The exquisite horror of reality

[ashling]

Many here (including me) have remarked at the inability of these people to accept or understand until it happens to them.

Came across this wonderful quote from Poe:

"Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality"-POE

http://definedontdefend.com/2012/06/30/aca-ruling-got-you-down-theres-an-app-for-that/

[hfojvt]

2. reality? Hah

That's only for people who can't handle drugs.

But I think Poe is wrong. Often people are very impressed by huffing and puffing and by their own imaginations of what COULD happen rather than what actually DOES happen in REALITY.

And people respond in different ways to the same reality.

For example, an anecdote I heard about John Wesley. He was taking a trip across the Atlantic and the sea and storms rose in fury rain and lightning crashing down, waves rearing up threatening to swamp the boat or tear it to pieces. Wesley had a very human reaction - this scared the crap out of him. He thought he was gonna die.

Also on the same ship was a group of Moravians. Instead of being frightened, they were just sitting in a circle singing songs.

Same reality, different perception of and reaction to it.

[ashling]

3. I think you are right about impressions of reality

sometimes you have to slap a face - sometimes you have to use a 2 x 4

here is some stuff from the article. It also has links to a lot of information about this and about ACA

By now, we’ve all been inundated with glowing and scathing op-eds in reaction to the Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act; some even vilifying Justice Roberts for his position. Moreover, the observation that America is experiencing civil war-time polarization is astonishingly accurate in this regard; as expected, the overall sentiment to the decision is seemingly divided sharply along party lines. And, the divisiveness, without regard for the human condition, can only be chalked up to the Belief Perseverance Phenomenon.

Belief perseverance is the tendency to cling to one’s initial belief even after receiving new information that contradicts or disconfirms the basis of that belief. This simply put, a person will not change his/her mind even when they are given information that supports or disproves the basis of their position; even when the basis of a specific belief is totally discredited [emphasis added] (Anderson, 2007). It is certainly a phenomenon that people tend to hold on to their beliefs even when it appears that they shouldn’t.

Belief perseverance can create chaotic messages, especially in the political realm. It can also lead to cognitive dissonance, which is the confusion that results from holding two conflicting beliefs. For example, Democrats, Conservatives, and Libertarians may admit they believe in personal responsibility. However, some admittedly oppose a law that imposes personal responsibility (such as the individual mandate), hence the repeal campaign. When there is a discrepancy between beliefs and behaviors, something must change in order to eliminate or reduce the dissonance.

[hfojvt]

4. maybe, possibly, violence is not the only answer?

But I also think that most people are stubborn that way, not just "the other side". "Given a choice between a) changing their mind or b) proving that there is no need to do so, most people will get busy on the proof."

[ashling]

5. Of course violence is not the answer

I just assumed most people would understand the allusion. Metaphor is a powerful thing.

[dionysus]

6. you mean you weren't talking about actually clubbing someone with a board?!

[hfojvt]

7. but metaphorically that annihilates any possibility of a peaceful dialogue

Even if you metaphorically either slap somebody in the face or hit them with a 2 by 4, that still sounds violent, except the violence is verbal rather than physical. So here you are engaging in a dialogue with somebody who disagrees with you. You can be trying to understand them, trying to inform them, trying to persuade them with facts and reason and passion, OR you can be looking for an opportunity to verbally lay down some wood on their head or to verbally slap them silly. All I am saying, is give peace a chance.