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March 23, 2007
How to Be a Zealot in 3 Easy Steps
Hi kids!
Would you like to give up your ability to think rationally and join the oh-so-cool hordes of people who will hoot, holler, scream, and even kill, for their beliefs?
You would?
Well, you've come to the right place. You can do it in three easy steps.
It's fun!
Step 1. Find a Zealot
Any zealot will do.
Hey, here's one ...
| "You dare question the President's policies? What are you? A LIBERAL??." |
Step 2. Ask Them an Innocent Question
Almost any question will do - no matter how honest your intentions.
For example ...
| "Hey, what if we tried to fight terrorism by fighting the environmental conditions that contribute to it like poverty and injustice?" |
Step 3. Let Them Sneak Into Your Brain Through One of Many Loopholes
Like this one ...
| "You've got to be kidding me! It just frustrates me that someone as intelligent as you has fallen for this kind of liberal propaganda." |
If you're not paying attention, the presupposed ideas of that statement will sneak right into your head:
Presupposition 1: Suggesting such things is not indicative of intelligence.
Presupposition 2: If you suggest such things you are falling for propaganda.
See, to process that statement, you have to accept the presuppositions as true - if even for a moment.
They have a nice way of sneaking into our minds and confusing us - and even changing our minds if they are executed properly.
Even those skilled in the subtleties of persuasive language can easily miss this - especially when you're simultaneously trying to process the yelling and arm-flailing of the angry zealot.
(Learn many more such loopholes - and some handy ways to deal with them - in my new book ...)