OT: Why Do People Reject Science - Wrap Up

idamtnboy, I almost stood up and cheered (even though my computer screen would have not responded) when I read your post, but enjoyed the comment that RocketGirl added about it not likely being exclusive to cultures.

Those folks are not this man's heroes. When I see the reasonable people being eclipsed by the clamoring Boeotians it seems that I am a minority, and it is no wonder. I am reminded of Mike Judge's movie Idiocracy, where the dumb people reproduce faster than the intelligent ones. While mental capability is largely shaped by stimulation and environment, it seems that the least qualified people have many, many children. People will typically only do things if there are incentives related to money, inflated sense of esteem/grandeur, increased probability of sexual acts, etc. I don't know... I feel almost like I've plagiarized the ideas of Nietzsche's Will To Power, hope that isn't the case.

It seems that those who have the most confidence, or the most extreme stance are generally chosen as leaders. Perhaps it is because they seem decisive, immutable, and like the "heroes" for which many have been waiting. People often want certainty in a sea of chaos, and do not want their opposing, extremist counterparts to go about snatching their security blankets. Sometimes we must tell ourselves that we cannot give technology to the primitives. Unfortunately this is making me sound misanthropic, but the reality is that I am very frustrated with these extreme levels of intellectual laziness. I need to remind myself that no one will take help unless they realize somehow that they need it... otherwise I'm on their zealot level, subjugating the illogical to the ways of logic. Just remember some of the many profound words that Zamyatin spoke: "knowledge, absolutely sure of its infallibility, is faith”. People freak out when they no longer live in an easy world, stress-free world but when many things do not fit together. I do not have so much faith in many things that I must convert those outside of my affiliation to any way in politics, or religion, but do think that if something is broken it should be examined, and repaired, or remodeled. Too bad many people have grown complacent under the hues of tvs and computers.

Dogmatic and pragmatic seem to be antonyms. If thought is invested in how someone chose an alignment/affiliation... especially earnest thought I can generally give respect. If it seems that there is pure sheepledom... then it drives me crazy (yes, even the closed-minded-open-minded people). Just like my father told me sarcastically: "conform or be scorned".

It is really difficult to forgive the zealots, the fundies, the unthinking, dogmatic, prole-fed folk. For those who believe the zombie apocalypse will come... oh... been here for a while.

Please excuse the free flow of this pre-bedtime rant. I suppose I made like the Bushido and decided "even if a samurai's head were to suddenly be cut off he should still be able to perform one more action with certainty... if one is like a revengeful ghost he must show great determination... [blah blah blah] like the case of Ono doken."

Ok, it is time to attach the Facehugger/Headcrab/ASV unit and obtain some quality zzzzzzz's. Just remember, we are not alone. We have apnea, even with our possible brain damage we wonder how brain damaged the rest of the public is. That is bad.

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The Choker wrote: At least in the U.S. you do not have to worry about suppression of a cure for sleep apnea due to vested interest of the sleep industry.

imho, you don't need suppression, just spectacular disinterest.

The Choker wrote:The cure will likely come from outside the industry as private interests are currently pouring much money into research to develop a cure.

Hi Choker. Do you mind elaborating: exactly who is pouring money into finding a cure?

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Julie wrote:I'm trying hard to see the point in the last note here, but getting nowhere fast... anyone else?

Hi Julie: No point in trying to see guys point, imho, it's clear that he rarely has one.

Imho, he should consider leaving a trail of breadcrumbs on his way into his rambling discourses so that he can find his way out again.

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Guest wrote:...Those folks are not this man's heroes. When I see the reasonable people being eclipsed by the clamoring Boeotians it seems that I am a minority, and it is no wonder. I am reminded of Mike Judge's movie Idiocracy, where the dumb people reproduce faster than the intelligent ones. While mental capability is largely shaped by stimulation and environment, it seems that the least qualified people have many, many children. People will typically only do things if there are incentives related to money, inflated sense of esteem/grandeur, increased probability of sexual acts, etc. I don't know... I feel almost like I've plagiarized the ideas of Nietzsche's Will To Power, hope that isn't the case....

However, IIRC, intelligence occurs along a bell curve that has no significant relationship to selective breeding. I'm not even sure its would be a positive trait since if you are too smart you stick out too much and get smacked down by brute strength or quickness, both of which are more common, more selectable, and more deadly, in the short run.