--- In [email protected], new.morning <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In [email protected], "hugheshugo" > <richardhughes103@> wrote: > > I love a good quote and I heard a good quote along the lines > > of "people have the strongest opinions about the things they are > > least sure of" but didn't want to post it without finding who said > > it, I didn't but found these gems instead. > > > > http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/opinions/ > > > > Well, I thought they were good, but as usual I'm always happy to be > > wrong ;-) > > Yes, thanks, nice quotes. > > I was thinking perhaps the degree of vigor, passion, absolutism > (absolute certainty), and steadfastness of ones opinions are directly > proportional to the degree to which the idea, concept or fact is a > central part of ones identity. > > The identity will fight ferocously when its under attack. Or when > there are not fall back elements to identity. That is, if identity is > composed of 20 intertwined factor, and one loses one, no big deal. The > other 19 re-adapt. But if identity is wrapped up in 1 or 2 or 3 main > things, and one of those is under attack -- and there is threat of > loss, then its a huge deal. >
Yep, quite right and it's called cognitive dissonance, a fear that our view of the way things are is wrong and I think the severity of it will depend on how much else you have in your life to fall back on. See the calls for Jihad about the Danish cartoons for a good recent example of how disturbing it can get. Best not to have all your eggs in one basket. I like to think I've cultivated a sense of being that is immune to it by "knowing" that all statements about reality aren't reality, just models of it, thus whatever other people think of my views I remain unaffected, unless they seem to be more "right" than I am in which case I'll switch sides without affecting any core ideals. > Or if identity is being, an indivisible, infinitely flexible, always > shining, then there is no potential for loss. That's the one! >Just as the silly smiley face. If one needs to explain a joke, its not > much of a joke in my view. A joke is what catches you by surprise. > There is no surprise if there is a big smilely face saying "You are > probably too dense to get this joke, so I will highlight it for you". That's how I always assume people are ;-) (there, see how that would read without the smiley)
