A step-by-step guide to becoming polarised:

One side of an issue appeals to us.

We seek out facts to support this side.

We get most of our information from advocates of this side.

We feel superior for being on this side.

We like the people on our side better.

We trust the people on our side more.

We believe advocates for our side without analyzing them critically.

We distrust advocates for the other side.

We feel the people on the other side have undesirable traits that led them to their wrong opinions.

We jump on the slightest flaw in arguments made by the other side's proponents.

We find negative stereotypes about the other side very believable.

When our opponents make negative references to us, it is further evidence of their bad character.

Sources of information that treat us and our opponents almost equally must be biased, or they would recognize our superiority and the inferiority of our opponents.

Rather than enduring such unreliable sources or listening to our opponents' arguments directly, we learn of their misguided views and motives from our own trustworthy leaders.

When an opponent is found to have done something unethical, it is reprehensible, but typical of what we expect from the people we oppose.

When one of us is found to do something unethical it is not very important and possibly excusable if it aids our noble purposes.

We are good.

They are bad.

The superiority of our view is so obvious that our opponents could not possibly be sincere. They are deliberately promoting evil, self-serving policies.

They are our enemies, out to destroy us and our way of life!

People like them should be ridiculed, stripped of power, silenced, punished, and perhaps even destroyed!



http://www.truthpizza.org/polarize.htm

From the same link:

Leaders use polarization to manipulate us


It is easy as individuals to become polarized about issues, but the situation is aggravated by leaders who deliberately play on our emotions to strengthen their own influence. When political campaigns turn negative it is pretty typical to accuse opponents of improper behavior or having outrageous views. Leaders of virtually all political movements work to find the most dramatic and extreme cases of questionable behavior by opponents in order to stir up our anger.

In two recent wars in which the U.S. was involved, our leaders employed the tactic of demonizing the opposing leaders in order to gain public support for the war. When it was decided to bomb Serbia because of the events in Kosovo, President Clinton constantly told of the evil nature of Mr. Milosevic, and in the case of the war against Iraq, President Bush constantly told us of the evil character of Saddam Hussein. Neither of these men was any less evil fifteen years before, but at those times there was no need to rally public opinion against them.

Sometimes polarization is used by leaders to boost their popularity such as when Senator Joseph McCarthy ran his anti-communist crusade in the 1950s and when Lester Maddox was elected governor of Georgia after he gained fame by defying efforts to integrate his restaurant in the 1960s. The United States has few long standing nationalistic antagonisms, but in countries that do, it is commonplace for leaders (like Milosevic) to attack such enemies as a means of increasing their popularity.

It is a common tactic for leaders to create and make use of polarization for their own political ends. If we want to make wise decisions about such leaders and their claims, and avoid being manipulated, we must recognize such tactics and resist becoming polarized. A good policy is to never regard negative claims or inferences about a person or group as at all meaningful unless we get the information from a neutral source and we have given people from the opposing side a fair opportunity to explain their position. Things like negative campaign ads (and probably all campaign ads) should be completely ignored since anyone with the money to produce and air such advertising can invariably find ways to make their opponent look bad. By paying attention to such material we are unlikely to improve our decision making and we allow the advertiser to buy our vote.

As a more general rule, we should always be suspicious of any person or group that tries to get our support by inciting anger towards another person or group.

Yes, I agree, Sam ...you're polarized.

Baron Max

Im polarized from Sam's ionizing polarization techniques.

Sam has achieved maximum polarity.

Sam has achieved maximum polarity.

were all polarized

were all polarized

Not me ....I don't know enough about anything to be polarized! Ignorance is bliss.

Baron Max

Not me ....I don't know enough about anything to be polarized! Ignorance is bliss.

Baron Max

Samcdkey didnt get you than. You have a strong spirit...keep it up.

Not me ....I don't know enough about anything to be polarized! Ignorance is bliss.

Baron Max

Liar.:p

Liar.:p

Sam, that's not very nice. Besides, it's actually a lot more true than you're willing to admit.

