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safe & sound |
Ronald Reagan once said "It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so." How many people make decisions based on what they think they know as opposed to what is, and what impact does that have on us as a society? I see it on both sides of the political aisle, from people across the intelligence spectrum, from men and women, from all races, and from all ages. I don't know if it is any worse than before, but I do find it odd as we have all worldly knowledge available at our fingertips today. There's certainly no excuse for it. What makes matters worse it that people make real life decisions, sometimes very important, based on what they "know" but simply isn't so. I'm sure I could give hundreds of examples, but this is one that has been discussed to some degree on the forum before. Child abduction. Due to the dangerous world we live in, we teach our children not to interact with strangers. They could be abducted, assaulted, or worse. We can't let them walk to school as a bad guy could snatch them up at any moment. We would rather have them inside playing video games where we know they are safe, than outside running loose which puts them at risk. But here is the reality. There has never been a safer time to be a child in America. Mortality rate is at record lows. Missing children reports are down considerably. Kids get hit by cars much less than before. The truth is that our children face much less risk than we did as children. Does our attempt to "save" our children result in damage instead? Do you think the obesity rate, addiction to electronics, and other anti-social behavior can be linked in any way? I'm sure it can to some degree. This is why I believe we should do a better job of "keeping it real". Instead of constantly perpetuating fantasy, we need to do our best to be aware of reality and inform others when we catch them using bad data in their decision making process. I used to notice this regularly with political discussions, but now I'm seeing it more and more in all aspects of my life. I think it hurts us as a society. I believe it causes many to "pay the bill" for a debt that should have never accrued. Just my observation of course. Curious to know how others feel, or if they have noticed the same. | ||
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| The success of a solution usually depends upon your point of view |
The biggest single thing I have learned from this forum is to question what (I think) I know. “We truly live in a wondrous age of stupid.” - 83v45magna "I think it's important that people understand free speech doesn't mean free from consequences societally or politically or culturally." -Pranjit Kalita, founder and CIO of Birkoa Capital Management | |||
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| Conveniently located directly above the center of the Earth  |
'fantasy vs reality'--- otherwise argued for millennia under variations of 'subjective' vs 'objective' reality. Whatever data base we use to convince ourselves we have 'special knowledge' and 'the reality based conclusion' is difficult to challenge. 'Emotional reality' vs 'rational reality' is another entire argument. **************~~~~~~~~~~ "I've been on this rock too long to bother with these liars any more." ~SIGforum advisor~ "When the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of change, then change will come."~~sigmonkey | |||
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Drill Here, Drill Now |
Yes, overly protecting children has harmed them. A few examples: Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. | |||
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| Ignored facts still exist |
I once believed I could pick individual stocks and get rich. . | |||
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| I believe in the principle of Due Process  |
How were you selecting them? Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me. When you had the votes, we did things your way. Now, we have the votes and you will be doing things our way. This lesson in political reality from Lyndon B. Johnson "Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown | |||
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| Member |
But with the ease of communication and social media as the #'s decline the exposure increases. We immediately hear of tragedies anywhere on the globe. ____________________________________________________ The butcher with the sharpest knife has the warmest heart. | |||
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Member |
Duh, he was picking stocks that would make him rich. | |||
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| I believe in the principle of Due Process |
Duh, how? On what criteria? His statement of belief implies he was attempting it, and failed. People have done it. There is a way. Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me. When you had the votes, we did things your way. Now, we have the votes and you will be doing things our way. This lesson in political reality from Lyndon B. Johnson "Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown | |||
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Not really from Vienna |
Couldn't these statistical lows be the result of parents keeping their children indoors where they are unlikely to be hit by a car or abducted? I'm not saying I agree that having kids who never enjoy the activities most of us did is a good thing-just questioning the chicken/egg aspect of the stats you quoted. | |||
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| safe & sound |
Sure, but that wasn't my entire point. That as just one of many examples. Take another recent thread on the amusement ride accident. Several posters states that they would never ride those rides because they were dangerous (Heck, I'm one of them), but those same people wouldn't think twice about going for a bike ride. Bike riding is several magnitudes more dangerous than amusement park rides based on statistics. Seems that every day people make decisions, some big, some completely inconsequential, based on what they heard, what they hope, or what they feel and not what really exist around them. | |||
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| Freethinker |
I tend to agree with the general contention that people greatly exaggerate the risks we face in most places today, but risk analysis (at least by some of us) also includes a benefit analysis. I get nothing out of subjecting myself to amusement park thrill rides, and therefore the element of risk—however small—is part of why I don’t. There are positive reasons to ride a bicycle, though, and they override the element of risk as a reason not to. The same is true of shooting activities. There is a far greater risk of being shot at the range than when sitting at home reading a book, but the risk is so small and I perceive the benefits to be so great that it’s an activity I’m willing to pursue. ► 6.0/94.0 I can tell at sight a Chassepot rifle from a javelin. | |||
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delicately calloused |
Fantasy v reality? I think it reduces to, what is true and do we accept it? In the case of some, they do not recognize truth when they see it. Others prefer not to accept it. Still others do not believe it exists as a solid concept. I think the search for and acquisition of truth that is one of the key distinguishing characteristics of an evolved being. Truth is real. Fantasy is false. Those who tether themselves to fantasy/deception will always be disappointed eventually. A good example of that is the most recent election results. There are other examples like the belief in artificial business models like that of Solyndra or the ACA or almost any manipulation of the natural economy by govt. Eventually those invested will be disappointed. The truth is its own champion and eventually comes to light. The acceptance of it is individual and requires certain character traits be in place. Humility is probably the single most important trait one needs to recognize and accept truth. This is why people with a full glass cannot receive any more water. You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier | |||
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| safe & sound |
This is yet another example. Probably the most common one I see. "Trump said_________". Well no he didn't, and there's a video on Youtube. Had you taken 30 seconds to actually watch what he said, you would know. But ain't nobody got time for that!  They want to believe that's what he said because it goes along with their beliefs. They don't want to know the truth, even if handed to them on a silver platter, because that's not what they want it to be. | |||
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| Lawyers, Guns and Money  |
Yes, it's true. It causes many to "pay the bill" for a debt that should have never accrued. I think "common sense" is becoming uncommon. And when you speak of debt, you are also correct. Debt is exploding. Personal debt and government debt.... most of which will end in default if we keep accumulating more and more debt. But, politically, it's easy to make promises and pay for them with the earnings of people who have not yet been born and can't yet vote. "Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." -- Justice Janice Rogers Brown "The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth." -rduckwor | |||
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Bayesian thinking is a skill set available to enhance ones frame of reference. Perspective on interpretation | |||
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| half-genius, half-wit |
Old Finnish proverb - 'Todellisuus on illuusio, joka johtuu alkoholin puutteesta.' Reality is an illusion caused by lack of alcohol. tac | |||
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Member |
People don't know the difference between a truth and belief. Something can't be true for one person and not another. Year V | |||
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| Member |
Fantasy vs. Reality, as in believing politicians care more about principle than being re-elected. | |||
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| I believe in the principle of Due Process |
"Too much of what is called 'education' is little more than an expensive isolation from reality." Thomas Sowell "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." Albert Einstein "Reality leaves a lot to the imagination." John Lennon Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me. When you had the votes, we did things your way. Now, we have the votes and you will be doing things our way. This lesson in political reality from Lyndon B. Johnson "Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown | |||
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