A better example Riggs and sadly enough is Islam in today's world.. This is evidenced in all the news reports of the day.
On Sat, Jan 26, 2013 at 2:43 AM, rigs <[email protected]> wrote: > The Nazis seem an obvious example of fairly recent history- that's all > I meant- and history is littered with examples as explicated by > Archytas. It's as if the majority gets caught up in a wave- to use > Molly's image. Though there may be concrete reasons at the base, it is > often an irrational reaction. My point is that when dissent is > silenced, democracy is in trouble. > > On Jan 25, 1:25 pm, Gabby <[email protected]> wrote: >> 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.- Hide quoted text - >> >> - Show quoted text - > > -- > > > -- ( ) |_D Allan Life is for moral, ethical and truthful living. Of course I talk to myself, Sometimes I need expert advice.. --
