The term "groupthink" was coined by psychologist Irving Janis to describe how decision-making in groups can be distorted by various pressures to conform. He argued that groupthink is characterised by a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgement. Specifically, groupthink can result in shared stereotyping, a denigration of non-members of the group, intolerance of dissent, moral certitude, a reluctance to examine preconceptions, and a resistance to new and countervailing ideas.
groupthink..which is why its very essential that one listens to ALL sides of the story, no matter how loony you may think they are. This is why I went back to listening to FoxNews and other such outlets every now and then. I think one of the early slimepitters said it very well (albeit at a different location).
David Byron's first mail http://freethoughtblogs.com/lousycanuck ... ion-queue/
I know the dynamics of partisan groups like this. Philip is trying to protect the group (especially the women) from me as he sees it. He will do what he sees as a good thing but it will have the effect of destroying any exchange. Most of the rest throw in their barbs periodically. They are openly hostile to me but at the same time expect me to be completely civil of course. As if the first reaction of a cornered animal attacked by a pack is to be civil….
I took a long time figuring this out because – it’s not that I am anti-social but I just don’t “get†angry like that. I figured people were just having fun insulting me so I was fine with it. I made it easier for them. Fun. I played the same game. People often *said* they found me funny. But in the end I think there was something else very dark going on. I am very reluctant to believe this. I still don’t really except on an intellectual level. To me it just makes no sense to hate someone and get that angry with someone that you literally don’t know anything at all about. Just a black slate. Like getting angry with an inanimate object. Not to say I don’t get angry but mostly at concepts not people.
But it’s just human nature. It’s what happens when a tight nit group has an outsider come along and they are a threat. I think that’s especially true if the group feels under attack anyway. You know when I started this debating feminists there were no MRAs around. Or hardly any. Times change gradually and it’s a good thing generally because god knows men’s rights need a voice. (I am not it)
Apart from Philip the others will have serious questions every now and then. But its probably not worth the extra chaos. But I leave that to you. By chaos I mean it would approximately double the length of the thread.
I really hate that people’s brains can be taken over by this stuff. Like a cancer. Of course it’s all there because it was functional at a certain point in evolution. Now it is dysfunctional and we’re stuck with this shit in our heads. I have it too. But I have the “advantage†of not having any group of like minded people to feel I have to “protectâ€. I still get confrontational in an argument the same way, although I think I am better now than I was.
I hadn’t really thought in terms of “skepticism†as a concept but it matches a lot of what I have thought independently. It’s a good word. Here is what I think: people are not good at seeing things from different directions. They are very good at one direction. But trying to do two is very hard work. There’s an easy solution which is to get two people together with different views. Thesis, antithesis, synthesis. That is how you learn to think better. That is why I go to places to meet people I know I will disagree with because I want to know more stuff and have better thoughts.
David Byron wrote that? Interesting insight, which acts as a reminder to me to not to let my perceptions of people stop me from listening to what they have to say. DB had some odd and patronising views about women as far as I was concerned. In the end I tended to skip over his posts. In fact, I think that he and Pornalysis were the 2 posters most responsible for the Pit's reputation as an MRA hangout. Obviously a bullshit perception as they both left when they detected the chill in the air.
