Here I Stand

[Doktor Howl]

Here I stand, secure in my righteousness.  I do not need to understand the problem; I simply need to apply the labels generated by my pre-existing biases, and then I have done my duty.  George Zimmerman is a racist.  Analysis over.  CEOs are psychopaths.  Research concluded.  Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is a monster who should be beaten to death so that I can demonstrate how committed I am to Sparkle Motion.  End of story.  Accusations of pedophelia equal guilt.  What the hell more do you want?  They hate us for our freedoms.  Stop with the questions, this stuff is obvious.

Here I stand, having solved all the problems.  The labels have been applied very loudly and very publicly.  I can now go drink a beer and congratulate myself on my courageous stand.  My friends will all admire me for my brave moral stance and my zeal.  Truly, I am a reformer.

Here I stand, complaining about how nothing changes.  We have labelled them and catagorized them and vilified them, yet the problems persist.  Have we not gone to all the trouble to show them just what we think of them, in their 2-dimensional minds, in their "born wrong" souls?  We have done all this, and nothing has changed.  Maybe we even PUNISHED them for the horrible people they are...And yet the situation persists.

Here I stand, wondering if maybe I should try to see if there are more than two dimensions to these horrible people.  Perhaps I mistaking their motives and drives, and maybe it's more complicated that that.  And then I realize that I'm not feeling quite so righteous anymore, and I abandon that line of thinking before somebody thinks that I'm not as committed as I should be.

Here I stand, right back where I started.  Show me where the Bad People are at!

Okay Unchangingly,
Dok

[Q. G. Pennyworth]

Dok, can this get the Big Words treatment?

[Doktor Howl]

Dok, can this get the Big Words treatment?

Sure.

[EK WAFFLR]

 

I fall into, or used to fall into this category, all too often. Thanks to you guys, I'm trying my darndest to actually think before I react.

This is a great eye opener, Dok. Thanks!

[McGrupp]

I fall into, or used to fall into this category, all too often. Thanks to you guys, I'm trying my darndest to actually think before I react.

This is a great eye opener, Dok. Thanks!

I still fall into this category sometimes. I think we all do to some extent. Best thing I've found is to recognize where I'm inclined to kneejerk and then be mindful of it. Kinda like the count to ten rule when you're angry.

This applies to echo chambers even more as when you're in an echo chamber you get to the point that you believe certain things are self evident. Then you leave the echo chamber and go out into the world and say things like 'Obama is a socialist' or 'We live in a capitalist dystopia' 

When these "self evident" opinions are poked with a stick, people realize that they aren't actually equipped with the arguments or facts to back it up. Again, I'm wumbo guilty of getting myself into this position both in the past and present.

[hooplala]

Here I stand, secure in my righteousness.  I do not need to understand the problem; I simply need to apply the labels generated by my pre-existing biases, and then I have done my duty.  George Zimmerman is a racist.  Analysis over.  CEOs are psychopaths.  Research concluded.  Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is a monster who should be beaten to death so that I can demonstrate how committed I am to Sparkle Motion.  End of story.  Accusations of pedophelia equal guilt.  What the hell more do you want?  They hate us for our freedoms.  Stop with the questions, this stuff is obvious.

Here I stand, having solved all the problems.  The labels have been applied very loudly and very publicly.  I can now go drink a beer and congratulate myself on my courageous stand.  My friends will all admire me for my brave moral stance and my zeal.  Truly, I am a reformer.

Here I stand, complaining about how nothing changes.  We have labelled them and catagorized them and vilified them, yet the problems persist.  Have we not gone to all the trouble to show them just what we think of them, in their 2-dimensional minds, in their "born wrong" souls?  We have done all this, and nothing has changed.  Maybe we even PUNISHED them for the horrible people they are...And yet the situation persists.

Here I stand, wondering if maybe I should try to see if there are more than two dimensions to these horrible people.  Perhaps I mistaking their motives and drives, and maybe it's more complicated that that.  And then I realize that I'm not feeling quite so righteous anymore, and I abandon that line of thinking before somebody thinks that I'm not as committed as I should be.

