Have you ever been adversely affected by ideologues, people who adhere slavishly to contrary ideas?

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 11:38:54 -0500

I have a very limited amount of time to spend in discussions on the Internet and now devote most of it on RallyPoint. Most service men and women aren't shy about sharing their thoughts and have the backbone to participate in contentious debate without losing their cool. There are exceptions. I never before had a label for them, but this article by the son of the actor, Richard Dreyfus, has exposed me to an interesting suggestion. What do you think?

https://medium.com/@harrydreyfuss/stop-taking-pride-in-your-ignorance-52bff18b5d6e#.mthjgt5cm

It’s Stupid That My Actor Dad Is The One Who Has To Teach Us Not To Be Dumb

My father, actor Richard Dreyfuss, is taking heat for attending a Ted Cruz rally. I shouldn’t have to write this, but he…

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Feb 5 at 2016 11:41 AM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 11:41:51 -0500

Yes I have found this in my life. I try to make sure I don't do the same thing to the people that work for me.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2016 11:46 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 11:46:00 -0500

Because they believe if you give "air time" to anyone you disagree, you are supporting them. That is what it is. They don't want people to mix, they want us to categorized and separated nicely, so they can feed us what needed for us to follow their lead.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Feb 5 at 2016 11:57 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 11:57:10 -0500

Yes CPT Jack Durish I have been adversely affected by ideologues as well as people who adhere slavishly to contrary ideas. Sometimes it turned out to be for my own good when I was a child my parents fulfilled that role.
I fought the gospel of my Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ for about 30 years which I considered to be presented by people who were adhering "slavishly to contrary ideas." In that case I learned the error of my ways the hard way by resisting what turned out to be true.
I have learned to respect each person I come into contact with whether I agree with them or not. I was terminated, in part, from my last position because I was trying to get a government agency to change their business model from efficiency to effectiveness focused to meet customer needs versus. In 2011 I realized that DoD would be drawing down and this would impact bases and what they were ordering. I anted to position a supply organization to adopt rapid fielding initiatives to become more effective. That didn't work out well for me.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Feb 5 at 2016 1:53 PM

SSG Gerhard S. — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 13:53:47 -0500

For what it's worth, I agree with the article. That's why I watch both the Republican, and Democrat debates, because I'm curious (though largely in disagreement with both) about their perspectives. As far as being adversely affected, no. Having a firm set of consistent principles, I don't let the (usually) undisciplined, inconsistent, and hap-hazard ideas of some, become bothersome to me..... though I do often enjoy arguing against such ideas. (by "arguing" I mean, to engage in a lively exchange of ideas.)

Response by SPC David S. made Feb 5 at 2016 2:15 PM

SPC David S. — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 14:15:15 -0500

If anything it is wise to understand an apposing view. Without such insight its impossible to find common ground from witch to engage. If you look at the last couple of years the the dogmatic thinking that has emerged within politics in its wake it has created a stagnation and polarization within America. No longer are we interested in engaging from common ground - its all I'm right your wrong rhetoric. There is a dig difference between dogma and critical thinking. Yes I have been hurt by such people but try not to let it influence my own behavior. I try to frame people by their character thus while being a Christian I'm able to have friends that are atheists, Jewish and other. While I'm sure there's a point where our divergence will come to an impasse we are still able to respect each other and our diversity. I think that's a big ingredient missing these days - respect.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2016 2:31 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 14:31:48 -0500

Brilliant article, thanks for sharing CPT Jack Durish!

Response by SSgt Christopher Brose made Feb 5 at 2016 3:22 PM

SSgt Christopher Brose — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 15:22:25 -0500

My opinion of Richard and Harry Dreyfuss has been elevated. Regardless of what they actually believe, I respect their process of discovery. And I share Harry's disdain for the Dumb.

I really think that many Americans have lost their capacity for critical thinking. They have been taught that their feelings are important, and many now feel instead of think, and they can't tell the difference. They communicate with tweets and memes, and have a hard time dealing with information and concepts that are deeper than what can fit on a bumper sticker. And if someone disagrees with them, it must be because the other person is crazy or evil, and they are incapable of assessing the other person's arguments and reasoning because they don't know how to even assess their own.

One of my life mottos is "What you believe is only as good as why you believe it." I am an opinionated person, but I try to have solid reasons for believing the things I do. I distinguish between things I know and things I believe, and I try to identify the facts and assumptions upon which my beliefs are based. Occasionally I will come across people who believe something different, who have good reasons for believing the things they believe. At such times, I have to be ready to challenge myself, and honestly assess both my own reasons and the reasons others have for their beliefs. Usually, I conclude my reasons are better, but not always.

The thing I find is that often, people have firmly held beliefs that are based on assumptions that they have never challenged. Until they are ready to consider those assumptions, they'll never be ready to engage in a serious dialogue about the beliefs based on those assumptions, and ultimately any discussions will be he-said-she-said sorts of things, or shouting matches.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Feb 5 at 2016 5:16 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 17:16:32 -0500

CPT Jack Durish While i have no interest in what most actors or their family members usually have to say--This article expresses an opinion that i do agree with. Thank you for posting.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Feb 5 at 2016 7:05 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 19:05:31 -0500

Given the fact that some members here on RP have blocked me from responding to their comments I have noticed that they are not service men and women but individuals that served at one time or another and their comments are era based.

Response by MAJ Bill Darling made Feb 6 at 2016 3:08 AM

MAJ Bill Darling — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 03:08:31 -0500

As someone else said, it speaks poorly of the loudest people in our society who seem to fail to think critically. I suppose that it's a sign of our times, when we can go to whatever cable news, web site, or chat exclusively over social media and hear only those voices with which we agree and write off the rest as fundamentally flawed, rather than simply having a different opinion (or, as in this case, basic curiosity).

There's a strong tendency for some people at the extreme political wings to say "If you think X than you are not an A in my book" even if the person also supports/agrees with U, V, W, Y, and Z which would make him a very "A" person. Case in point, I listen to a podcast of a radio guy, Dave Glover, in the St Louis area, who headlines a current events and comedy four-hour afternoon drive show. He just happens to have had a middle aged conversion to conservatism which had nothing to do with him being on an FM conservative talk station and everything to do with him growing older and reevaluating his positions on things. He's very open minded, fair to all his listeners, and, perhaps because he was a lawyer in a previous life, he looks at things with a very critical eye, including his own opinions. He is astounded daily by how many angry callers/emailers write him off as a left-wing nut job (or occasionally a far right fascist) because of one moderate position which seemingly disqualifies him from being a conservative, despite his many other views. This ignorance is only compounded by the fact that the caller typically misheard or misquoted Dave and got the whole thing wrong anyway.

Having strong opinions and being able to articulate them is a strength that is to be respected, no matter what one's views are. Having a knee jerk reaction, being unwilling to listen to others, or reverting to childish name calling in place of civil disagreement is a telling and ironic weakness with little equal.