I'm one of those people that's lived long enough to see that what might have been true is now proven not to be true! So with that in mind, how could I possibly be sure of anything?
I've lived long enough to see that what was unacceptable behavior is not perfectly acceptable behavior. So with that in mind, how could I possibly be sure of anything?
I've lived long enough to have seen how people who claim to want to help others are actually just greedy mutha-fuckers out to make a buck for themselves. So with that in mind, how could I possibly be sure of anything?

I've lived long enough to ..... Well, I've lived long enough! Old farts should die off at something like 50-55 so as the young can make their own world as they wish it to be. The "founding fathers" of the USA were mere kids when they invented the USA. Now, old farts live too fuckin' long, and ruin any chances that the kids might actually make a difference. By the time a kid is given a chance, he's already been so indoctrinated by the old farts that he can't even think for himself anymore.

No, Sam, I ain't polarized ...I'm damned sick n' tired of the whole fuckin' mess! :D

Baron Max

Sam, that's not very nice. Besides, it's actually a lot more true than you're willing to admit.

I'm one of those people that's lived long enough to see that what might have been true is now proven not to be true! So with that in mind, how could I possibly be sure of anything?
I've lived long enough to see that what was unacceptable behavior is not perfectly acceptable behavior. So with that in mind, how could I possibly be sure of anything?
I've lived long enough to have seen how people who claim to want to help others are actually just greedy mutha-fuckers out to make a buck for themselves. So with that in mind, how could I possibly be sure of anything?

I've lived long enough to ..... Well, I've lived long enough! Old farts should die off at something like 50-55 so as the young can make their own world as they wish it to be. The "founding fathers" of the USA were mere kids when they invented the USA. Now, old farts live too fuckin' long, and ruin any chances that the kids might actually make a difference. By the time a kid is given a chance, he's already been so indoctrinated by the old farts that he can't even think for himself anymore.

No, Sam, I ain't polarized ...I'm damned sick n' tired of the whole fuckin' mess! :D

Baron Max

You do realise you're contradicting yourself all over the damned post, don't you? Nah, 'sokay, I do know the difference between the people and politicians. Even though it is fun getting you all riled up.:D

Even though it is fun getting you all riled up.:D

So ...what's your hope in doing that? ...so I'll learn to hate anything Indian? ...so I'll seek out and find the many horrors of India? ..that when I meet an Indian, I'll take an instant dislike to him because you've "riled me up" so often just for your own amusement?

Ain't you one of those liberal doo-gooder who keep claiming that we should all get along and love each other? And that diplomacy is the great and wonderous tool for avoiding conflict?

Or is "riling someone up" part of the art of diplomacy? Rile them up, then hammer them with innuendo and gazillions of websites to prove your point?

Baron Max

So ...what's your hope in doing that? ...so I'll learn to hate anything Indian? ...so I'll seek out and find the many horrors of India? ..that when I meet an Indian, I'll take an instant dislike to him because you've "riled me up" so often just for your own amusement?

Ain't you one of those liberal doo-gooder who keep claiming that we should all get along and love each other? And that diplomacy is the great and wonderous tool for avoiding conflict?

Or is "riling someone up" part of the art of diplomacy? Rile them up, then hammer them with innuendo and gazillions of websites to prove your point?

Baron Max

Well initially it was for those multiple punctuation marks...:o

Then I got sort of addicted, which is all your fault, since you always rise so marvelously to the occasion.

Anyhoo, how can you hate any Indians? You don't have opinions one way or another, remember?;)

Then I got sort of addicted, which is all your fault, ...

Oh, yeah, I forgot - I'm an American .....anything and everything that's bad is caused by Americans!


Anyhoo, how can you hate any Indians? You don't have opinions one way or another, remember?

Hate is not an opinion, Sam, it's an emotion ...sorta' like love, ya' know?

Baron Max

Oh, yeah, I forgot - I'm an American .....anything and everything that's bad is caused by Americans!

