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Posted on 01/25/2006 8:39:04 AM PST by knowseverything
A recent study by Emory University, found that when debating political hot topics and listening to debates from opposing candidates, both Democrats AND Republicans have knee jerk, emotional reactions to issues and ignore facts to reach whatever conclusions they had previously held. Well, they got it half right.
The report on the study itself was vague, undetailed, and led a reader to believe it was probably unscientific and irrelevant. Find it here.......
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11009379
After all, if a report on a study performed does not list the numbers of people in the control group, the specific stimulus applied, and the percentage that reacted in a certain manner, what good is it? In this manner of experimentation, the University could be doing exactly what it claims to be exposing. Under the veil of scientific truth, they could be reaching a predetermined conclusion of their own choosing.
The whole thing is very ironic since the ENTIRE problem with liberals today is the fact that they think emotionally over logically, and this study subtly attempts to throw conservatives under the same bus that already drives over liberals on a regular basis.
The modern left has become so backward because of the very traits this study lays onto all of us. Emotional reactions combined with the lack of a moral compass, have lead liberals down a path advocating irresponsibility, and unlimited moral relativism. At the risk of being accused of making up baseless slander against lefties, let me give an example using the controversy over the new movie Brokeback Mountain. Seldom has there been clearer piece of subject matter to illustrate this flaw in liberal ideology.
To set the stage, please use your imagination and temporarily step with me for a moment into the world of amorality. For this experiment, let's pretend that we have no roots in any kind of values system. You are a being that operates on pure emotion and “knee jerk” reactions to any and all situations. An essential hedonist. But a nice hedonist, you certainly wouldn't murder people on purpose (unless of course it was legal, and benefited you in some small way).
You are now the type of person who will walk away from Brokeback Mountain with the reaction that the media has been telling us we will all have..... It was a beautiful love story, and all you need is love to break down any and all barriers. There is no absolute truth, only what makes you feel good about yourself. True love is defined first and foremost by loving oneself. This gives in to personal free reign when it comes to choices made in the course of your life. All actions from this point can be justified as “being true to oneself”, or as wise man Dave Chappell once said, “Keepin' it real”.
This of course leads to logical dilemmas such as, if it is ok to do anything and everything to make yourself feel better, are there any lines at all? Since there is no moral law guiding you, you are bound only by the legal law of the land. Fortunately, for your current situation, it is not illegal to be a gay cowboy, sodomize your buddy, and destroy your family.....so far so good. And forget the contradiction of the fact that the legal laws that bind you, came from the very moral laws you don't believe exist. That would require linear thought, which you are incapable of.
OK, now come back to reality. Sorry for the scary journey, but it was necessary. It is safe to say that someone that walks away from Brokeback Gay Cowboy and sees a love story will be easily seduced by any production containing pretty people and a tear-jerking soundtrack. For them, subject matter is not an issue, theirs is a purely emotional response. Give me a couple of attractive artists, and a top notch composer, and I will have a public containing this sort of demographic falling in love with Jack the Ripper in less than 45 minutes.
On the contrary, those who see the movie as an attack on marriage, family values, and morality in general will be labeled as discriminating bigots by those on the “beautiful love story” side of the mountain. These people will be labeled homophobic, and intolerant folks who are erroneously relying on 6,000 years of documented human history and moral law handed down from God, when they should be basing their lives on “emotional logic” and the fashion trends of the day. So you decide who is more prone to knee jerk emotional reactions, Democrats or Republicans.
While this was only one example, any other moral issue of the day can be used in the same argument. And while there are surely morons on both sides who simply believe what they are told by whomever they look up too, when an unscientific, idiotic report comes out trying to paint conservatives into the same illogical corner as liberals, I cannot be silent.
-knowseverything
P.S.-Another funny take on Brokeback Mountain........
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1517962/posts
One needs only read Free Republic to see that MANY conservatives also reinforce their political beliefs based on emotion, not logic.
Reinforcing with emotion and basing the belief in the first place on emotion, are two entirely different animals.
There is nothing wrong with being passionate about something you believe to be right.
Thanks for reading,
-knowseverything
I'd like to answer but I can't read.
I thought it said, "Are you a mormon"
Never mind.
[mattdono leans over to speak with counsel]. Yes.
Brokeback Mountain love means never having to say you're sorry.....
Yes. Yes, I am a moron.
Anyone who doubts this only needs to see Sweeny Todd.
I clicked on this thread didn't I.
I am colorcountry, and I am a moron.
Dude, don't say that with a handle like that!
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