The other serving as a better example of wickedness is a classic, Allan.
2013/1/26 Allan H <[email protected]> > 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.. > > -- > > > > --
