From: Michael M. Butler (butler@comp-lib.org)
Date: Fri Dec 24 1999 - 11:53:13 MST
I suspect the generalization is that humans tend to be intolerant of
mutants in the herd, whatever the herd is _to them_. When they have a clear
sense that something is the "common sense" in the strict sense (:)), a
substantial fraction of the population are liable to reach for the torches
and feel righteous when that is (when they are) "violated". I'd guess the
"My self is my beliefs" and "beliefs are delicate and precious" metaphors
are at deep play. And that works as part of a memetic immune system,
gyroscope or flywheel.
Not exactly news. It's often been posited that seeing difference as a
threat has survival value in evolutionary contexts. Contexts of
"sufficient" insufficiency increase the likelihood that some people will
act aggressively rather than mutter a prayer or curse, cross themselves and
cross the street.
I've always agreed with Chomsky that when you step outside the frame of an
entrenched (or long-spun) "debate", people in the main act like you crawled
out from under a rock on Mars. If you're "lucky", they just look at you
funny, then dismiss you and tune you out.
Offend them sufficiently and you will be made to pay... if they have the
unchecked power to make you pay.
Same as it ever was. People get wired that way by cultural default. A few
don't, or at least they escape part way; and a few get the odd idea to
metaprogram themselves.
At 12:38 1999/12/24 -0800, you wrote:
>Now this does not mean that these belief systems are inherently
>intolerant -- though I do not know how one would otherwise judge them on
>this dimension.:) Nor should it concluded that the Bahai faith will do
>likewise -- though almost every religion winds up doing the same thing.
>(I.e., I don't expect the pattern to change. Deists mixed Christianity with
>a more scientific worldview. How many are left today?)
>
>Salutations!
>
>Daniel Ust
> See my updates at:
>http://mars.superlink.net/neptune/
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