Why is it that some people still believe falsehoods and myths when they are proven to be false?

Question

I've seen many times on this forum that people continue to claim things on here that are clearly inaccurate, false, or disproven. They stick to the position they have even in the face of overwhelming evidence, or reason. Why is it that people won't change their minds when smacked in the face with a 2x4 of the truth?

"Following a liberal line, if you tell a lie to enough people, and repeat it often enough that others will parrot it to each other."

This was stated by the propaganda minister for the Nazi Party. Nazis weren't liberals - they were fascists - nowhere near the same thing. Perry B: your statement pretty much proves what I'm saying here.

Answer 1

It is an unfortunate fact of life, that when someone really WANTS to deny something - no matter HOW thoroughly well-proven it may be - the human mind has an unlimited capacity for self-deception.
People are raised - and/or otherwise conditioned - into certain belief-patterns. It mostly depends on HOW solidly that conditioning has taken effect.

As someone who has read and studied a lot about the different fields of "psychic research", I have encountered a lot of this. I have seen ALL SORTS of strange variations on the "belief vs proof" conundrum - ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous!

My personal favorites are the cases where the "rational explanation" is MORE bizarre and IRrational than the phenomenon it is being applied to.
For example, the skeptic who said. "It wasn't 'mental telepathy', he just read the other guy's mind." (Just WHAT does he think "mental telepathy" IS, anyway?!?)

In NO field of 'psychic research' does this insane, but entertaining, tendency run more rampant, though, than in the field of UFO investigations.
There really WAS a guy (back in the 60s or 70s) who decided that UFOs were really huge clouds of flying, glowing ANTS. Never mind that ants rarely fly and almost NEVER glow! While other scientists were wasting their grant monies on frivolous projects like curing cancer or ending world hunger, this guy was doing something REALLY important - trying to figure out how to make ants glow. Hard work and dedication almost ALWAYS pay off, and so they did for him - he FINALLY got some ants to glow by glueing them to ping-pong balls and electrically charging them.
Call me one of your stubborn non-believers, but somehow, I STILL have trouble accepting the idea that this occurs spontaneously in nature - ping-pong balls and all!

Then there are those who DO accept unorthodox truths, but bend and reshape them to fit into their already-established belief systems. I once worked for a boss who was one of the high-ranking officials in the "Black Muslim" church, and a personal friend of Muhamed Ali, no less. Usually whenever the conversation turned to anything out of the ordinary, he would staunchly deny its existance, but there was ONE unorthodox belief he DID accept, UFOs. But then, he had no choice - he HAD to - because he SAW one once. However, it was NOT a crew of curious aliens out for a ride, it wasn't EVEN a cloud of flying, glowing ants. No, indeed, according to him, it was Allah's mother ship, manned by the Moslem equivalent of "Angels", out searching for the faithful to carry back to Heaven.

I am in the process of writing a manuscript in which I have a chapter I call "The DorM Syndrome". 'DorM' stands for "Deny or Mystify" and refers to the two ways that people seem to see and react to "the unknown". The "Deniers" refuse to accept ANY evidence, even PROOF when it is available, and the "Mystifiers" embrace any wild idea that strikes their fancy WITHOUT any evidence.
The best way to describe them is to say that the "Denier" REFUSES to see the ghosts in a house that IS haunted, while the "Mystifier INSISTS on seeing them in a house that ISN'T.

Nobody seems to want to consider the possibility - even PROBABILITY - that today's "unknown mysteries" are nothing more or less than tomorrow's established science. Could you imagine trying to tell a doctor back in the dark ages that the plague he was fighting is caused by tiny, invisible creatures floating around in the air? You'd have been taken out and burned at the stake - or worse! Yet, today, we know all about germs and viruses.

If we replaced the term "supernatural" with "futurenatural" we might all learn a lot more about the universe we live in..

Answer 2

Following a liberal line, if you tell a lie to enough people, and repeat it often enough that others will parrot it to each other. The truth will be ignored by the fact that everyone already knows it as truth so you are foolish, or a lier. Don't let the facts get in the way of what I perceive as reality. And any one who disagrees with me is an ignorant redneck, or an establishment capitalist.

Answer 3

because they are not psychologally able to handle change. It challenges their belief system too deeply. They may need time to assimilate the evidence. Most people's focus in on their own ego, not facts or the larger world. Only when people are ok with themselves can they let themselves accept new and different views.

Nothing give me more respect for a person than when they say "I used to think this way, but seeing this new evidence, I've started to change my mind" Statements like that indicate a level of maturity and intellect that can be trusted.

Answer 4

It is normal to deny things that are not congruent with our own belief systems. It is adaptive, as if our core beliefs are shattered this threatens a persons entire identity and can cause major psychological trauma. People always interpret things in a manor that corresponds to their own beliefs. This is usually not a problem as it could be as mild as a person arguing burnt steak tastes better. No harm no foul, just a matter of taste. It is extremely difficult to change a persons belief system, especially if this is not their will, so live and let live so long as they are not causing anyone else harm in their beliefs.

Answer 5

Proof is a funny word. it's thrown around all over the place. What is accepted as proof to one person is far from proof to another.
To me, a thing is proven only if it could not possibly be any other way.

Answer 6

People are human. The compulsion to "believe" is strong. :( All you can do is keep telling the truth and know that a percentage of those who hear it will listen. :)

Good luck!

Answer 7

A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.

Plus if they are political than changing your opinion of something after it is proven wrong is called "fli flopping" which is an incredible stupid concept.

Answer 8

Some people are more gullible than others.

Answer 9

nothing , if they believe such things the responsibility can be thrown on such things and avoid self from doing hard work. and the other reason is fear and the reason for fear is unsufficient breath.they are so lazy that they dont work enough .

Answer 10

People want to belive in god and religion, what can you do?