- Joined
- Jul 12, 2018
- Messages
- 15,563
- Reaction score
- 7,971
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Moderate
I got this idea from an article in the December, 2018, (print) edition of the Reader's Digest, pages 118 - 121. The article is entitled "Unfreeze Your Brain."
*****
The author writes: "[A]s difficult as it can sometimes be, talking to people who disagree with you is good for your brain. So if you hate conspiracy theories and run into someone who believes that we faked the moon landing, don't walk away. Have tea with him or her. It can broaden your thinking in countless ways (my emphasis)."
1. I assume that the author means that although you will NOT necessarily change your mind about the moon landings, the interaction with the conspiracy theorist will "thaw frozen thinking in general, even in contexts unrelated to the original discussion (the author's words)."
a. For example, the author points out that -- contrary to what many of us assume -- when we are ill, it may be better sometimes to consult novice medical doctors, who are more "open-minded" than doctors with many years' experience, who tend "to form opinions quickly, based on experience."
*****
You will remember that President Obama invited a university professor and a police officer (who had been involved in an unpleasant encounter) to come to the White House to have a chat so that each could better understand the other's feelings.
If President Trump and Mr. Jim Acosta had lunch together and discussed their feelings, perhaps one or both of them could "unfreeze" some of their thoughts, at least to some degree.
*****
The author writes: "[A]s difficult as it can sometimes be, talking to people who disagree with you is good for your brain. So if you hate conspiracy theories and run into someone who believes that we faked the moon landing, don't walk away. Have tea with him or her. It can broaden your thinking in countless ways (my emphasis)."
1. I assume that the author means that although you will NOT necessarily change your mind about the moon landings, the interaction with the conspiracy theorist will "thaw frozen thinking in general, even in contexts unrelated to the original discussion (the author's words)."
a. For example, the author points out that -- contrary to what many of us assume -- when we are ill, it may be better sometimes to consult novice medical doctors, who are more "open-minded" than doctors with many years' experience, who tend "to form opinions quickly, based on experience."
*****
You will remember that President Obama invited a university professor and a police officer (who had been involved in an unpleasant encounter) to come to the White House to have a chat so that each could better understand the other's feelings.
If President Trump and Mr. Jim Acosta had lunch together and discussed their feelings, perhaps one or both of them could "unfreeze" some of their thoughts, at least to some degree.