[ale] [OT] why political posts on ALE blow up into garbage

[briarpatch.jim at gmail.com (Jim Philips)]

  On 07/14/2010 10:18 AM, Jim Kinney wrote:
> http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128490874
>
> "A new body of research out of the University of Michigan suggests 
> that's not what happens, that we base our opinions on beliefs and when 
> presented with contradictory facts, we adhere to our original belief 
> even more strongly. "

The best politicians, sales people and evangelists--religious, technical 
and otherwise--have always known that you don't convince people with the 
facts. You have to give them a *feeling* and a few simple phrases that 
will stick in their brains. This is why I make a point of never 
listening much to politicians, sales people and evangelists. They aren't 
really interested in the facts or what I need. Their whole enterprise is 
based on moving you away from the facts and your needs. Stand back from 
these people and decide for yourself. And did I forget to mention talk 
show hosts and pundits?