Hallelujah you've been converted!


Hate is not an opinion, Sam, it's an emotion ...sorta' like love, ya' know?

Baron Max

Thats what they say Baron, but those darned opinions keep getting in the way.

My favorite method of polarization:
Putting socks on and rubbing my feet on the carpet.

Thats what they say Baron, but those darned opinions keep getting in the way.

Just curious ....what do you think is the difference between an "emotional reaction" and an "opinion"?

If they're different things, can an "emotional reaction" become an "opinion"? For example, if one experiences an "emotional reaction" to some issue because of something in their lives, can they then research the issue and, by using biased info that follows their initial "emotional reaction", it then becomes their "opinion"?

See? I think "opinions" must, by the very definition, come through being informed and somewhat knowledgeable about some issue. A man who has never heard of an 'xyz' can't possibly have an opinion, but he can have an emotional reaction.

Baron Max

Just curious ....what do you think is the difference between an "emotional reaction" and an "opinion"?

If they're different things, can an "emotional reaction" become an "opinion"? For example, if one experiences an "emotional reaction" to some issue because of something in their lives, can they then research the issue and, by using biased info that follows their initial "emotional reaction", it then becomes their "opinion"?

See? I think "opinions" must, by the very definition, come through being informed and somewhat knowledgeable about some issue. A man who has never heard of an 'xyz' can't possibly have an opinion, but he can have an emotional reaction.

Baron Max

Sure, but how does one "get informed"?


Sources of information that treat us and our opponents almost equally must be biased, or they would recognize our superiority and the inferiority of our opponents.

Rather than enduring such unreliable sources or listening to our opponents' arguments directly, we learn of their misguided views and motives from our own trustworthy leaders.

Sam, you really are a "propagandist", aren't you? You have a website link for everything and anything that could possibly exist on the planet. No one but a dedicated, or paid individual would bother to have at their very fingertips all of the www websites and links that you do ....NO ONE!

How much are you being paid, Sam? And who pays you? A government? Or is it one of those ....ahh, ...."special interest" group? :D

Baron Max

Sam, you really are a "propagandist", aren't you? You have a website link for everything and anything that could possibly exist on the planet. No one but a dedicated, or paid individual would bother to have at their very fingertips all of the www websites and links that you do ....NO ONE!

How much are you being paid, Sam? And who pays you? A government? Or is it one of those ....ahh, ...."special interest" group? :D

Baron Max

I have a secret weapon (http://www.google.co.in/webhp?hl=en).:p

I have a secret weapon - Google.

Nope, Sam, I don't buy that ...you're too quick on the take. You have those links and the info on your computer already ....you can't possibly have the time to search thru all of the Google hits to find just exactly the one that fits. I've become somewhat educated about Google, and it ain't no such snap or speedy process to find what you need.

You're a propagandist, Sam, but I just don't know who you're workin' for?! I do, however, have a few educated guesses. :D

Baron Max

Nope, Sam, I don't buy that ...you're too quick on the take. You have those links and the info on your computer already ....you can't possibly have the time to search thru all of the Google hits to find just exactly the one that fits. I've become somewhat educated about Google, and it ain't no such snap or speedy process to find what you need.

You're a propagandist, Sam, but I just don't know who you're workin' for?! I do, however, have a few educated guesses. :D

Baron Max

The key to using google is to know exactly what you want to look for. And have the kind of memory that retains seemingly insignificant details unique to your required search.

You're a propagandist, Sam, but I just don't know who you're workin' for?! I do, however, have a few educated guesses.

Join us, Baron Max. You know you want to turn to the dark side. I feel the conflict within you. Give in to your desires.

Join us. Together, we do-gooder liberals can rule the world!

Join us. Together, we do-gooder liberals can rule the world!

No, liberals will never/can never rule the world ...because doo-gooder liberals will allow the scumbags of the world to walk all over them ...and still be scumbags who rob, steal, assault, rape and murder ...and y'all will coodle them and "educate" them, then send them right back out to do it to someone else again.

