Why are so many people so willing to remain ignorant and biased?

Question

I was debating a right wing American (though this is NOT confined to the Right Wing or America, so no flaming) and he was basing his arguments on the most discredited 'evidence' ever as well as the broadest, most-cliched generalisations.


And I've seen this in many places around the world.
And I have to wonder, do people ENJOY being wrong and KNOWING they are wrong and are being exposed as ignorant and un-educated and, frankly, idiots..
Why do you continue to argue a position you know is flawed, even after the evidence to the contrary is presented to you?

Answer 1

It's a dilemma that often face thinking people (Philosophers, intellectuals, free-thinkers, etc...)
The fact is most people don't like to really think things through. It makes them uncomfortable. They feel about issues a certain way more than they think through them. And once they feel a certain way, any argument will be good, as long as that argument goes in the direction they feel the solution lies.
Don't get discouraged. You should be happy to be one of the few who are gifted with reason, open-mindedness, temperance and judgment. But that's your cross to bear; most people belong to the flock.

Answer 2

this finished crap shoot of residing day after day residing might want to disintegrate in a heartbeat if each and every of the truths were widely used. Ignorant bliss is shared by technique of each and every person. If that isn't any longer the worlds authentic faith, i do not recognize what's. i recognize everybody is demise of starvation. I packed a lunch with chips and not using a second concept. i recognize human beings haven't any drugs for infectious ailments, I slapped on trojan horse repellent merely to stroll outdoors. homes all throughout the middle east haven't any electrical energy, I became up the imperative air.

Answer 3

People hate.. hate to admit they are wrong.. and yes.. ignorance is rampant in America.. People are no dumber or smarter than in the past.. merely (eek.. hate to use that term) ignorant.

Have you read Morris Berman, The "Twilight of American Culture.".?? It hurts to see just how dire our straights really are.. but I agree with Berman.. especially after reading Carl Sagan's "The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark"

We truly are circling the drain.. only a question of how long until we fall into 2nd & 3rd World status..

Answer 4

Maybe that position is less flawed than your position. All things and ideas and plans have flaws, it's just deciding which one has less.

On a different note, people remain ignorant because knowledge is scary. When you have knowledge, you understand how huge the problems of this world are and that is very scary to some people.

Answer 5

I believe it boils down to not wanting to be wrong. Being wrong implies a flaw which might force them to have to admit their logic was not well thought out. That in turn makes them feel inferior in some way. What they don't seem to get is that an unwillingness to see every side of an issue just makes them appear ignorant, stubborn, unintelligent and immature. And that in turn makes the world perceive them just as they wish not to be seen.

Answer 6

going to school and being educated does not gurantee one percent that you will be open and informed.

the school paper editor of the university once publiched an article stating that humans were polluting the world and destroying it. the only way to solve this problem was for us to practice euthanasia. i simply wrote her 'you first'.

thus, being 'educated' means absolutely jack squat. when i was working part time in a restaurant while getting my first degree...a philosphy phd guy would come in every 10 weeks or so and loiter drinking tea and coffee all day and all night long...reading. he would then get a job, work the min 10 weeks to get unemployment, get fired and collect unemployment until the next round. great contribution to society for such an 'educated' man isnt he.

in fact, i find that it is the free thinkers and philosophers are the one that seem to contribute the least to society. sorry if that is a hurtful 'opinion' but you are all free thinkers and allow opinions, right!?! hehehe.

to this day, i havent met any philosphy major, metaphysicist etc come up with any realistic solution to the incredible societal problems AND put them into action. they talk the talk but dont know how to walk the walk.

all i can say for myself is that i contribute not only my thoughts but my money, time and ENERGY to helping the world out...little by little. i dont sit under a tree and 'think' what can be done to solve world problems. look in your backyard first, it is screwed up enough and needs your attention before any 'world' problem. leave that to the real people in power, politicians, governments etc. a little peon like you will make zilch when it comes to world difference. as i like to say "dreamers never do and do'ers never say, they just do'. and i love challenging people to prove me wrong! it does a few things...one, it gets them off their huge behinds and actually do something to prove me wrong and hopefully in trying to prove me wrong...they actually do something rather than sitting around 'thinking'...sorry, 'free-thinking' about it. btw, i havent been proven wrong yet. you could be the first! but i doubt it.

Answer 7

It is a case of "taking the path of least resistance", the reason why there are so few leaders and so many sheep (oh, I mean followers!). It is always easier to allow someone else to think for you than it is to consider concepts, ideas, philosophies, policies, and religions for yourself, to come to your own conclusions. Throughout history, too, it has been dangerous to arrive at conclusions which were at odds with accepted dogma (heretical, in fact, punishable by death or worse!). But, we are living in a different time and place; it is sad that more people are not taking advantage of the opportunity we are allowed here and now to think for ourselves!

Answer 8

I think it's just plain lazy. They usually grow up in a house with uneducated parentss and feel that they made it, so why work so hard. Not realizing that they will work much harder over time to live well.
Education is the only answer. Many people who have won the lottery have lost it all and now are in trouble.

Answer 9

How do you know that right winged Americans are wrong?
You are making an assumption. Perhaps you depend too much on Politically Correctness? Perhaps you buy in to everything the media tells you.

The best educated person is one who knows that not all is what it appears to be.

Answer 10

You have to tell the people what they want to hear despite how twisted, because if you don't you lose ratings. Its the sad way our media today works.