facts + logic + emotion vs. pure emotion

[mpg]

We're all guilty of believing our own BS sometimes, but how many people do it routinely? Do people usually let facts and logic influence their opinions when it comes to emotionally charged topics like politics, or do they simply believe what they wanna believe? Some people are willing to think rationally and some people aren't. IMHO, very few people are willing to think rationally about politics. This isn't an attack on any particular political persuasion and I don't want this thread to be about which party drinks more koolaid.

What % of people look at politics rationally?

 

[ecofarm]

I think it depends largely on age. After a few goes on the merry-go-round of "no, you're the idiot!", people tend to mature.

 

[grip]

We're all guilty of believing our own BS sometimes, but how many people do it routinely? Do people usually let facts and logic influence their opinions when it comes to emotionally charged topics like politics, or do they simply believe what they wanna believe? Some people are willing to think rationally and some people aren't. IMHO, very few people are willing to think rationally about politics. This isn't an attack on any particular political persuasion and I don't want this thread to be about which party drinks more koolaid.

What % of people look at politics rationally?

That is to some point a subjective view. It's impossible within the human brain to separate personal bias from slanting the facts.

But I do believe some people have more rational and reasonable solutions based on more realistic and fair opinions. Though you'll never find two people who absolutely agree on everything.

One of my most disappointing observations is selecting a candidate whom I can agree with as closely as possible to my own views, because they're becoming so polarized or extreme.

 

[MaggieD]

We're all guilty of believing our own BS sometimes, but how many people do it routinely? Do people usually let facts and logic influence their opinions when it comes to emotionally charged topics like politics, or do they simply believe what they wanna believe? Some people are willing to think rationally and some people aren't. IMHO, very few people are willing to think rationally about politics. This isn't an attack on any particular political persuasion and I don't want this thread to be about which party drinks more koolaid.

What % of people look at politics rationally?

I WAG'd 10%. Most people don't even look at politics. Most people are completely clueless and cast uneducated votes. Most people vote on the smoke-and-mirror issues our candidates throw at us.

Maybe 10%'s too high.

 

[gunner]

We're all guilty of believing our own BS sometimes, but how many people do it routinely? Do people usually let facts and logic influence their opinions when it comes to emotionally charged topics like politics, or do they simply believe what they wanna believe? Some people are willing to think rationally and some people aren't. IMHO, very few people are willing to think rationally about politics. This isn't an attack on any particular political persuasion and I don't want this thread to be about which party drinks more koolaid.

What % of people look at politics rationally?

I would suggest without some formal grounding (at the very least), much of politics is dealt with 'emotion' first and foremost.

Paul

 

[Paschendale]

Emotions are part of logic and reason. We do things that might seem illogical, but do so for emotionally satisfying reasons. Pursuit of satisfaction is certainly logical and reasonable. Any good view of reason must include emotion as a valid motivator for our reasoned actions.

As to the OP, everyone at times hears only what they want to hear. But there are certainly many (again, probably everyone at times) who let their emotional positions override facts and make them reach the wrong conclusion. So, probably the answer is 0.

 

[mpg]

Emotions are part of logic and reason. We do things that might seem illogical, but do so for emotionally satisfying reasons. Pursuit of satisfaction is certainly logical and reasonable. Any good view of reason must include emotion as a valid motivator for our reasoned actions.

As to the OP, everyone at times hears only what they want to hear. But there are certainly many (again, probably everyone at times) who let their emotional positions override facts and make them reach the wrong conclusion. So, probably the answer is 0.

As I said in the OP, we all believe our own BS sometimes, but some people do it routinely. I don't agree that 100% of us do it routinely.

 

[Cephus]

I WAG'd 10%. Most people don't even look at politics. Most people are completely clueless and cast uneducated votes. Most people vote on the smoke-and-mirror issues our candidates throw at us.

Maybe 10%'s too high.

That's why I went with 5%, I don't think most people are rational about much of anything.