In a perfect world, liberals might, maybe, be able to rule the world. But by adding only a few scumbags, and you know they're out there, liberals lose! One billion liberals against a few scumbags, the scumbags win every time.

Baron Max

I hate liberals.

They are too liberal.

The key to using google is to know exactly what you want to look for. And have the kind of memory that retains seemingly insignificant details unique to your required search.

Yeah, sure, Sam! I wonder ...do you have some kind of mainframe computer with all of the happenings in the world cataloged just for responding to posts at sciforums? Or do you have several employees who's job is reading all the news, etc on the web and doing that filing for you? ..and you just click on the correct button to post another of the millions of links you have stored away for easy reference?

No, Sam, you're too good, too fast, too quick .....it's all there for you, stored, filed, catagorized, by race, religion, ethics, etc. CLICK, POST, DONE!

Who pays you to do this, Sam?

Baron Max

I hate liberals. They are too liberal.

Not me. I like liberals ...in the exact same way that I like utopia. It's a wonderful, fantastic dreamworld .....that simply can't ever happen.

Baron Max

Not me. I like liberals ...in the exact same way that I like utopia. It's a wonderful, fantastic dreamworld .....that simply can't ever happen.

Baron Max

Liberals are happening. They are all over the place.

I love conservatives. In the exact same way I love the status quo. The status quo that doesn't exist. And never has.

Liberals are happening. They are all over the place.

But they ain't actually gettin' much done, are they? Nope, just a lot of talk, but little or no action to achieve their silly goals. Reality just fucks things up for them and their goals .....reality and liberalism are like oil and water.

Baron Max

Nope, just a lot of talk, but little or no action to achieve their silly goals.

you can leave the silly out because all it polarizes your statement.

I would depolarize your statement by changing it into the following;

Most humans are just a lot of talk, but little or no action to achieve their goals.

I would depolarize your statement by changing it into the following;

Most humans are just a lot of talk, but little or no action to achieve their goals.

Hmm, is this the second time in history that we've agreed on anything, Spurious? ...LOL!

Baron Max

Yeah, sure, Sam! I wonder ...do you have some kind of mainframe computer with all of the happenings in the world cataloged just for responding to posts at sciforums? Or do you have several employees who's job is reading all the news, etc on the web and doing that filing for you? ..and you just click on the correct button to post another of the millions of links you have stored away for easy reference?

No, Sam, you're too good, too fast, too quick .....it's all there for you, stored, filed, catagorized, by race, religion, ethics, etc. CLICK, POST, DONE!

Who pays you to do this, Sam?

Baron Max

Yup, its called Google:rolleyes:

Yup, its called Google:rolleyes:

Nope, don't believe you, Sam. Ye're too quick, too fast, to find just exactly the right link to post in response to someone else's post ....much, much too fast!! You have it all collected and catagorized right their in your mainframe computer.

How much do they pay you to do this, Sam?

Baron Max

Nope, don't believe you, Sam. Ye're too quick, too fast, to find just exactly the right link to post in response to someone else's post ....much, much too fast!! You have it all collected and catagorized right their in your mainframe computer.

How much do they pay you to do this, Sam?

Baron Max

Try me.:)

Try me.

That makes no sense in response to anything that I said. "Try me"? In what way, about what? Huh?

Baron Max

That makes no sense in response to anything that I said. "Try me"? In what way, about what? Huh?

Baron Max

My googling skills.;)

My googling skills.;)

Okay ......a paper by a medical doctor on the proper techniques of female circumcision.

Baron Max

Okay ......a paper by a medical doctor on the proper techniques of female circumcision.

Baron Max

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=10349421

Here's one that discusses all the methods (there is no "proper method" of course for mutilation)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16753486&itool=pubmed_AbstractPlus

And if its info you want:

http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGACT770061997

First, those articles are pointedly against female circumcision, which is NOT what I asked for! I asked for the proper medical techniques ....not the horrors of female circumcision.

