Posted by
Jochen Fromm-5 on
Nov 04, 2012; 7:41pm
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/The-Presidential-Election-tp7580914p7580927.html
Hi Nick,
yes, it is similar where I live, although we have more parties in
Germany (conservative, socialist, liberal and green parties). No,
people usually do not change their mind in political discussions.
They change their mind during the course of time, though. I changed
my mind for example about our own chancellor, Angela Merkel:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Merkel . In the beginning I had
doubts. She looks a bit clumsy and grumpy sometimes, and there are
certainly politicians who have more charisma. But over the years I
learned to appreciate her honesty, her modesty, and her kindness.
She said she wants to serve her country, and she really does. She
would never lie intentionally. This may seems obvious, but how can
you trust someone who lies?
What about you, do you vote for Romney, Obama or someone else, like
Gary Johnson? From a psychological aspect, this election is
interesting, isn't it?
-J.
Am 04.11.2012 03:39, schrieb Nicholas Thompson:
Jochen,
At this week's FRIAM meeting, we talked briefly about politics and it was
clear that there was some disagreement around the table. We were about to
let it go, on that ground, when I decided, spurred by my newly embraced
pragmatist ideology, to beg that they all put their minds for 5 minutes to
the question, "How do we go about having a conversation with people with
whom we disagree? A conversation that would actually get somewhere."
Our usual way of proceding is what I call "FogHorns on a Shrouded Bay."
Each individual sounds off while the others listen politely or check their
email on their cell phones. That goes around the circle a couple of times,
and then people just drop the topic and go on to something else.
On the whole, most people I know would rather be force fed castor oil than
be convinced to change their minds.
So, back to you, Jochen. Is it truly different where you are? Have you
ever sat in on a political discussion in which anybody ever changed his or
her mind? How did that happen?
Nick
From: Friam [[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Jochen Fromm
Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2012 3:20 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] The Presidential Election
Interesting read. Sometimes we wonder why other peoples voting decisions are
fundamentally different from ours even if all good reasons speak against it.
Are they backward or brainwashed? Jonathan Haidt has written a book named
"The Righteous Mind" where he argues that people don't really listen to
arguments or reasons. Guided by their emotions, they often come to a quick
conclusion what is good or bad, and this decision is in accordance with
their worldview and their moral system (regardless how skewed it may be).
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/books/review/the-righteous-mind-by-jonatha
n-haidt.html?pagewanted=all
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/books/review/the-righteous-mind-by-jonath
an-haidt.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0> &_r=0
-J.
Am 03.11.2012 21:18, schrieb Roger Critchlow:
Here's how backward the conservative heart of america beats:
http://www.thebaffler.com/past/the_long_con
-- rec --
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FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at
http://www.friam.org