Narz
keeping it real
Had a conversation w my housemate who I'm staying w while in the states who's quite intelligent but on certain subjects just totally shuts down & is unable/unwilling to process nuance or new information.
People thought w the advent of the information age people would become more enlightened but that seems to be based on the idea that homo sapiens are thinking/wise apes when mostly we're very social ones (and the bulk of our intelligence is geared towards how to survive in a group). So more information will just be used to better find our niche & excess or contradictory information that may potentially alienate us will be either left unexamined or denied outright.
I also realized that if the cost of ignorance is deemed low (consciously or subconsciously) & the benefit of new information is not easily applicable people will not be receptive. Knowledge that will cause us to have to re-examine many old beliefs (and potentially alienate associates who share those old beliefs) even if it could provide a modest benefit is not worth the downside. And that can't be readily applied may cause more stress than it's worth (ie : if the air quality in your city is really bad but you can't afford to move what's the point to think about it).
Religious groups know this hence the use of shunning.
I think individuals who've dealt w alot of social rejection in their lives can see what they've been thru w a bit of a silver lining as if you're used to being ostracized you may, in the long run, be more able to break free from the social implications of your beliefs which may hold back a person more entrenched w others.
People thought w the advent of the information age people would become more enlightened but that seems to be based on the idea that homo sapiens are thinking/wise apes when mostly we're very social ones (and the bulk of our intelligence is geared towards how to survive in a group). So more information will just be used to better find our niche & excess or contradictory information that may potentially alienate us will be either left unexamined or denied outright.
I also realized that if the cost of ignorance is deemed low (consciously or subconsciously) & the benefit of new information is not easily applicable people will not be receptive. Knowledge that will cause us to have to re-examine many old beliefs (and potentially alienate associates who share those old beliefs) even if it could provide a modest benefit is not worth the downside. And that can't be readily applied may cause more stress than it's worth (ie : if the air quality in your city is really bad but you can't afford to move what's the point to think about it).
Religious groups know this hence the use of shunning.
I think individuals who've dealt w alot of social rejection in their lives can see what they've been thru w a bit of a silver lining as if you're used to being ostracized you may, in the long run, be more able to break free from the social implications of your beliefs which may hold back a person more entrenched w others.