Serial Switching for Rewards. Not good.

scgf wrote: »

For all your hyperbole on here you are putting yourself forward as Mr Perfect - he who can destroy the arguments of others, therefore must be right.

I don't know why you are launching yet another personal attack on me, when I have only contributed constructively to this discussion by sharing my own opinions and beliefs. I welcome constructive criticism of my opinions and beliefs - if I didn't I'd have no business posting them on a discussion forum. I do not welcome, and will not tolerate attacks on my character.

I don't see that living by the standard of questioning ones own beliefs and striving not to be intolerant of things that do no harm makes me "Mr Perfect". I'd say that's a pretty basic level of decency. However, I don't blame others for holding beliefs and opinions contrary to this standard. Even the woman in the article I linked above is just the product of her conditioning. Calling her a bigot or punishing her for committing a hate crime is unlikely to solve that problem. What would solve that problem is reason and discourse - of the sort I've been promoting here.

Since you mistook my bringing her up as 'hyperbole', I'll explain that I only did so as an example of someone who solemnly believes something we can all agree she ought not. I was in no way equating her behaviour to yours in this thread - it is clearly an extreme example of holding a belief that is irrational, and her belief is not only very harmful, but also illegal to act upon.

I admit I have weaknesses but I try to be good. I admit I can't argue a case for my feelings but I would never castigate another person who is trying to do the right thing.

Well you have castigated me in this thread, merely for trying to do the right thing in convincing you to approach this matter with an open mind and challenge your beliefs.

I'm not sure how a person can change their beliefs in the light of new information. What we each believe is right and wrong is not something up for negotiation. A belief is often irrational.

I absolutely disagree with the first two sentences, in part because of the third. If you cannot grow and change through your life, shedding prejudices and striving to be a better person than you used to be, then what's the point of it all? Unfortunately, I've known people who are like this, and ultimately had to cut them out of my life because of the impact they were having on me.

I used to believe in ghosts and all manner of supernatural things. I believed people could be truly evil. I used to blame beggars and homeless people for their situations. I believed killing animals for food was harmless and eating meat was necessary. I used to hold political beliefs that I'd find abhorrent now. I used to believe anyone who didn't share my beliefs was simply wrong.
I've changed all of those beliefs, but I'm far from Mr Perfect.

I can't say I ever truly believed in a religion or god, though. Maybe that's the difference. But even religious indoctrination can be overcome - it just takes more work.

Every person is a package of good and bad traits. My view is that if the good traits please you and the bad traits aren't too numerous and don't offend you then all is well. I actually find how people voted in the EU referendum has been most helpful in this respect. It has sorted the sheep from the goats. IMO anyone who supports Brexit could not be someone with whom I would wish to associate because the package of traits needed to support our withdrawal from the EU would be most offensive to me.

I feel exactly the same about someone unwilling to challenge their own belief system.

(and in case you were wondering, I voted remain, and still wish to remain, but accept the democratic process and whatever result it eventually delivers)