Have you ever noticed how your never wrong?

[Jayson1]

I think one of the things we all can agree on that 9 times out of 10 whenever presented with alternate idea's or facts or even our own doubts than we almost always side with ourselves. You got to admire human beings ability to form a opinion and stick with it, sometimes until the day you die.

Do you ever get the feeling that we run less on our brains and more on our own head-canon about the world? Whenever something doesn't compute we can just reticon it in just the way we like it. You wouldn't believe how many debates I have had about my flaws with my own doubts that I somehow always manage to keep winning!

When is the last time you have really changed your mind on something? I'm not talking about reconsidering something. Everyone I think does that when presented with interesting idea's. When are some of the times you went for a full conversion and remember it doesn't count if it's something you want yourself to believe but still can't change.

I think I have to admit that the idea I use to have that I would kill myself when I turn 40 if I didn't have a family was the wrong opinion a couple of years ago when I turned 40 and didn't do it. I also use to think aliens might have came to earth back in the 90's when that kind of thing was popular, especially because of the "X-FIles." but i'm 100% sure that aliens have never come to earth. Human time travellers maybe! I'm still not giving up on that possibility.

Jason

 

[Guy Gardener]

You're.

 

[Jayson1]

You're.

Well I guess the spelling might be wrong in the factual sense but if we judge language simply on the ability to communicate a concept or idea then I think it's not wrong because we can still see what my intent was by using the bad spelling! So you see my head-canon once again saves me.

Jason

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Do you ever get the feeling that we run less on our brains and more on our own head-canon about the world?

Every time I visit the Discovery forum.

 

[Tosk]

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds

 

[MacLeod]

We are somewhat tribal as a species and tend to gravitate towards with whom we share a set of beliefs. So our beliefs even if they are wrong from a purely factal point of veiw are re-enforced.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I have changed my mind in the past when I learned new information about an event or topic. It changed my perspective and the way I felt about certain things. However, if you are having a debate with someone and they are not bringing new information to the table, or the information they bring is not believable, it's easy to see why you would not change your mind. Emotional arguments are not likely to make a difference.

I think this works for me because I tend to gather a lot of information before I form an opinion about something. I rarely work based on my "gut" or instinct. If everyone were to do their research before forming opinions, then bring those well-informed opinions to the debate, it would work better for everyone and there would be opportunities for people to reconsider as they learn new facts.

Where you run into problems is when individuals of a more emotional nature choose their opinion based on those emotions, or their "gut," even when they lack the necessary information. They will never believe or admit that they are wrong, because 1) that would mean admitting that they are actually ignorant on the topic, and 2) their opinion is based on feelings, and feelings aren't really "wrong," therefore they believe their opinion cannot be wrong.

We're all guilty of emotional opinions sometimes, just try to make it the little things, like what color to paint your kitchen, and not the major things like whether immigration or abortion should be legal/illegal.

 

[Jayson1]

I have changed my mind in the past when I learned new information about an event or topic. It changed my perspective and the way I felt about certain things. However, if you are having a debate with someone and they are not bringing new information to the table, or the information they bring is not believable, it's easy to see why you would not change your mind. Emotional arguments are not likely to make a difference.

I think this works for me because I tend to gather a lot of information before I form an opinion about something. I rarely work based on my "gut" or instinct. If everyone were to do their research before forming opinions, then bring those well-informed opinions to the debate, it would work better for everyone and there would be opportunities for people to reconsider as they learn new facts.

Where you run into problems is when individuals of a more emotional nature choose their opinion based on those emotions, or their "gut," even when they lack the necessary information. They will never believe or admit that they are wrong, because 1) that would mean admitting that they are actually ignorant on the topic, and 2) their opinion is based on feelings, and feelings aren't really "wrong," therefore they believe their opinion cannot be wrong.

We're all guilty of emotional opinions sometimes, just try to make it the little things, like what color to paint your kitchen, and not the major things like whether immigration or abortion should be legal/illegal.

But has it been changed or simply been opened to the idea that you might be wrong? Is creating doubt the same as completely changing your mind or can anybody ever really have a fixed opinion since it's impossible for humans to not have doubts about anything?

I also tend to think about things like how someone might get into a fight or argument and then they forgive each other and time passes and then another fight or argument happens and all that forgiveness goes out the window and the first fight/argument becomes a issue again which means it was never really forgiven to begin with, the two people simply choose to ignore it the best they could.

Jason

 

[Australis]

Two things.

One, I always think I'm wrong, and question every decision I make. Again and again.

Two, when I think I'm right, my wife will be sure to tell me otherwise.

 

[Smellincoffee]

Jonathan Haidt pointed out something in The Righteous Mind that I think pegs us pretty well: he said we constantly re-write our own narrative, so that even after we change our mind, we tell the story in such a way that it was inevitable that we arrived at this point. As someone whose worldview changed radically in 2005/2006, and then slowly evolved over the next decade (and continues to do), actually reversing some of the radical changes from before, this is something I'm acutely aware of as my brain tries to come to terms with its memory of itself. Even when I survey my brain from a distance, some things seem inevitable, while I can accept a great many others owe in part to my experiences in life, like the people I talk with, the books I read, etc.

 

[Astra]

I used to think the X-men movies were boring. Now I have bought an expensive Wolverine figure. The movies haven't changed since I last saw them, so clearly something inside me must have changed. It happens.

