Certainty leads to conflicts - that is for sure
Are you absolutely certain?:
When another person asserts something that sounds like it is enacted by law, it is called 'stubbornness' and 'slanted certainty'. Very few people enjoy encountering bias. In fact, I would argue (with some alacrity) that one can react to skewed confidence, stubbornness and alacrity in 3 ways:
You can go with it (accept it and agree with it).
You can go against it (- with an equally steep claim).
You can escape from it (to avoid more steeps).
An unmistakable statement
Sometimes the bias can be comical. Then it's okay to laugh at it, for example: 'I saw an episode of Doc Martin the other day. Clint Eastwood starred in a minor role. You might not spot him, but you can rely on me.'
or
In reality, we drive the wrong way into a roundabout. We should turn left if we were to do it correctly.
None of these examples are seriously dangerous or catastrophic. They are just verbal assertions that are unwaveringly certain and also a little annoying - depending on the strength with which they are served.
More dangerous slope safety
Things get a little worse when a clever 'cousin' from the car's passenger seat claims that we have to turn left and then right to get towards Berlin. A few minutes later we are on a dead end road with our backs towards our destination. Confident men who claim to know the way can be quite annoying and time consuming.
And then there is also the far more serious oblique safety. The one about invading another country and destroying everything in your path. Most of the outside world has gone against this skewed security with sanctions, weapons, money and aid. We all spend an incredible amount of time on this one man's stubbornness. We flee the cities. Our families are torn apart. We are freezing and have to do without food.
Some suggest negotiation and conversation. Others are making plans to stop buying oil and gas from him. The trade closes or ends on a low flare. We are in the process of going against his bias with equally steep and unwavering biases.
Does anyone know the result of meeting slanted certainty with slanted certainty?
Oh yes. We are on our way up the conflict ladder at full speed:
From the steepness to the discrepancy.
Disagreement about whose fault it is.
The problem that grows.
The conversation that is abandoned.
Enemy images.
Open hostility.
No contact.
Polarization.
Oh yes. Oblique confidence can lead to awkward situations and relationships.
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