A Convenient Fiction
The Convenient Fiction is a fascinating tool for coping with everyday life. From The Emperor's New Clothes to telling your wife that her new pants do NOT make her ass look fat (even when there are bulges here and there).
We all tend to pick the lies we're willing to tell, hear, and/or ignore.
Many of these CF's are innocent with few real repercussions, but somewhere along the line they can take on an almost religious aspect.
Consider 'gun control'; if we could remove every firearm from the planet in one fell swoop crime would dwindle to nothing. Creating half-assed laws do nothing of the kind.
Immigration is good for the country, illegal immigration must be as well.
Terrorism is a simple law enforcement issue.
The list of dangerous Convenient Fictions seems to be growing daily. I could list dozens, if not hundreds, but the point is that some folks seem lose track of the reality that they are fictions! Indeed, these fictions are stated with a conviction I equate with religious fervor.
By the way... a fiction is a lie, it's not a matter of faith like true religious beliefs. Look around some and see Convenient Fictions for what they are. If you see one that is dangerous remember the kid who pointed out that the Emperor was naked. Sometimes the truth wins.
We all tend to pick the lies we're willing to tell, hear, and/or ignore.
Many of these CF's are innocent with few real repercussions, but somewhere along the line they can take on an almost religious aspect.
Consider 'gun control'; if we could remove every firearm from the planet in one fell swoop crime would dwindle to nothing. Creating half-assed laws do nothing of the kind.
Immigration is good for the country, illegal immigration must be as well.
Terrorism is a simple law enforcement issue.
The list of dangerous Convenient Fictions seems to be growing daily. I could list dozens, if not hundreds, but the point is that some folks seem lose track of the reality that they are fictions! Indeed, these fictions are stated with a conviction I equate with religious fervor.
By the way... a fiction is a lie, it's not a matter of faith like true religious beliefs. Look around some and see Convenient Fictions for what they are. If you see one that is dangerous remember the kid who pointed out that the Emperor was naked. Sometimes the truth wins.
posted by Zero Ponsdorf at 2:19 PM
2 Comments:
Amazing how much these resemble Received Wisdom.
Heh, do ya think so?
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