Belief and group-think (was Re: Hit the Road, Jacques)

From: Brett Paatsch (paatschb@ocean.com.au)
Date: Fri Mar 21 2003 - 18:12:10 MST

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    Gary Miller writes:

    > Amara Graps said:
    > >> I confess I don't understand these actions.
    >
    > I believe it is a tongue in cheek humourous statement designed to
    > remind people constantly of just how badly the French stabbed us
    > in the back!
    >

    What sort of mental processing is involved in 'believing' I wonder.

    > The average American doesn't buy very many French products that
    > they're aware at least. So by constantly reminding themselves and
    > others of what was done by the French they feed the MEME and
    > get others who do buy French products to think twice about who
    > they're supporting.

    A bit of rethinking, or even just one pass at critical thinking, in the
    present circumstances, might indeed be a healthy thing.
    >
    > It would also be appropriate for prostitutes who currently refer
    > to oral sex as French to relabel that act Freedom. And to perhaps
    > take the act known as Greek and relabel it French in honor of what
    > they did to us. Somehow I don't think Greece will mind.

    Somehow indeed. Greece is a country it does not have one "mind".

    Even when decisions are made in the name of a nation, be that nation
    the United States of America, France or Australia, they are in the
    end made at the judgement (good or bad, after consultation and
    advice or not) of one mind, the mind of the head of state.

    Judgements exist, or can exist, in the individual mind, but some seem
    to prefer not to exercise such judgement. They prefer to believe.

    - Brett



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