 

[Amaris]

I think one of the things we all can agree on that 9 times out of 10 whenever presented with alternate idea's or facts or even our own doubts than we almost always side with ourselves. You got to admire human beings ability to form a opinion and stick with it, sometimes until the day you die.

Do you ever get the feeling that we run less on our brains and more on our own head-canon about the world? Whenever something doesn't compute we can just reticon it in just the way we like it. You wouldn't believe how many debates I have had about my flaws with my own doubts that I somehow always manage to keep winning!

When is the last time you have really changed your mind on something? I'm not talking about reconsidering something. Everyone I think does that when presented with interesting idea's. When are some of the times you went for a full conversion and remember it doesn't count if it's something you want yourself to believe but still can't change.

I think I have to admit that the idea I use to have that I would kill myself when I turn 40 if I didn't have a family was the wrong opinion a couple of years ago when I turned 40 and didn't do it. I also use to think aliens might have came to earth back in the 90's when that kind of thing was popular, especially because of the "X-FIles." but i'm 100% sure that aliens have never come to earth. Human time travellers maybe! I'm still not giving up on that possibility.

Jason

I have changed my mind on a great many issues over the years. I don't let pride, ego, or denial get in the way. I can be stubborn, but if the data is sound, I will come around to the newer (or older) way of thinking.

 

[Gary7]

I have changed my mind on a great many issues over the years. I don't let pride, ego, or denial get in the way. I can be stubborn, but if the data is sound, I will come around to the newer (or older) way of thinking.

I try to be the same way... although I sometimes fail to do so. We are all human after all. But... it's particularly alarming to find so many people who are just as Jason describes. Hard held lock-stock-and-barrel into a belief where no amount of civil debate you attempt can get them to see things differently. It's a simultaneous holding onto a sliver of information at just the right angle that makes sense to them, all the while rejecting anything that conflicts with it. Almost as if they fear losing their identity or social stature to "genuflect" on their position and consider that someone else may be right or closer to the truth of a matter.

I truly believe that this kind of thinking is a product of weak parenting and anemic educational systems. That's a very broad and generalized statement, but to go into further detail requires an entirely separate topic...

 

[Amaris]

I try to be the same way... although I sometimes fail to do so. We are all human after all. But... it's particularly alarming to find so many people who are just as Jason describes. Hard held lock-stock-and-barrel into a belief where no amount of civil debate you attempt can get them to see things differently. It's a simultaneous holding onto a sliver of information at just the right angle that makes sense to them, all the while rejecting anything that conflicts with it. Almost as if they fear losing their identity or social stature to "genuflect" on their position and consider that someone else may be right or closer to the truth of a matter.

I truly believe that this kind of thinking is a product of weak parenting and anemic educational systems. That's a very broad and generalized statement, but to go into further detail requires an entirely separate topic...

Much of it depends upon how we're raised. I was raised to believe that Satan was the author of lies, and that anyone who tried to get me to turn from God would do it by tricking me with their words. Fortunately for me, my inner self started asking questions, and that broke through to the other side where I could learn without fearing the devil snaring me and sending me to hell. I figure it's the same, literally or metaphorically, for most people.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ No, not exactly...

As for me, I personally have been wrong about a few things over the years (not that, though). It's my dad who's never wrong. He's the real life Oscar Leroy.

I suppose the last major thing in my life that I have, without a doubt, been unequivocally wrong about, was this: Pop is drinkable. Oh hell, was I wrong about that.

 

[jaz'a]

I've recently had my opinion change on the importance of ANZAC day. It is a day that is used in Australia and New Zealand to remember our war vets. My view in the past was highly influenced by my grandfather who served in the South African army in world war 2. He was not a fan. He felt very strongly that it was simply a glorification of war. Whilst I wasn't disrespectful of the day, I didn't observe it myself. The whole family has always taken their cue from him.

New facts changed my mind. My grandfathers view was influenced by his experiences. What it didn't take into consideration was the extremely high rate of death/injury (as a % of population and relative to other nations) that Australia suffered in World War and the impact that had on the national psyche. My view has dramatically changed since learning about that.

 

[Tenacity]

whenever presented with alternate idea's or facts

Whose facts?

 

[UncleRogi]

Of course I'm never wrong. I cherish the right to make as big a fool of myself as possible as
often as possible, and in the most public way.

So there!

 

[Refuge]

I can think of times when I've admitted I was wrong when I haven't been. Said sorry because it meant something to the person who demanded it (she had cancer and was at her wits end). Another time said I was wrong so he wouldn't hit me. Being right can be sacrificed.

 

[Jayson1]

Whose facts?

I think facts are facts for everyone but I do think facts don't always tell the whole story which is one of the reasons that people have a hard time changing their views. You can manipulate any fact or evidence to support what someone wants to believe.

For example my favorite way to describe this is a Baseball player. Let's say he hits 300. as his batting average. That statistic or fact could be seen as proof he is a good player. If you look deeper though you might find out he only hits 215. againt lefthanders and doesn't hit many home runs or drive in many RBI's and maybe he isn't a good defensive player. Would he still be considered a good player? If someone was ranking players you could manipulate the facts in anyway you want to make your argument.

I think this is basically the main reason why "Fake News" became a big thing. People know that facts can be manipulated though for some reason people who buy into it don't seem to realize that the facts they might believe is just another means of manipulating them. A good reason I imagine that people shouldn't get their news from just one place.

Jason