Here I stand, right back where I started.  Show me where the Bad People are at!

Okay Unchangingly,
Dok

This is the thing.  We like to claim we have our shit together and nothing slips by us, but we forget that true thought includes choice, and you know... actual thought.  Maybe our initial reactions aren't correct, despite the pat on the back 'gut feelings' get in this society.  Perhaps examining those kneejerk thoughts are part of beginning to stand upright?  Why do I believe x?  What do I (consciously or unconsciously) benefit from believing x?  Who suffers, due to thoughts like x?

These are unsettling thoughts.

[Lord Cataplanga]

And who benefits. Never forget that part.

[hooplala]

And who benefits. Never forget that part.

I included myself in that part.

[Doktor Howl]

And who benefits. Never forget that part.

Incorrect.

Who benefits will indicate a problem in a situation that is being orchestrated deliberately, by people acting in a sane fashion.

With most of our issues right now, nobody benefits.

[Doktor Howl]

Here I stand, secure in my righteousness.  I do not need to understand the problem; I simply need to apply the labels generated by my pre-existing biases, and then I have done my duty.  George Zimmerman is a racist.  Analysis over.  CEOs are psychopaths.  Research concluded.  Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is a monster who should be beaten to death so that I can demonstrate how committed I am to Sparkle Motion.  End of story.  Accusations of pedophelia equal guilt.  What the hell more do you want?  They hate us for our freedoms.  Stop with the questions, this stuff is obvious.

Here I stand, having solved all the problems.  The labels have been applied very loudly and very publicly.  I can now go drink a beer and congratulate myself on my courageous stand.  My friends will all admire me for my brave moral stance and my zeal.  Truly, I am a reformer.

Here I stand, complaining about how nothing changes.  We have labelled them and catagorized them and vilified them, yet the problems persist.  Have we not gone to all the trouble to show them just what we think of them, in their 2-dimensional minds, in their "born wrong" souls?  We have done all this, and nothing has changed.  Maybe we even PUNISHED them for the horrible people they are...And yet the situation persists.

Here I stand, wondering if maybe I should try to see if there are more than two dimensions to these horrible people.  Perhaps I mistaking their motives and drives, and maybe it's more complicated that that.  And then I realize that I'm not feeling quite so righteous anymore, and I abandon that line of thinking before somebody thinks that I'm not as committed as I should be.

Here I stand, right back where I started.  Show me where the Bad People are at!

Okay Unchangingly,
Dok

This is the thing.  We like to claim we have our shit together and nothing slips by us, but we forget that true thought includes choice, and you know... actual thought.  Maybe our initial reactions aren't correct, despite the pat on the back 'gut feelings' get in this society.  Perhaps examining those kneejerk thoughts are part of beginning to stand upright?  Why do I believe x?  What do I (consciously or unconsciously) benefit from believing x?  Who suffers, due to thoughts like x?

These are unsettling thoughts.

Listening to your gut is good if you are in immediate danger.

For long term problem solving, it is a bad strategy.

[LMNO]

I think LessWrong has a few riffs on this.  "What do you think you know, and how do you think you know it?" is something I stole to try and use as a trigger to back off and re-examine things.

[Doktor Howl]

I think LessWrong has a few riffs on this.  "What do you think you know, and how do you think you know it?" is something I stole to try and use as a trigger to back off and re-examine things.

For that, I have Nigel and Dom.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I will tell you an axiom that is anathema to America. An axiom that is fundamental to scientific research.

"Good research generates more questions than it answers".

And people wonder why the Ivory Tower is reviled.

[Q. G. Pennyworth]

click for letter-size. Giant poster files are on their way to Junkenstein.

[LMNO]

I will tell you an axiom that is anathema to America. An axiom that is fundamental to scientific research.

"Good research generates more questions than it answers".

And people wonder why the Ivory Tower is reviled.

Also, "a model that can explain ANYTHING is a poor model."  Or something like that. I can find the actual quote tomorrow.