Why Diversity of Opinion is a Good Thing(tm)
When people find themselves in groups of like-minded types, they are especially likely to move to extremes... The most important reason for group polarisation, which is key to extremism in all its forms, involves the exchange of new information. Group polarisation often occurs because people are telling one another what they know, and what they know is skewed in a predictable direction. When they listen to each other, they move.Suppose that you are in a group of people whose members tend to think that Israel is the real aggressor in the Middle East conflict, that eating beef is unhealthy, or that same-sex unions are a good idea. In such a group, you will hear many arguments to that effect. Because of the initial distribution of views, you will hear relatively fewer opposing views. It is highly likely that you will have heard some, but not all, of the arguments that emerge from the discussion.
After you have heard all of what is said, you will probably shift further in the direction of thinking that Israel is the real aggressor, opposing eating beef, and favouring civil unions. And even if you do not shift--even if you are impervious to what others think--most group members will probably be affected.
- To become an extremist, hang around with people you agree with, The Spectator (UK)
The above quoted article presents an excerpt from Cass Sunstein's new book Going to Extremes: How Like Minds Unite, Divide
Best to stick to Krishna's
Best to stick to Krishna's opinion.
Thanks for sharing your
Thanks for sharing your opinion prabhu.
Yeah, no problem; LOL. "It
Yeah, no problem; LOL.
"It will not depend on opinion. Opinion... What is the value of opinion if the people are all asses? There is no opinion. One should take as it is enjoined in the sastra. No opinion. What is the use of taking opinion of an ass? So the people are trained up just like dogs and asses, then what is the use of their opinion? If you are to enforce, you must do like this. Just like when we introduced this "No illicit sex." I never cared for their opinion. The opinion... immediately there will be discussion. And what is the use of taking their opinion? It must be done. That is the defect of Western civilization. Vox populi, taking opinion of the public. But what is the value of this public? Drunkards, smokers, meat-eaters, woman-hunters. What is the... they are not first-class men. So what is the use of such third-class, fourth-class men's opinion? We do not advocate such opinion. What Krsna said, that is standard, that's all. Krsna is the Supreme, and His version is final."
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation with Director of Research of the Dept. of Social Welfare -- May 21, 1975, Melbourne
Hare Krishna.
Hey, by the way, we need some of your "every town and village" magic out here. One devotee on the temple board told me today we shouldn't have harinam in the local towns because the devotee kids in schools sometimes get picked on. Since hardly anyone wants to do it, it seems like he's not the only one thinking that way; I dunno. I don't have time to drive 50 miles (80 km) away to the city whenever we want to chant somewhere. So it's pretty dead here. Srila Prabhupada came all this way to spread the Hare Krishna movement and fulfill Lord Caitanya's prophesy, and now it's gonna fail thanks to some schoolyard bully. Who would've thought it?