Preaching to the choir
After watching the third and final Presidential debate last night, several friends whined about the conservative bent to the cable news commentary that followed. Agitation grew so extreme that the night was saved only by decisive, crackshot remote control action. PBS, now that's more like it!
The prevailing reaction to what was perceived as conservative commentary was so sharp and sensitive that careful thinkers in the room were dumbstruck by the seeming inability of some friends to deal with perspectives, opinions, and biases contrary to their own. PBS was more palatable, and thus preferred.
Which raised the questions: would you rather discuss a controversial issue with someone who shares your position, or with someone who feels differently? Would you rather listen to someone who shares your biases, or to someone whose biases differ from yours? The response was startling.
Overwhelmingly, the friends responded that they would prefer to listen to commentators who shared their respective biases.
ARGH!!
Lazy! Don't let others do your thinking for you! The simple fact is that listening to commentary biased in your direction encourages passive acceptance and undermines the development of your own critical thinking. If your natural inclinations are never challenged from the outside, then your growth and potential for improvement are tragically stunted. Seek out challenge! Listen to those who disagree with you in reason and reflex, and test your own reasons and reflexes. If you find that change in yourself is necessary, then be thankful for the opportunity to discover the true need. Become stronger as you recognize and remedy past delusion. If you find that change in yourself is not necessary, then be thankful for the opportunity to reinforce your reflexes and to make your reasoning more robust, more sincere, and more useful to yourself and others.
In short: challenge, and be challenged!
The prevailing reaction to what was perceived as conservative commentary was so sharp and sensitive that careful thinkers in the room were dumbstruck by the seeming inability of some friends to deal with perspectives, opinions, and biases contrary to their own. PBS was more palatable, and thus preferred.
Which raised the questions: would you rather discuss a controversial issue with someone who shares your position, or with someone who feels differently? Would you rather listen to someone who shares your biases, or to someone whose biases differ from yours? The response was startling.
Overwhelmingly, the friends responded that they would prefer to listen to commentators who shared their respective biases.
ARGH!!
Lazy! Don't let others do your thinking for you! The simple fact is that listening to commentary biased in your direction encourages passive acceptance and undermines the development of your own critical thinking. If your natural inclinations are never challenged from the outside, then your growth and potential for improvement are tragically stunted. Seek out challenge! Listen to those who disagree with you in reason and reflex, and test your own reasons and reflexes. If you find that change in yourself is necessary, then be thankful for the opportunity to discover the true need. Become stronger as you recognize and remedy past delusion. If you find that change in yourself is not necessary, then be thankful for the opportunity to reinforce your reflexes and to make your reasoning more robust, more sincere, and more useful to yourself and others.
In short: challenge, and be challenged!
posted by Nicholas at 11:07 PM
4 Comments:
you're full of crap, nicholas
you make a persuasive argument, nicholas.
which do you prefer?
You're right, Anonymous. I should have specified that the commentary or discussion in question contain even trace elements of reason or substance. Given the choice between raw contradiction and empty praise, I'm relatively indifferent. Neither contributes anything to learning, growth, or the pursuit of mutual understanding.
However, in all honesty, I would rather continue discussion with the "you're full of crap" Anonymous than with the "you make a persuasive argument" Anonymous. At least, until I get a sense of whether the "you're full of crap" Anonymous can support such a claim with an argument! If so, it would surely be an interesting conversation.
You're full of shit...because I know that you yourself shy away from many challenges
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