“I believe this thing, and I’m tired of people telling me I might be wrong, even if they have information supporting their arguments.”
“Well, now, you’re in luck! It just so happens our group also believes the same thing and we don’t trust information that doesn’t support what we think. You should join us.”
“Really? There’s a whole group of people who believe the same thing I do?”
“Yup.”
“And, you have arguments to counter people who don’t believe this thing?”
“No; we just exclude them from the group and then we ridicule them, marginalize them, and sometimes threaten them.”
“Wow, that’s nice! That way, I would never hear that I’m wrong about this thing. How do I join this group?”
“Well, you just show up and start repeating what you already know, and other people in the group will nod their head. And then, they will repeat the same thing, and you nod your head. Plus, everyone works hard to find only stuff that supports what we all believe.”
“That is amazing! I can’t wait to join in the fun; finally, I will feel at home and won’t feel intimidated by arguments supported by facts!”
“Arguments supported by facts?”
“Sorry, ‘lies’; I meant, intimidated by lies.”
“Now you’re getting it. Plus, we can also discuss this other thing and these other two things we all believe.”
“Wait, what?”
“Well, everyone in the group also believes this other thing and these other two things.”
“But, wait . . . what if I don’t believe this other thing and those other two things?”
“Well, then you cannot be part of this group. We can’t have people disrupting the group and making others feel uncomfortable. Wait; are you saying you don’t believe this other thing and these other two things?”
“Uh . . . to tell you the truth, I could go either way about that other thing and those other two things don’t sound right to me.”
“That’s too bad; I think you would have liked our group.”
“Wait; you mean I can’t join?”
“Well, you know how you don’t like hearing challenges from people who doubt what you believe?”
“Yes . . . Oh, I see; others in the group don’t like hearing challenges about their beliefs!”
“That’s right; we all march in step, and we don’t question each other; it’s what makes us a family.”
“I argue with my family all the time.”
“Well, we don’t allow arguments; it’s our number one rule.”
“But, what if I have a question or hear a challenge from someone outside the group? What if I have doubts?”
“Oh, don’t worry; the group is very good at keeping everyone on an even keel and doubt-free. We’ll make sure you remain doubt-free. That is the strength of numbers at work.”
“And that works?”
“Well, there are the occasional so-called ‘independent thinkers‘ who insist on questioning stuff, but we oust them from the group, and then everyone shuns them. It works pretty well at keeping everyone in line. Besides, there aren’t that many of them. Uh . . . you’re not one of them independent thinkers, are you?”
“Who, me? No, I try to do as little independent thinking as possible. But, wait; are you saying thinking is not allowed? That seems strange.”
“Oh, we think all the time . . . as a group. You’ve heard how ‘two heads are better than one?‘ Many heads all thinking the same thing is multiple times better than that. In fact, we pride ourselves in our thinking ability and we all agree our thinking is tops. It makes it much easier to counter or even dismiss things we don’t agree with because, obviously, as a group, we are much smarter than any one person with facts . . . er . . . I mean, with lies, and therefore, we can’t be wrong. Besides, being wrong makes us uncomfortable and everyone knows it’s lies that make people uncomfortable whereas our truth wraps us in a comfortable — and unassailable — cocoon.”
“You’ve sold me! It sounds exactly what I’ve been looking for. Now I won’t have to think for myself or even question myself because I have the support of my group.”
“Welcome aboard!”
~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~
That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.
<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>
Note: if you are not reading this blog post at DisperserTracks.com, know that it has been copied without permission, and likely is being used by someone with nefarious intention, like attracting you to a malware-infested website. Could be they also torture small mammals.
<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>
If you’re new to this blog, it might be a good idea to read the FAQ page. If you’re considering subscribing to this blog, it’s definitively a good idea to read both the About page and the FAQ page.
Disperser Tracks 
Living in a bubble, only communicating with thinkalikes, never listening to opposing points of view.
There’s a lot of that going on – and it’s not good.
LikeLike
The funny thing is, no one thinks they’re cocooning themselves.
It takes hard work and determination not to. The first step is the hardest: asking “What if I’m wrong? What if there’s stuff I’ve not thought of? What if everyone is not as stupid or evil as I assume?”
Those are questions I don’t hear asked and in those rare times they are asked, 90% of the time the answer is an immediate “No; that can’t possibly be!”
Did I say 90%? I meant 98.47%
LikeLike
Was that an echo I just heard?
LikeLike
What-hat-at-t do-o you-ou-u mean-ean-an-n?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great write, Emilio! You modern tale has captured the world we live in….the way people are. And, ack, I find our world frustrating and sad at times.
Back in the late 1980’s, the school I taught at brought in a lady to speak to us. She is a futurist, author, CEO of a marketing consulting firm, etc., who predicts trends, etc. She said back then that the day was coming where people would cocoon…do pretty much everything from a computer at home…we’d be able to talk on our computers and phones to family and friends across the world and see them face to face on screen, etc. Back then, we thought she was kinda’ loopy…Ha! But everything she predicted then has come true. The world she described to us in the 1980’s, we are living today. Wowza.
HUGS!!!
LikeLike
Yeah, it’s a difficult time to be living in. I doubt I can even make a new friend in this day and age precisely because you can’t have a conversation with anyone without worrying about offending them.
It probably doesn’t help that I’m a lot less tolerant about certain things than I used to be. Specifically, about what people believe without proof or reasoned hypothesis. Still, even there, I’m open-minded about (new) arguments and reasoning about any subject. The operative word is “new”; when people don’t take the time to do even the briefest of searches to find counterarguments to their beliefs, I’m instantly turned off.
Anyway, thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I understand.
I do remember a day when people of all sorts of beliefs and backgrounds could sit on a porch and talk and laugh and be friends the next day. Times have changed.
LikeLike
Yes . . . now they egg your porch (with you on it) from the street and refuse to even engage in a discussion.
LikeLike