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This is an interesting article, and I think there could be a point made that wasn't expressed. I propose that someone who embodies these methods may be much mor

This is an interesting article, and I think there could be a point made that wasn't expressed. I propose that someone who embodies these methods may be much more likely to have others judge them to have intellectual integrity. That was an awkward sentence. I further propose that this acknowledgement is an important aspect of having even highly polarized people have a worthwhile conversation.

mystikal 11y ago
In my experience, because they only see in black and white, polarized people see anybody that isn't polarized as belonging to the other pole. It gets boring after a while.
- toolz 11y ago
  Hmm, I think that makes that person polarizing if they are viewed in such a light. Being depolarizing would by definition mean that person is able to have polarized people see them in a non-polarizing light, would it not?
  - mystikal 11y ago
    Oh yeah, I was conflating depolarizing with not polarized. Good point. Yes, by definition, if you are depolarizing, none of the polarized people will see you as polarized, at least in time. On the other hand, I still believe there are lots of people that cannot listen to anything that isn't what they believe (pick any hot button topic) - like it's really impossible to depolarize them.
- markc 11y ago
  So true. Half of my facebook friends think I'm a flaming liberal. The other half think I'm a flaming conservative. This is because I dare to challenge their silly meme posters that lie about and defame the "opposition". They don't seem to notice that I challenge the BS on both sides. They only know that correcting falsehoods that align with their pet belief is proof you're in the enemy camp. Likewise, they think it's impossible to concede any point made by the enemy, no matter how obviously true, without being entirely aligned with them.
  - mystikal 11y ago
    It's a pain in the ass, for sure. On the other hand, it's a good filter for finding people you want to be close to and finding people you want to avoid at all costs, that is unless you want to be punished with tedious drama. At least for me, many of my family members fall into the latter category... which is tricky to negotiate...

mystikal 11y ago

In my experience, because they only see in black and white, polarized people see anybody that isn't polarized as belonging to the other pole. It gets boring after a while.

toolz 11y ago
Hmm, I think that makes that person polarizing if they are viewed in such a light. Being depolarizing would by definition mean that person is able to have polarized people see them in a non-polarizing light, would it not?
- mystikal 11y ago
  Oh yeah, I was conflating depolarizing with not polarized. Good point. Yes, by definition, if you are depolarizing, none of the polarized people will see you as polarized, at least in time. On the other hand, I still believe there are lots of people that cannot listen to anything that isn't what they believe (pick any hot button topic) - like it's really impossible to depolarize them.
markc 11y ago
So true. Half of my facebook friends think I'm a flaming liberal. The other half think I'm a flaming conservative. This is because I dare to challenge their silly meme posters that lie about and defame the "opposition". They don't seem to notice that I challenge the BS on both sides. They only know that correcting falsehoods that align with their pet belief is proof you're in the enemy camp. Likewise, they think it's impossible to concede any point made by the enemy, no matter how obviously true, without being entirely aligned with them.
- mystikal 11y ago
  It's a pain in the ass, for sure. On the other hand, it's a good filter for finding people you want to be close to and finding people you want to avoid at all costs, that is unless you want to be punished with tedious drama. At least for me, many of my family members fall into the latter category... which is tricky to negotiate...