Blogin Service              News Letter

June 02, 2005

This news letter was created by a concerned group of people that only wish you peace,happiness and security.  Primary links are in Navy Blue.

Peace and Love
Don
Heyokah Medicine

 

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." ~ Voltaire

Are we all ready to believe in the absurd (Gullibility Test)?  Apparently some of us are. Remember "Read my lips: No New Taxes".  That little bit of absurdity won George Bush senior the presidency in 1988:  and that was by 54% of the popular vote.  And not to be out done by his father we get: "Weapons of Mass Destruction" from George W. Bush junior, as the reason for our invasion of Iraq: and many citizens believed in the stated reason without bothering to engage 'critical thinking'.  The failure to use 'discernment' is not limited to those of us without 'authority'.   Regardless of our social status it is our beliefs and not rational evidence which structures our conclusions.  The following is an example of this phenomena among scientists.

"Mahoney (1977) submitted a paper to 75 referees from the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Some received results that confirmed the dominant hypothesis held by scientists in that field. Other referees received the identical paper except that the results were reversed so they disconfirmed the dominant hypothesis. The referees were more likely to reject the study with disconfirming evidence and to accept the one with confirming evidence. They rated the study in disconfirming evidence poorer on relevance and methodology, despite the fact that these were identical in both versions. Apparently referees had different standards for articles where the results conflicted with their own beliefs." (Reference) 

The words of authority have great impact on our judgement and actions, and some of us are willing to pay for the privilege of reading the 'authoritative word' . "The New York Times announced today (May 16, 2005) that it will start charging for some online content, beginning in September."  If the authoritative words of government, such as those of President Fox of Mexico,   is 'obstinately attached to an opinion and intolerant towards others' (Resurgent bigotry~May 3, 2005) then irrational beliefs become part of societal superstition and, as in the case of the  authoritative words of Hitler, can result in capricious and inhumane actions towards targeted groups (Holocaust).   All the parts of this 'type of scenario' were in play when Newsweek   ('article on disrespect for the Koran by US military guards') recently played into the gullibility of Muslims and inflamed their hatred towards the United States. The article was eventually retracted but is the retraction  just another bit of authoritative-firestorm ~disinformation~?   Gullibility stems first from belief and then proceeds to expand into action: research in conformity and obedience (seeds of bigotry).  However, the most startling revelation from social science research is that "humans need not be innately evil or aberrant to act in ways that are reprehensible and inhumane (Milgram Experiment)." A marked characteristic of the bigoted word merchant is the propensity to disparage the opinions and works of others without any provocation (example in science).   The 'authoritative scientific word', as demonstrated by the catastrophe of Thalidomide, is no more sacrosanct than the arrogant and deceptive authoritative words of the US president: "Weapons of mass destruction in Iraq".  The arrogance of western science is well exemplified in the following statement by a science author: "Why do people embrace irrational belief systems even after repeated disconfirmation ( see Note from Nevyn at bottom of newsletter) by scientists?" What is considered irrational is defined by those in authority and articles which do not confirm the biases of those reviewing science papers are not likely to appear in the journals (see above study by Mahoney~1977) .  Was it the biases of the science community (money motive) playing into the gullible public (vaccine scandals, government assurances) that resulted in the recent Vioxx disaster?  And now recent evidence (5/21/05) suggests that ultraviolet rays (sunshine), which aids the skin in the production of vitiamin D, may actually prevent some forms of cancer.  The mantra from science is 'stay out of the sun': does that advice actually keep the fair skinned safe from cancer?   It is our gullibility, as demonstrated by unwavering trust in the authoritative word of western science and government, that keeps us dumbed down and confused.  It is not the methods of science, but rather the arrogance of the scientist that feeds our gulibillity.  (Cholesterol Hoax) (Scientists speak out)

But where does gullibility come from in the first place and why do we simply accept the words coming from 'authority'?  If we take a look at childhood beliefs, which essentially come from parents (and culture), we begin to notice some very strange child rearing practices of deception.  However,  in all of this there is wisdom to be found as expressed in Jill's candid reflections regarding childhood beliefs.

Parents. "Toothfairy, Easter Bunny, Santa Clause, The Boogyman, etc" and...April Fools jokes. Cruelty disguised as Humor. At an early age we all were taught to tell the truth and that those in authority were to be trusted - only to soon discover that we were considered to be foolish or gullible because we believed in an untruth told by someone who was held up to be more witty and clever. If trust and truth are virtues, and deceit and lies are sins; then why is it that the one who trusted feels more at fault than the one who deceived? Responsible communication and the lie by ommission...persuasion....manipulation. Truth is a matter of perception so are we truly searching for the truth or is the quest expressive of our desire for drama and intrigue. This is escapism from the true essense of our being. The Truth Game vs the Fantasy Game.

"From ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!" ~ Scottish Prayer

In searching for some answers to the question of 'gullibility' you might want to consider using some esoteric methods for revealing dysfunctional beliefs that hover just below our awareness level.  For those who prefer a more traditional approach there are some wonderful articles from the Stonyhill Institute of Spirituality and Psychotherapy.  If you relish a swim in the murky waters of the subconscious you could review of the work of Freud who believed that "the child is father to the man".   And upon reflection of life's events keep in mind that "When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate."~ Carl Jung

Wishing you a cool head and a warm heart,  

Love From The Enchanted Forest

Jill and Nevyn

Comments are welcomed: mirage@gilanet.com

Parting Shots

"Fame is proof that the people are gullible." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quickies: Archimedes, Patterns of Abuse

Guess Who Said It?   "I’m so gullible. I’m so damn gullible. And I am so sick of me being gullible".
Hint (Actress) Answer

Hidden Persuaders ( Review )
Life is Beautiful

Power of Nightmares

Note from Nevyn:  Unlike the adjective 'disconfirming' the word 'disconfirmation' is nearly impossible to find in a dictionary.  The reason is that it is essentially a marketing term used to describe a "a situation in which a product performs differently than expected.  Positive disconfirmation occurs when the product performs better than expected, negative disconfirmation occurs when the product performs worse than expected."  Christina Valhouli adopted its use (in her article disparaging alternative methods of investigation), but did not use a qualifier (positive or negative).   Also, regardless of outcome on any repeated experiment(s), science cannot prove a negative since it would require repetition on all possible measurements on all independent variables to infinity.   Science can only declare that in a particular case the expected result did or did not occur.

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