ChasC5
12-08-2010, 9:08pm
Conservatives fear and hate change viscerally; irrational reactions are to be expected.
Why are conservatives acting so crazily these days? They are focused on preventing social change and they will do what it takes to achieve that outcome.
Conservatives dislike change because they are socialized to hate and avoid social change. This is the pre-modern way of thinking, and it still applies to most individuals and many complete cultures and subcultures. Conservatives belong to a subculture that values stability and tradition above rationality and change. Tradition and social stability are the most important things in their lives. Yet as is very clear, our society is undergoing rapid technological and economic change that affects everyone. Conservatives just want to stop that change any way possible, and they are looking for someone besides themselves to blame.
Their core values are rooted in tradition and religion. Cultural values like this are what each of us learn as we grow up, and it tells us what is right and wrong. They accept that tradition and social stability are right and good. They know deep down that change and people who advocate change are bad. Facts and rational thought processes are valued much less important than tradition, so when someone describes a social problem and proposes social changes they automatically recoil in fear and reject it. They 'know' in their hearts that such change is dangerous and wrong.
It is this mindset that makes conservatives focus on what they want to happen and to ignore the process of getting to that outcome. The outcome is what they value, and the rational process of getting to an outcome is not valued. In fact if the rational process prevents achieving the desired out, then the process will be rejected. In our liberal society the Constitution declares that using torture is an unacceptable way to get others to do what we demand, but if the conservatives want recalcitrant enemies to comply with their demands, then the demand for compliance means that the limitations on getting there will be rejected. There is no real use arguing rationally that torture is ineffective. The conservatives will use any means to get what they want.
Here are the steps that conservatives take that lead to irrational or crazy behavior.
(1) They know what they want society to do, and they look around for arguments that will get people to do it. The basis for their certainty of what is right is traditional authority. It is taught by family, religion and by the subculture they live and work in.
(2) Sometimes what they want to do has no rational argument that supports it. The outcome they want is what's important, though, so they still need to find a way to get it.
(3) Without facts and reason to base an action on, they find a lie to convince others. Remember, they know from traditional authority that what they want is best. In our modern media, only the lie is transmitted. There is no fact-checking unless it is so egregious as to be worth the effort.
(4) When fact-checking does occur and they are caught lying, they resort to every trick pulled by an addict or alcoholic to avoid or deflect blame.
Conservative thought processes and addictive thought are similar. Both are outcome oriented. The only thing that matters is that the result or outcome is satisfying, and if the rational steps to get to the outcome prevent the desired outcome from occurring, the steps to get to the outcome must be changed. That means convincing others to do things that achieve what the conservative or addict wants. Lies are as good as logic as long as the result is the desired result.
Nobel Comment Decider presented a list of excuses that conservatives use when caught lying. Notice how similar it is to the excuses an addict or alcoholic uses when caught using.
(1) Democrats do it too
(2) whatever it is it isn't their fault, or George W.'s
(3) you just don't like free speech
(4) it's a slippery slope to taking their guns
(5) or 'you say people are stupid just because they disagree'
Extreme behavior and lies to achieve a desired outcome is not universal among conservatives, although they all know in their hearts that change is inherently wrong. Some conservatives are, however, more prone to extreme behavior. The more extreme conservatives will say and do almost anything to defend against change. The less extreme conservatives will defend those who are speaking and acting for them. The result is that they all support the extremists.
Some commencers who have heard the crazy statements from Republicans who are fighting against health care reform have asked "Are they living in a different universe?" They are asking the right question. The fact is they are living in a pre-modern culture and they'll say anything to keep it.
[This analysis is based on Max Weber's description of traditional and modern culture. It is well-known in Sociology and in Organization Theory.]
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/richardxx/2009/08/conservatives-fear-and-hate-ch.php
Now I understand ... :o_o:
Why are conservatives acting so crazily these days? They are focused on preventing social change and they will do what it takes to achieve that outcome.
Conservatives dislike change because they are socialized to hate and avoid social change. This is the pre-modern way of thinking, and it still applies to most individuals and many complete cultures and subcultures. Conservatives belong to a subculture that values stability and tradition above rationality and change. Tradition and social stability are the most important things in their lives. Yet as is very clear, our society is undergoing rapid technological and economic change that affects everyone. Conservatives just want to stop that change any way possible, and they are looking for someone besides themselves to blame.
Their core values are rooted in tradition and religion. Cultural values like this are what each of us learn as we grow up, and it tells us what is right and wrong. They accept that tradition and social stability are right and good. They know deep down that change and people who advocate change are bad. Facts and rational thought processes are valued much less important than tradition, so when someone describes a social problem and proposes social changes they automatically recoil in fear and reject it. They 'know' in their hearts that such change is dangerous and wrong.
It is this mindset that makes conservatives focus on what they want to happen and to ignore the process of getting to that outcome. The outcome is what they value, and the rational process of getting to an outcome is not valued. In fact if the rational process prevents achieving the desired out, then the process will be rejected. In our liberal society the Constitution declares that using torture is an unacceptable way to get others to do what we demand, but if the conservatives want recalcitrant enemies to comply with their demands, then the demand for compliance means that the limitations on getting there will be rejected. There is no real use arguing rationally that torture is ineffective. The conservatives will use any means to get what they want.
Here are the steps that conservatives take that lead to irrational or crazy behavior.
(1) They know what they want society to do, and they look around for arguments that will get people to do it. The basis for their certainty of what is right is traditional authority. It is taught by family, religion and by the subculture they live and work in.
(2) Sometimes what they want to do has no rational argument that supports it. The outcome they want is what's important, though, so they still need to find a way to get it.
(3) Without facts and reason to base an action on, they find a lie to convince others. Remember, they know from traditional authority that what they want is best. In our modern media, only the lie is transmitted. There is no fact-checking unless it is so egregious as to be worth the effort.
(4) When fact-checking does occur and they are caught lying, they resort to every trick pulled by an addict or alcoholic to avoid or deflect blame.
Conservative thought processes and addictive thought are similar. Both are outcome oriented. The only thing that matters is that the result or outcome is satisfying, and if the rational steps to get to the outcome prevent the desired outcome from occurring, the steps to get to the outcome must be changed. That means convincing others to do things that achieve what the conservative or addict wants. Lies are as good as logic as long as the result is the desired result.
Nobel Comment Decider presented a list of excuses that conservatives use when caught lying. Notice how similar it is to the excuses an addict or alcoholic uses when caught using.
(1) Democrats do it too
(2) whatever it is it isn't their fault, or George W.'s
(3) you just don't like free speech
(4) it's a slippery slope to taking their guns
(5) or 'you say people are stupid just because they disagree'
Extreme behavior and lies to achieve a desired outcome is not universal among conservatives, although they all know in their hearts that change is inherently wrong. Some conservatives are, however, more prone to extreme behavior. The more extreme conservatives will say and do almost anything to defend against change. The less extreme conservatives will defend those who are speaking and acting for them. The result is that they all support the extremists.
Some commencers who have heard the crazy statements from Republicans who are fighting against health care reform have asked "Are they living in a different universe?" They are asking the right question. The fact is they are living in a pre-modern culture and they'll say anything to keep it.
[This analysis is based on Max Weber's description of traditional and modern culture. It is well-known in Sociology and in Organization Theory.]
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/richardxx/2009/08/conservatives-fear-and-hate-ch.php
Now I understand ... :o_o: