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Studies Say Ideology Trumps Facts

Anti-Globalism writes "We like to think that people will be well informed before making important decisions, such as who to vote for, but the truth is that's not always the case. Being uninformed is one thing, but having a population that's actively misinformed presents problems when it comes to participating in the national debate, or the democratic process. If the findings of some political scientists are right, attempting to correct misinformation might do nothing more than reinforce the false belief."

4 of 784 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Not even conspiracy by Moraelin · · Score: 5, Informative

    Cognitive dissonance is just what happens when you have two conflicting ideas, and basically have to choose one. It happens just as well when reality came and rang the door bell, but it's the same mechanism that was at work when that delusion rang the bell and you let it in. You have two options and you can't have both. You choose one. Whether it was the right one or you sank deeper into delusional behaviour, is rather irrelevant for the mechanism at work. Choosing the wrong one is nevertheless just the same mechanism at work.

    Basically I don't disagree with you when you call those behaviours names, or anything. I'm just saying that the term "cognitive dissonance" is used to mean a very specific mechanism, and how, yes, such self-delusional behaviours come to be.

    The dissonance itself is just the fact that (temporarily) two pieces of your mental model are at odds with each other. You have to solve that somehow, because your brain is wired to need one consistent model and try to solve such conflicts. But, at any rate, that's the dissonance: propositions X and Y can't both be true. How you solve that, is already one step further. You can go with the truth, or manufacture a lie, but the dissonance was just the same.

    --
    A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
  2. So she disliked a book and never banned it by SuperKendall · · Score: 5, Informative

    But in 1995, Ms. Palin, then a city councilwoman, told colleagues that she had noticed the book "Daddy's Roommate" on the shelves and that it did not belong there

    Talk about a straw man.

    You handily glossed over the fact she only thought the book did not belong, and never did anything about it.

    Further proving the main point. Something within drives you to ignore the very text in front of you, in the rush to demonize the Other.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  3. Re:Science education by Digital+End · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.snopes.com/politics/palin/bannedbooks.asp



    She didn't try to ban books outright... rather she asked the librarian "Would you ban a book if I told you too" and then after asking 3 times, she threatened to fire her because she didn't feel she had the librarys support.

    Don't get facts crossed, reality is scarier then fiction.

    --
    Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart, he dreams himself your master.
  4. Re:Bible Mentions Shellfish in Leviticus by FourthLaw · · Score: 5, Informative

    (Leviticus 11:11)

    This is one of my favorite Bible quotes. I ask people if they take the Bible literally, then (if yes) ask them why they eat shellfish. If they do not take the Bible literally, then why are they against homosexuality?

    Well, if you actually want an answer, it is because the in the book of Acts, Peter was informed that all of those food injunctions were removed. If you don't actually want an answer, then disregard.

    --
    Skilled in differentiating ravens from a writing desks.