Trakar
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- Feb 28, 2011
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How to Humble a Wing Nut
BloombergView
There is no standard definition of the all-important term wing nut, so lets provide one. A wing nut is someone who has a dogmatic commitment to an extreme political view (wing) that is false and at least a bit crazy (nut).
A wing nut might believe that George W. Bush is a fascist, that Barack Obama is a socialist, that big banks run the Department of the Treasury or that the U.S. intervened in Libya because of oil.
When wing nuts encounter people with whom they disagree, they immediately impugn their opponents motivations. Whatever their religion, they are devout Manicheans, dividing their fellow citizens into the forces of light and the forces of darkness.
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The good news is that wing nuts usually dont matter. The bad news is that they influence people who do. Sadly, more information often fails to correct peoples misunderstandings. In fact, it can backfire and entrench them. Can anything be done?
Stunning Conclusion
For a positive answer, consider an intriguing study by Philip Fernbach, a University of Colorado business school professor, and his colleagues. Their central finding is that if you ask people to explain exactly why they think as they do, they discover how much they dont know -- and they become more humble and therefore more moderate.
(read details at title link)
after being asked to explain their views, people were less likely to want to give a bonus payment to a relevant advocacy group
Interesting, any wingnuts (left or right) care to explain exactly why they believe what they do?
BloombergView
There is no standard definition of the all-important term wing nut, so lets provide one. A wing nut is someone who has a dogmatic commitment to an extreme political view (wing) that is false and at least a bit crazy (nut).
A wing nut might believe that George W. Bush is a fascist, that Barack Obama is a socialist, that big banks run the Department of the Treasury or that the U.S. intervened in Libya because of oil.
When wing nuts encounter people with whom they disagree, they immediately impugn their opponents motivations. Whatever their religion, they are devout Manicheans, dividing their fellow citizens into the forces of light and the forces of darkness.
( )
The good news is that wing nuts usually dont matter. The bad news is that they influence people who do. Sadly, more information often fails to correct peoples misunderstandings. In fact, it can backfire and entrench them. Can anything be done?
Stunning Conclusion
For a positive answer, consider an intriguing study by Philip Fernbach, a University of Colorado business school professor, and his colleagues. Their central finding is that if you ask people to explain exactly why they think as they do, they discover how much they dont know -- and they become more humble and therefore more moderate.
(read details at title link)
after being asked to explain their views, people were less likely to want to give a bonus payment to a relevant advocacy group
Interesting, any wingnuts (left or right) care to explain exactly why they believe what they do?