What's the matter, Sam, you ain't as good as you claim? Or is it 'cause all of your usual links don't work, so you're having to actually do it on your own, without all of your support staff helping?

How much do they pay you to be a propagandist at this site, Sam?

Baron Max

Okay ......a paper by a medical doctor on the proper techniques of female circumcision.

Baron Max

There are none.

First, those articles are pointedly against female circumcision, which is NOT what I asked for! I asked for the proper medical techniques ....not the horrors of female circumcision.

What's the matter, Sam, you ain't as good as you claim? Or is it 'cause all of your usual links don't work, so you're having to actually do it on your own, without all of your support staff helping?

How much do they pay you to be a propagandist at this site, Sam?

Baron Max

Well its mutilation so there are no techniques for it. A medical doctor would only categorise it based on type, which is what his technique would cover, which is what I linked you to.:)

Ask Sam if she has any links about how the Muslim pirates along the Barbary Coast in the 1700's would seize African boys and turn them into eunuchs to be sent back home.

New Congressman Ellison, the guy who was sworn in on "Jefferson's Koran," forgot to tell everybody that Jefferson secured a copy of the Koran to try to figure out what was motivating those Muslim marauders along the North African coast, then he sent about five warships over there to clean-up the mess, "from the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli......"

Ask Sam if she has any links about how the Muslim pirates along the Barbary Coast in the 1700's would seize African boys and turn them into eunuchs to be sent back home.

New Congressman Ellison, the guy who was sworn in on "Jefferson's Koran," forgot to tell everybody that Jefferson secured a copy of the Koran to try to figure out what was motivating those Muslim marauders along the North African coast, then he sent about five warships over there to clean-up the mess, "from the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli......"

Is this a private conversation? Or can anyone join in?
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/19/goode-islam/feed/

Well its mutilation so there are no techniques for it. A medical doctor would only categorise it based on type, which is what his technique would cover, which is what I linked you to.:)

Castoration is also termed "mutilation", yet there are numerous medical papers and articles on the proper techniques for it.

You failed, Sam! And failed miserably, I might add.

What's the matter, your staff ain't up to snuff today? Or your employers don't want you wasting your time with such stuff that ain't anti-American or anti-Israeli? They'd reather you spend time defending Muslims and India?

Okay, India ....find me articles written by westerners on the vast corruption in government of India ....WHICH IS AGREED TO BY SOME INDIANS!

Baron Max

Castoration is also termed "mutilation", yet there are numerous medical papers and articles on the proper techniques for it.

You failed, Sam! And failed miserably, I might add.

What's the matter, your staff ain't up to snuff today? Or your employers don't want you wasting your time with such stuff that ain't anti-American or anti-Israeli? They'd reather you spend time defending Muslims and India?

Okay, India ....find me articles written by westerners on the vast corruption in government of India ....WHICH IS AGREED TO BY SOME INDIANS!

Baron Max

Do your own dirty work you sneaky devious old coot!

I'm not falling for that!:D

Castoration is also termed "mutilation", yet there are numerous medical papers and articles on the proper techniques for it.

medical papers on castoration???

No there aren't any as a matter of fact.

medical papers on castoration???

No there aren't any as a matter of fact.

Yes, there are, Spurious! Castoration is, in fact, a legitimate medical procedure for several various medical problems in the male. I think you know that, but you're just trying to defend Sam for some reason?! :D

Baron Max

castoration is not even a word.

Maybe it's being missed in translation, it's castration, not castoration, I think castoration is that taste you get in your mouth after your mom makes you take castor oil.

Maybe it's being missed in translation, it's castration, not castoration, I think castoration is that taste you get in your mouth after your mom makes you take castor oil.

Spurious knew what he meant, he was just making fun like always.

Baron Max will get over it.

Leaders use polarization to manipulate us

But democracy is based on polarization! Are you perhaps saying the eminently sensible, "Fuck Democracy"?