liberalism and conservatism are both mental disorders. Here's the skinny: all of us humans have a deep down vicious/selfish streak. All of us. It's not pretty, but it's there. It comes in handy sometimes to keep us breathing. The only way to "combat" it is to get to know it, integrate it and move on. Both the liberal thinker and the conservative thinker are unable to accept this about human nature.

So, the liberal's solution is to deny it by retreating into an idealized sense of self in the imagination. People are all fundamentally rational--or could be if they tried real hard!--and all the ugliness in the world can be gotten rid of! As this kind of liberalism progresses, the patient gets more and more rigid and dogmatic and that's where you get the constant harping on global warming, the obsessive and pointless appeal to "reason."

In contrast, the conservative strategy for dealing with the brutish ungovernable aspects of human nature is to project them onto "the other." I guess it could be argued here that this is less "intellectually complex" and so "lazy" compared with the mental gymnastics the liberal mind so readily performs--TA DA! But both methods remain in serious need of some personal introspection.

I'd say, in general, liberals would do well to keep reminding themselves that RATIONALITY CANNOT AND WILL NEVER SOLVE EVERYTHING and conservatives would do well to remind themselves that ALL THE EVIL I SEE IN MY ENEMIES LIVES IN MY HEART AS WELL.


The Shadow Knows!
(Cue: Villainous cackle)

You forgot a third type of lunacy - believing in an empathetic, rational society and culture... by trying to CREATE the very reality that would require.

-Frem

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Monday, June 13, 2022 5:26 PM

JAYNEZTOWN


Were Neo-Cons really Conservatives?

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