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Originally Posted by Grapesoda
good points, wish there were more dialogue like this... I get the impression for you that you are able to hold to opposing views? most can't... unfortunately the vast majority of GFY'ers can't see the bigotry and lack of humanity in their views and statements.
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I think I can hold opposing views more easily than some. It's really hard to say. But I will say that I don't think that its a good thing. In my view, there is a larger detriment to seeing both sides and being comfortable with all the arguments and giving them equal weight than being blinded to one side and letting the bitter fight rage and the winning idea rise to the top. I also think there is an important distinction to be made of those "in the middle" in politics. Most, I would guess are those who simply don't have a strong opinion/emotional response vs those carefully weighing both sides. I think my issue is really that I don't have much of an emotional response and drive to act out on those responses.
I don't really believe in right or wrong and I believe our behaviors are what they are because they have proven the most effective when it comes to survival and reproduction. We are basically apes who's brains happened to stumble upon an adaptation that led us complex language. I don't look down or up to anyone because I believe everyone is a cog in the machine, each serving their own purpose and no single cog is better or worse as they all are required to make the machine work.
I am also secretly envious of those full of passion. After all, what is better... to be Neo and see the Matrix, or to be in the Matrix and never know and live a perfectly fulfilling life?
This is a great book to read on the subject of politics and religion written by a psychologist Jonathan Haidt who has dedicated his life to the study of moral psychology and emotions like disgust. He also wrote the Happiness Hypothesis which is also a really good book and one I made my GF read as well
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http://books.google.com/books/about/...d=ItuzJhbcpMIC
