Fear fosters a belief in right-wing nonsense

[shira]

Well, maybe that thread title was a tad provocative and perhaps overly broad. But in the spirit of Halloween and imaginary stuff in general, I'm wearing a right-wing troll costume right now (but retaining my liberal sensibilities) - a real achievement for an ultra-high-IQ scientist.

Anyway, what we have here is evidence that when confronted by fear, people retreat into a belief of pleasant fantasies.

http://www.dailytech.com/Study+Indi...led+by+Fear+of+the+Uncertain/article19743.htm

For example, evolution via random natural selection is an awfully scary concept; but Intelligent Design or even non-random (read "ordered") natural selection is so much friendlier. So - surprise, surprise - when their fear is stoked, people tend to embrace those friendlier explanations.

And since righties - as opposed to lefties - seem to prefer the irrational over the scientific (the world-wide climate-change conspiracy versus MM climate change, for example), a good corollary to this study is that righties are more driven by fear than liberals.

So, when you're trying to talk sense to a right-winger, for goodness sake keep it calm and friendly.

Boo!!! (Whoops there goes another righty off the deep end.)

 

[Atreus21]

A global warming alarmist warning others about the politics of fear...

Sandorski has a word for this type of thing.

 

[Nemesis 1]

So the events of 2010 are not enough for ya. Thats cool . I have 2011 how many must die to change your view of things you can't explain.

 

[Monster_Munch]

For example, evolution via random natural selection is an awfully scary concept;

I know this is probably going off on a tangent and being pedantic, but natural selection is not random. Natural selection is the process that eliminates unhelpful mutations. It's the mutations that are the random part of evolution.

 

[MotF Bane]

Well, maybe that thread title was a tad provocative and perhaps overly broad.

The truest statement you have ever written.

 

[werepossum]

Behavioral sciences = left wing loons coming up with yet another reason why they should be given power, far too often.

Behavioral sciences /= real sciences.

 

[PJABBER]

 

[Nemesis 1]

I know this is probably going off on a tangent and being pedantic, but natural selection is not random. Natural selection is the process that eliminates unhelpful mutations. It's the mutations that are the random part of evolution.

They teach this in what 7th grade. Good for you ya got it right.

 

[Amused]

Fear drives left wingers just as much.

Fear of their fellow man drives left wingers to want more government control over the private and fiscal lives of others.

Fear of being responsibile for themselves drives them to want ever increasing government welfare programs and safety laws.

Fear of the very industries that give them a high quality of life drive them to seek ever increasing regulations on the very industries that give them that quality of life.

Fear and jealousy drive them to "redistribute" the wealth others have rightfully earned.

Fear and distrust of their fellow man drives them to want to control every aspect of their lives.

Fear drives both sides. And both sides fear freedom. Why is that?

Why does freedom scare you so much?

 

[bamacre]

Why does freedom scare you so much?

People are control freaks.

 

[Amused]

People are control freaks.

Kinda funny but it's true. And fear/insecurity drives the need for control over others.

The other funny thing is people and societies are more prosperous with more freedom.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Kinda funny but it's true. And fear/insecurity drives the need for control over others.

It also apparently drives people to allow control by others over themselves.

 

[Amused]

It also apparently drives people to allow control by others over themselves.

True. Very true.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Fear drives left wingers just as much.

Fear of their fellow man drives left wingers to want more government control over the private and fiscal lives of others.

Fear of being responsibile for themselves drives them to want ever increasing government welfare programs and safety laws.

Fear of the very industries that give them a high quality of life drive them to seek ever increasing regulations on the very industries that give them that quality of life.

Fear and jealousy drive them to "redistribute" the wealth others have rightfully earned.

Fear and distrust of their fellow man drives them to want to control every aspect of their lives.

Fear drives both sides. And both sides fear freedom. Why is that?

Why does freedom scare you so much?

You seem to know the ans. Freedom removes authority and the weak of heart and mind cling to authority,

 

[BoberFett]

But in the spirit of Halloween and imaginary stuff in general, I'm wearing a right-wing troll costume right now (but retaining my liberal sensibilities) - a real achievement for an ultra-high-IQ scientist.

I'm sorry, but


Oh wait, was he being serious? :hmm:

 

[monovillage]

From Dr. Judith Curry, noted climate scientist..............
"Let me ask you this. So how are things going for you lately? A year ago, the climate establishment was on top of the world, masters of the universe. Now we have a situation where there have been major challenges to the reputations of a number of a number of scientists, the IPCC, professional societies, and other institutions of science. The spillover has been a loss of public trust in climate science and some have argued, even more broadly in science. The IPCC and the UNFCCC are regarded by many as impediments to sane and politically viable energy policies. The enviro advocacy groups are abandoning the climate change issue for more promising narratives. In the U.S., the prospect of the Republicans winning the House of Representatives raises the specter of hearings on the integrity of climate science and reductions in federal funding for climate research."

http://judithcurry.com/2010/10/25/heresy-and-the-creation-of-monsters/

The global warmists are the ones using fear mongering to achieve a political agenda.


"a real achievement for an ultra-high-IQ scientist." ROFL