Have you ever tried to convince someone of something which they were skeptical about, but had little knowledge about? It's hard. They're suspicious of everything they learn about it, because they're obviously aware that all the people who know about it claim the thing they're skeptical about. They're looking for the trick, where it all goes wrong, and if they don't see it, they often just decide that they missed it, rather than that everything is on the level.
There are probably things you have the same attitudes about: astrology, alchemy, global warming, macroeconomics, or whatever. You don't bother to study these things enough to refute them, but you might notice that the people who've invested years in such study all seem convinced (at least, most of the vocal ones, James Randi aside :]). Note that I'm not saying that those things are all equally valid or invalid. Just to be clear.
I know people who will refuse to agree with perfectly reasonable, obvious assertions because they're afraid that a series of such will "trick" them into changing their mind where we disagree.
randallsquared|16 years ago
There are probably things you have the same attitudes about: astrology, alchemy, global warming, macroeconomics, or whatever. You don't bother to study these things enough to refute them, but you might notice that the people who've invested years in such study all seem convinced (at least, most of the vocal ones, James Randi aside :]). Note that I'm not saying that those things are all equally valid or invalid. Just to be clear.
I know people who will refuse to agree with perfectly reasonable, obvious assertions because they're afraid that a series of such will "trick" them into changing their mind where we disagree.
sneakums|16 years ago
alex_c|16 years ago
It's cover-ups all the way down.
asciilifeform|16 years ago