Mind's Eye Re: the majority opinion

While raising my last two children my friends were mostly Boomers-
very liberal and liberated and I just coasted along without many
opinions about politics and other topics we were once told never to
bring up at dinner parties, etc. I guess all those nasty Reagan
cartoons pasted on their fridge doors were lost on me- a Gary Larson
fan, more in tune with the animals, I guess. I think most
conservatives just avoid contentious topics in real life or wind up
avoiding the groups that support the extreme liberal positions and
need to push their ideas all the time.

On Jan 25, 5:36 pm, Molly <mollyb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Been a bit tied up with the auto show at work.  Just can't seem to
> sleep enough. Might catch up by Valentine's day!  I am a department of
> one at work.  And like it that way.  But blend into bigger groups like
> waves.  Not much of majority rule touches me as I have always seemed
> to move with groups but in an independent fashion.  All I know of
> opinions is, I find myself having fewer of them as time goes on.  And,
> I am happy (most days).  Happy for a shout out from Gabby.  How far we
> have come.
>
> On Jan 25, 2:25 pm, Gabby <gabbyd...@gmail.com> 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 <nwte...@gmail.com> 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 -

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