Ah, rigs. :( Where is Molly by the way? Let's give the majority opinion problem a hearty positive spin and say: the majority of Germans is happy that the majority of Americans is happily forming their opinions in America and exchange it over there. :)
On Friday, January 25, 2013 2:03:29 PM UTC+1, rigs wrote: > > And very often their very existence does depend upon going along with > the majority. However, one feature of democracy is that of dissent but > it can be risky esp. if the majority has a mob mentality. When you > think of the average classroom it is obvious that the pattern is to > echo rather than question and the same applies to other areas of life. > It is just as likely that the group can be corrupt so "membership" can > be a doom- ex: Nazis, etc. > > On Jan 25, 1:43 am, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: > > If there is one concept on Earth that has been the absolute bane of > > human existence (besides global elitism), it would have to be the > > concept of the “majority opinion”. The moment men began refusing to > > develop their own world views without first asking “What does everyone > > else think?”, they set themselves up for an endless future of > > failures. We are, of course, very social beings, and our natures > > drive us to seek those of like mind and spirit in what some might call > > a “tribal imperative”. However, this imperative to organize is often > > manipulated by those who understand the psychological mechanisms > > behind it. Oligarchs and tyrants abuse and exploit the inherent > > social natures of the people in order to fool them into abandoning > > their individuality for the sake of the group, or some abstract and > > dishonest ideal. When successful, the organization of a culture > > becomes bitter and twisted, changing from a tribe or a community of > > sovereign individuals, into a nightmare collective of soulless sheep. > > > > Human beings desperately want to belong, but, they also desperately > > want to understand the environment around them. Often, the desire to > > belong and the desire to know the truth conflict. In some societies, > > in order to be accepted, one must give up on his search for truth and > > avoid eliciting the anger of others. This causes a severe mental and > > emotional disturbance within a population. In order to reconcile > > their conflicting needs within a system that does not nurture their > > quest for transparency, they tend to unconsciously cling to the > > “majority view” as if their very existence depends on it. The idea of > > the majority view or the “mainstream”, gives people the sense that > > they are a part of a group, and at the same time, gives them the > > illusion of being informed. > > > > The above from Zerohedge - is it right? What does it say about our > > general ability to argue rationally? I agree with what is said here - > > yet believe it suggests we need a radical alternative of education as > > we have experienced it. > --
