“Our brains have
evolved to crave information consistent with what we already believe. We seek
out and focus on facts and arguments that support our beliefs. More worrisome,
when we are trapped in confirmation bias, we may not consciously perceive facts
that challenge us, that are inconsistent with what we have already concluded.
“In a complicated, changing and integrated world, our confirmation bias makes
us very difficult people. We simply can’t change our minds.”
—James Comey, former FBI director and author, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, 2018. (Thanks to alert WORDster Alan Kania)
• Editorial Comment: As Luther Burbank observed, “It is well for people who think to change their minds occasionally in order to keep them clean.”
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(Disclaimer: I just quote ’em, I don’t necessarily endorse ’em. Don’t shoot the messenger.) Ted Pease, Professor of Interesting Stuff, Trinidad, California. (Be)Friend The WORD
“I
don’t think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If
you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a
little.” —Tom Stoppard
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