Comments on: Avoiding False Dichotomies

By: Pascal

Pascal — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:38:18 +0000

I really like that post. Make me think about that famous quote by G.W. Bush “Are you with us or against us”. This kind of false dichotomies force people to take extreme position even if they don’t agree, it tears apart the world and people in a useless way….

I’m sure most of you face false dichotomies like that in everyday life. The more there is differences, the more it is reccuring.

I remember one day I was in a relation with a person who has strong religious beleives and she was often forcing false dichotomies like “If you like to take beer; then you must be evil and an alcoholist”. No matters the context and without any rational, you’re painted either black or white. Of course, that relation never survived more than couple of weeks…

The world isn’t black neither white….

By: Peter Shallard

Peter Shallard — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:45:42 +0000

It seems, despite “the truth” being uncomfortable, that personal flying isn’t going to solve the climate problem.

It’s our intelligence, ability to communicate (and occasionally do it face to face… even across vast distances) that will get us out of this climate pickle. If anything does.

By: Jenna/The Word Cellar

Jenna/The Word Cellar — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:28:00 +0000

Sometimes I wonder if *all* dichotomies are false. Or is that oversimplifying the matter? I’ll have to give that one some more thought.

By: emily-sarah

emily-sarah — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:08:46 +0000

True. It’s baffling how people so closely align themselves with a label (political parties are a huge example, as you mentioned). How can any person fit neatly and completely in any one box? Why would you want to? In doing so, don’t you become far beyond “conformed” to nothing more than a little robot that’s flipped the brain’s off switch? Humans are by nature complex, contradictory creatures. Issues are complex too. And as you and others have indicated, balance is key (and so is thinking!).

By: Benny the Irish polyglot

Benny the Irish polyglot — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:43:35 +0000

Thanks a lot for this post Chris!! I travel a lot and get posed the “your killing the world” argument too. As a fellow vegetarian I can say that we are naturally more environmentally friendly already on that front, but as you say, it’s pointless to argue with people as if the world is black and white.
I’ll be referring to this post next time I get forced into that corner again! Thanks

By: George

George — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:26:33 +0000

I found the post provocative in a different way than was intended: it caused me to examine some of my own hypocrisies. For example, while I choose to live in a small, urban high-rise condo because I believe large, single family dwellings are wasteful and environmentally unsustainable, my kitchen is filled with appliances I purchased primarily for their aesthetic value rather than their energy efficiency. I could have chosen ugly, electricity sipping appliances that would work almost as well as my “designer” branded gear; Chris could choose to travel only on airlines with new aircraft sporting the most fuel efficient engines and still hop continents with ease. We humans are shockingly adept at justifying our non-enlightened behavior, even when the “tougher” choices would have a negligible impact on our lives.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:16:45 +0000

Choices are relative. You make the best you can from options available. Is there a greener form of rapid international travel? Is so, you would probably take it. Or do your critics suggest that the responsible approach is to stay home?

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:47:27 +0000

I agree that people cannot be put into boxes according to their opinion on one topic. As far as climate change or ’saving the planet’ goes – what arrogance. All species have their time and then become extinct. It may be extinction time for humans in the next few centuries. Whatever we do or avoid, we cannot change that. The one thing that is certain is that ‘the planet’ will still be here after all humans have disappeared, just as it existed for billions of years before there were humans. The best we can do in our lifetime is to love each other and be good to the bit of the world we live in.

By: Jason of Kim & Jason

Jason of Kim & Jason — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:44:25 +0000

Chris, I find that the more I travel, the more dichotomies I come across — at least when it comes to “traditional” thinking. As hard as we try, people don’t fit into little nice boxes, especially the ones the media portrays. You’re right in that the majority of people are a mix of “liberal” and “conservative” beliefs, which I think makes humanity much more interesting.

I think that what many people fail to realize is that most people want the best for their family/community/country…but they sometimes disagree about the best way to go about it. Instead of acknowledging the common mission, I guess it’s easier to pick out the differences.

I am one who considers “climate change” to be largely political propaganda (particularly the man made aspects of it)–HOWEVER–I strongly believe in keeping the environment clean and choosing sustainable options over non-sustainable ones whenever possible. It just seems like common sense to me, but perhaps I’m just a living, breathing dichotomy:)

By: Nicolai

Nicolai — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:10:56 +0000

People sometimes criticize to make themselves feel better. Often they’re just trying to convince themselves they’re not guilty of what they’re accusing (when they are) to avoid shame.