Tunnelvisionary
Member
Thanks for that, Efftup. I wasn't sure if this thread was helping or adding to the greater narrative of debunking at all.No need to feel silly at all, it;s a very serious issue.
Although, as you said you can't lump all people together, it is important to learn how to properly engage with people.
True Believers in CTs can't understand why YOU can't see the blindingly obvious truth that it is going on.
Hardened Skeptics can't understand why the CT'er just can't see that what they are suggesting is CLEARLY impossible.
so finding a way to see how the other thinks is extremely useful.
I also don't think that skeptics are necessarily dull people. Just because they demand some evidence before jumping at any new and exciting "discovery",you can bet they will get excited and excitable when there IS evidence for something.
while discussing the lack of proof for Mermaids with one of my friends I found a link to all sorts of cool animals with genuine superpowers that REALLY do exist. For Definite. THAT was really exciting.
I don't think skeptics are dull either, that was just the perception I had at the time, along with a few others I associated with. It was probably that dampening of excitement of new/different knowledge that probably led to me perceiving it that way.
I think this kind of gets at the heart of the matter. Thanks for posting that, Balance!I think this article is worth a looksee on this topic/thread http://www.iflscience.com/brain/political-religious-identity-more-influential-scientific-literacy
That part in particular is really what I was getting at, and this article does indeed give another suggestion on how to address this topic. Awesome!
Kahan advocates breaking down the association that liberals think one way about a scientific issue while conservatives believe the opposite; likewise for atheists and those who are very religious. When a particular stance is tied to something that is a large influence on an individual’s sense of self, all it does is create automatic barriers. Removing those personal associations from scientific truths could allow for more reasonable discourse about important issues like the effects of climate change and could expedite good policy when it isn’t seen as one side “winning” or “losing.”
Read more at http://www.iflscience.com/brain/pol...ntial-scientific-literacy#KjuVFDPhdjLOTSp0.99