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| if the majority could have its way |
People are scared of ideas and I
mean have serious contempt for them, of course when you bring up something
complex like politics, religion, marriage they will join the conversation and
act like being really interested in the discussion which if you really notice
is just an impulse to give out an opinion, and god help you if you take it on
its face value and make the mistake of thinking that the person wants to
discuss the issue and state a counter point. In your defence it's true you can
never be sure about who is genuinely interested in discussing an idea as you
are but if this position the best bet is to just nod, agree and move the topic
sports and movies!
It's for good reason that many "talking to people" books advice never getting into an argument or broaching up hard topics in a conversation (follow it). But like I said, most of us really interested in ideas bring them up believing in the fallacy that "this is obvious, everyone gets it" (they don't). Also this says something about the majority of the population from the fact that anything complex which requires hard thinking has to be shunned from the social sphere.
Hating books
When you hate ideas, books are an natural enemy, of course if your reading list sticks to the currently best-selling crap then everyone's at peace with you. You violate that principle and see how people just wait for you to burn. Recently someone gave me her pearls of wisdom of "never reading philosophy and psychology..it'll change you and you will judge people". Interesting, here's someone terrified of ideas because they "hurt you and your brain can't handle". I expect someone to jump up with "HA! see you are judging people in this post itself"..well sad to break it to you everybody is judging everyone all the time, there's just no escaping that.
So if you are into reading philosophy and have strong views about the role of religion or relationships/marriage or how the government should function in human society or even so much as criticize their tastes in movies a bit too harsh then you are going to be very disappointed. People will nod and give opinions (mostly subjective feelings) which is just their solipsistic thinking of "I know stuff too". Here's how Robert Greene puts it:
It's for good reason that many "talking to people" books advice never getting into an argument or broaching up hard topics in a conversation (follow it). But like I said, most of us really interested in ideas bring them up believing in the fallacy that "this is obvious, everyone gets it" (they don't). Also this says something about the majority of the population from the fact that anything complex which requires hard thinking has to be shunned from the social sphere.
Hating books
When you hate ideas, books are an natural enemy, of course if your reading list sticks to the currently best-selling crap then everyone's at peace with you. You violate that principle and see how people just wait for you to burn. Recently someone gave me her pearls of wisdom of "never reading philosophy and psychology..it'll change you and you will judge people". Interesting, here's someone terrified of ideas because they "hurt you and your brain can't handle". I expect someone to jump up with "HA! see you are judging people in this post itself"..well sad to break it to you everybody is judging everyone all the time, there's just no escaping that.
So if you are into reading philosophy and have strong views about the role of religion or relationships/marriage or how the government should function in human society or even so much as criticize their tastes in movies a bit too harsh then you are going to be very disappointed. People will nod and give opinions (mostly subjective feelings) which is just their solipsistic thinking of "I know stuff too". Here's how Robert Greene puts it:
Law 38:
Think as you like but Behave like others
If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness.
Don't be so sure of the "tolerant friends" either. As already mentioned everyone is prone to solipsism i.e. to take things in a personal, subjective stride and evaluate them on how it makes them feel. If only this solipsism is kept in check by a constantly conscious effort to strive for objectivity, is any discussion possible. You will have to be a judge to figure out who is ready to put in that effort of striving for objectivity around you.
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