Irrefutable Evidence to the Contrary?
When faced with irrefutable evidence to the contrary, people with an apocalyptic worldview redouble their efforts to defend their views. In these days of Rapture Readiness, interesting reading but it really applies to all sorts of people and how they interact with the world.
From Harper's Magazine August 2006, Bryant Urstadt.
"This odd paradox was partially explained in 1956 by a trio of sociologists from the University of Minnesota, led by Leon Festinger. In When Prophecy Fails, Festinger and his co-authors explained that a committed believer, faced with irrefutable evidence contradicting his belief--with what Festinger called a "discomfirmation"--would redouble rather than diminish his efforts to defend his view. Stranger yet, the more harshly reality dealt with a belief, the more feverishly the believer would work to convert others."
As Festinger writes: "A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point."
Another interesting observation, what do you tell your followers when you have been proven wrong? Claim you have received a new message that clarifies the earlier information. Nice trick.
From Harper's Magazine August 2006, Bryant Urstadt.
"This odd paradox was partially explained in 1956 by a trio of sociologists from the University of Minnesota, led by Leon Festinger. In When Prophecy Fails, Festinger and his co-authors explained that a committed believer, faced with irrefutable evidence contradicting his belief--with what Festinger called a "discomfirmation"--would redouble rather than diminish his efforts to defend his view. Stranger yet, the more harshly reality dealt with a belief, the more feverishly the believer would work to convert others."
As Festinger writes: "A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point."
Another interesting observation, what do you tell your followers when you have been proven wrong? Claim you have received a new message that clarifies the earlier information. Nice trick.
8 Comments:
So... *is* there any way to make them see the light?
I'm thinking maybe if we raffle off dates with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and offer balloons for the kids and slices of coffee cake. I mean who doesn't like coffee cake and balloons?
Actually there IS a way to make them see the light. And I'll reveal it to YOU for the low, low price of $29.99. Send a SASE to
"How to fix crazy people"
P.O. Box 60609
Walla Walla, WA 02159-6666-13
huh. that explains many recent 'conversations' on my blog. these people aren't fixable and they are fucking up my country. the question is how do we combat it? revolution? can't rely on evolution. takes too long.
Sounds like the troll who often frequents my space.. heh
Hey...that's not a Walla Walla zip code!!!
'Cos I live in Washington state, ya know, so I know these things.
Can't rely on evolution, indeed.
That force is as fickle as gravity. You get selected against, and you're gone. It's like stepping off the roof of a 10 story parking garage. No exceptions.
The thing is, our progressive presence here is more than likely due to our ancestors avoidance of lethal situations created by idiots like Dear Leader.
We can't help ourselves by any means other than our wits. But they kept our genes alive through bad situations in the past. Let's hope we're sharp enough to deal with the selective pressures of a world that won't be anything like what the TheoCons envision, and will likely end up offing more of them than us.
Why? Because they're the roadkill on the highway to their own Rapture. They won't look at the oncoming traffic.
roadkill on the highway to their own Rapture.
oh Kelley b. Have you been taking analogy pills? That one just cracked me up.
Hope the family's okay.
LLAP,
Spocko
Tlazolteotl said...
I didn't look it up, sorry. I hope I didn't get that sent to a REAL town. I just always remember Daffy Duck representing "The Ace Novelty company of Wallah Wallah Washington.
Loved the sound of it.
I REALLY like this blog, the Kevin Smith vid was hilarious. If I thought you really had a way to fix crazy people I would not hesitate to remit $29.99.
In one episode of Star Trek Kirk is taken over by a crazy ex-girlfriend, and Spock has to convene a hearing to determine his fitness to command the Enterprise. Would that such a mechanism was in place at the White House. A short mindmeld, and Bushie gets sent away in a strait jacket. I could get behind that.
But alas, as Betmo points out, evolution takes too long. I think Kelley B. gets it. There will be a sharp increase in selective pressure followed by a sharp decrease in the population. If you can rapidly adapt to say, 120 degree heat in Las Vegas for weeks in a row with no electricity, no air conditioning, no gas for vehicles, no food and no water, you should be OK. Maybe you could tie a bunch of those balloons to a lawn chair, inflate them with helium, and get out of town. Don't forget to take lots of coffee cake with you. In the post-industrial stone age coffee cake will be worth more than gold.
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