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263 comments on DrumBeat: May 29, 2007

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southpaw on May 29, 2007 - 11:34pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

"The more I develop my arguments, the less they seem to get it!"

Writerman, recognize that you are presenting information that contradicts decades of societal programming reinforced by everyday experiences. Thoughts do not float around freely in the brain. They represent specific physical pathways. While there are some opportunities for plasticity or malleability to alter the established pattern, the already conditioned responses are so interdependent and elaborately interconnected that, for most people, only a tremendous shock (analogous to ECT) or a great deal of time and effort to recondition will bring about the kind of reprioritization you intend to illicit.

The assumption is often made that we all have the same mental filtering system and all one needs to do is submit the requisite number of inputs to redirect the system. However, there are enough subtle variations in how sensory input is processed to account for differing reactions to the same information.

An extreme example of an atypical filtering process is the autistic savant who blocks the heaps of distracting sensory data the rest of us constantly wade through and intensely focuses his or her mind on one area of interest. It is thought by many that this type of focusing reflecting unusual temporal lobe physiology (part of the filter system) accounts for their heightened perceptions and memory.

I'm guessing the typical TOD reader has a filter that tends to ignore a lot of the noise that most people get caught up in. It seems like the people you are having a difficult time with are increasingly unwilling to attempt to process verbal information that conflicts with their established patterns of thought and the noise that continues to reinforce those patterns.

Don't give up. FWIW, I've had success with several seemingly hopeless cases.

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TheTransition on May 30, 2007 - 6:21am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

It seems like the people you are having a difficult time with are increasingly unwilling to attempt to process verbal information that conflicts with their established patterns of thought and the noise that continues to reinforce those patterns.

You can see the exact same effect here too when a non-polically correct opinion is delivered.

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econguy on May 31, 2007 - 9:15am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Try suggesting that a 20% decline in petroleum production in five years -- to early 1990s levels for example -- might NOT cause collapse/depression/mass dieoff.

Heresy!

Admittedly, a 40%+ decline would be pretty interesting.

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doctorbob on May 30, 2007 - 6:41am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

"only a tremendous shock (analogous to ECT) or a great deal of time and effort to recondition will bring about the kind of reprioritization you intend to illicit."

Apart from a very small percentage of people, I think you are right - a short, sharp shock (God, one of the Thatcher government's phrases!), will be required. Candidates:

* A GOM hurricane to put oil above $100
* Stock market collapse when KSA run out of excuses and admit they have little or no spare capacity
* Recession which sees mortgage foreclosures hit a few % of the population

The last of these may not be sudden will I think will happen anyway over a period of a few years but whether recognition of the cause will come with it, I wouldn't like to say.

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Aniya on May 31, 2007 - 12:14am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Hi,

Hmnn...interesting question, what are the conditions for change.

I offer space, as in "emotional space" or acceptance, as productive. (In a way that shock and/or hard times can never be.) Emotional space, or "unconditional positive regard" - (positive and yet disinterested attention) allows the brain to think. Acceptance and connection, respect for autonomy (seeming contradictions) - are what people crave. Most people have a lot of the negative, going some ways back.
www.cnvc.org, www.newconversations.net, www.gordontraining.com.

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