Buying the whole book?
By urbandekay
@urbandekay (18278)
December 18, 2007 2:09pm CST
I have noticed that a lot of people here, and it is particularly noticeable with Americans but by no means exclusive to them, buy the whole book. That is to say, they cluster their opinions and beliefs around a position. So, that a lot of people will fall into one of two camps.
Lets call these two camps the A and B.
Typical group A beliefs might include;
anti abortion
pro gun
anti gov spending on social issues
pro gov spending on military, police, etc
self reliance
no restrictions places on the freedom of the individual apart from market forces
Anti the excesses of gay rights
Creationisism or Intelligent design
Christian right
Typically group Bs might hold
Pro abortion
Hmmm, not sure if they would support some sort of gun control, I think probably
Pro gov spending on social issues
anti gov spending on military, police, etc
see maximising freedom of the individual as necessarily involving limitation of market forces and regulation
pro gay rights
evolution
Christian or Atheist
Now, of course these are generalisations but it does seem to be a trend I've noticed. I've tried to state these beliefs as neutrally as possible, but of course people will disagree, even with the way I have worded the position. I am not here, however, in a discussion about how they should be worded; the wording is just a means of denoting here.
What I'm more interested in are people, like myself that hold beliefs from both camps. I am for instance anti-abortion and a believer in evolution. Also, I self-reliance is a core belief of mine and first class medical care, free at the point of contact, I take to be the mark of a civilised country.
I am interested in how people arrive at their beliefs and I have formed the impression that for many in stead of considering individual issues and deriving a belief about them and from the tensions in such individual beliefs constructing their world view, they merely pick those values associated with the particular camp.
So, do you believe apparently contradictory ideas?
all the best urban
1 person likes this
1 response
@Adoniah (7512)
• United States
21 Dec 07
Believe it or not, in America, the juvenile attitude of peer pressure follows people into adulthood. A lot of what people believe is based on what their "best friends" or bosses or influencial or "popular" co-workers believe. It also has a lot to do with what is preached from the pulpit. Preachers and Priests tend to get very politically motivated and of course are always involved in social matters. Recently a Priest threatened to excommunicate a politician for their stance on abortion and said that he would not give such a person communion.
I do not care what anyone else believes. I follow my own moral and social code. I do not follow the "popular trends". And I do not hold to as you say "just one camp". I suppose I have a camp all my own. Most of the time I find the beliefs or "camps" of others a little fanatical or even ridiculous but you I do not think you can change this. People like their little cliques.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
21 Dec 07
Most excellent response. I find it really depressing when people buy the whole book. Incidentally, the peer pressure thing is worse in Japan, here I speak from personal experience having stayed there.
all the best urban
