ChewChewTrain |
02-24-2017 03:21 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveMak
(Post 193402)
ChewChewTrain: To address a number of your statements...
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re Evil Ancel -- Keys was well-intentioned. His motives were pure, in that he really believed he was right, and that he was using his influence to help Mankind. He truly, deeply believed that, with unwavering conviction, and without malicious intent. That's what motivated him to "clean up" (AKA "fudge" and "cherry pick") data that supported his beliefs, and to dismiss the data that didn't as being "obviously wrong or tainted."
There are many examples of similarly well-intentioned people who believe, with absolute conviction, that they are factually correct. Examples include: - The belief that Blacks and Hispanics are predisposed to criminal behavior.
- The belief that abortion is murder, and should never be allowed.
- The belief that the world is 6,000 years old, and was spoken into existence by a deity.
- The belief that science is always right, and the universe came into existence with The Big Bang. For those who are scratching their heads at this statement: Most folks don't know that the term "Big Bang" was coined by a scientist who opposed the theory and used the phrase as a pejorative, to ridicule the theory. The Big Bang theory was never universally adopted in the scientific community, though is it one of the more popular ones. Equally plausible theories include: Multiverse theory, Membrane Theory, and Quantum Theory, which shows (mathematically) that it's possible the universe spontaneously came into existence (though in a much more primitive state), much like quantum particles do, simply manifesting out of nothing rather than transforming between energy and matter and requiring a singularity like The Big Bang does.
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re Citations and Quotes -- A mountain of research supports what I'm about to say: Humans rarely change their mind based on the available facts. If this were not so, then humans would almost always be right, and there would be very little disagreement about "what is" and its nature. Each human has a unique thought system (beliefs, opinions, assumptions, expectations, and understandings). This thought system determines what one can perceive -- it filters out that which is too alien. It places its own meaning on what it does perceive (i.e., it interprets it, and determines what "it means"). We see this when people holding opposing views point to the same data to support their beliefs. A thought system readily discards information that does not support its internal works, and readily embraces information that it interprets does support itself (AKA "Confirmation bias" and similar phenomenon). This is well known, and well documented.
That's why I typically walk away from arguments. The arguer is not seeking information. They're not challenging their assumptions and beliefs. They're not seeking contrary truths. They're asserting why they're right, and even more so, they do so because it's important for them to be seen as correct, and for others to embrace their beliefs. In other words, humans argue to influence and to get their way; not to learn. Again, this is well known, well documented, well understood.
I mention this because in the past, I used to busy myself providing proof to others, trying to "help others see the errors of their ways", etc. Some of the valuable lessons I have learned in life: - I've been wrong before. A lot. My "wisdom" today is in knowing this, and in embracing the understanding that I am not The Holder of Truth. So I will not assert "I am right". I'll only share what I believe, and let you decide what's right (for you).
- People with beliefs that overlap mine will instantly "see" that I'm "telling the truth." The fact is that they're just hearing something similar to what they already believe, coming from someone else's mouth.
- Some people are already seeking. What I tell them often does not come as a shock. They'll conduct their own research, as much as they see fit, and they'll arrive at their own conclusions.
- There are those with beliefs that are so contrary, that no matter what "proof" I present, they'll know it's "wrong", and that it merits no investment on their part to dig into the matter and see if there's anything there for them. People and organizations I mention will be dismissed as crackpots or with sinister motives. Data I present will be dismissed as wrong. Web links and articles I present will be dismissed as biased, being driven by an evil agenda, or "fake news." The truth is that the observer's thought system is a very effective "gatekeeper" and does an outstanding job at pushing away contrary beliefs.
- The Truth is not hidden. The Truth is not "beyond our reach", beyond our technology allowing us to perceive it. It's there. We just don't believe it. Many decades before Copernicus turned his telescope skyward and declared that the Earth is not the center of the universe, ancient Greeks hypothesized that Earth travels around the sun, and that the sun in merely an up-close star. The ancient "BC" world demonstrated mathematically that the Earth was round, centuries before this belief was widely adopted. Around 1905, Albert Einstein proposed that E=MC^2, many decades before we had the machines to prove his theories were sound. The LHC, or Large Hadron Collider, just recently proved that we can take massive amounts of electrical energy and create matter, particles of stuff, from that. The Truth -- or more accurately stated, Truths -- exist... it's just that we humans are so reluctant to embrace them because we have our own "truths", to which we cling tenaciously... until we don't anymore:-)
As a result, I'll offer up what I believe and walk away, knowing that most won't care, some will declare it utter B.S., some will "recognize" it as "The Truth," and some, those very special few who are on the cusp, will be inspired enough to look deeper of their own accord, and will have their "Ah-ha Moment," not because of me, but because they were already on their journey and I just played a small part in their travels.
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I REJECT that Ancel Keys was "well intentioned". A "well intentioned", TRUE scientist does NOT inject his personal bias with research findings. Ancel Keys is one of the worse human beings to have walked the earth for all the costs and misery that he caused.
Many that had met and worked with Ancel Keys agree that Keys was egotistical (defending his fraud science) and bullied others that did NOT agree.
Keys got onto the Heart Association Board of Directors, I recall, and THAT became his bully platform. Any researcher that disagreed was an outcast and did not get any research grants to prove Keys wrong.
Ancel Key's actions are totally indefensible.
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