"Nobody who has invested much time down
a blind alley likes the messenger who shines
a light at the brick wall up ahead".
If so, explain when you have encountered this type of resilience in ones obstinacy in accepting the truth?
Was it your credo or someone Else's?
2007-09-27 14:19:12 · 3 answers · asked by Soundproof 6 in Social Science ➔ Sociology
It's all about the fragile ego to those who have one.
You dedicate a large portion of you life and your efforts towards achieving a goal (let's say it's a new cure for cancer or you've been searching for a lost city) and someone comes along (another research scientist or anyone else for that matter) and points out the flaws in your efforts ... well, it's hard to imagine anyone not being a little pissed off ... but instead of being grateful that it's been pointed out that you're heading in the wrong direction ... the easily bruised and fragile ego will despise you ... and more often than not will try to somehow blame you for their misjudgments and wrong turns.
The same goes for those who have spent their life trying to maintain a specific belief system (like they are the 'chosen ones') and the people whom they despise the most are the ones who point out the rather obvious flaws in their belief system.
(I'll be the first to admit that I've got a big ego. But I'll also be the first to admit that it never stops me from learning from those who have a different perspective or better solution and I thank God, or whomever, that I've got friends who keep my ego in check.)
2007-09-27 17:23:29 · answer #1 · answered by Doc Watson 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes it's true, sometimes not. But sometimes the one who is trying to show the way is the one off base. However, this idea is the point of Plato's allegory of the Cave.
2007-09-27 21:31:20 · answer #2 · answered by mfg 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
anytime I speak with my sister in law. She is a fundamentalist KJV who never graduated from high school so you can imagine her idea of "science" and mine (I am 15 credits and a dissertation from a PhD in psychology and statistics with loads of doctor and science major friends.)
As for your quote I like it and may borrow it as my new email tag line.
2007-09-27 21:38:35 · answer #3 · answered by pbj 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