tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12177919.post3275144217003574392..comments2023-06-26T09:12:58.400-04:00Comments on Citing the Text: Marketing, Microsoft, and ... BuddhismAndrew P Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12347166168770079300noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12177919.post-26936148347353048942008-08-11T10:53:00.000-04:002008-08-11T10:53:00.000-04:00I think summoning up an incredulous mindset requir...I think summoning up an incredulous mindset requires more energy than we're willing to exert every time we hear new information. For instance, I don't care a ton about Vista; I don't care a ton about doing research about it. If you've done it, then I don't have to, and I will believe you. If you start disparaging the new David Sedaris, then I might rouse up some skepticism - it's a subject I care about. People may think I'm credulous because I'm naive or world-unweary, but in truth I'm simply lazy. Do you feel this is different than having a finite supply of skepticism?<BR/><BR/>Let's get back to your original question! What would you want on your desert island? I could go with a record player, ice cream, and someone desiring psycho-social support.<BR/><BR/>Andy thanks for a great post!Blairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15655140183668477297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12177919.post-9264964167489469752008-08-07T02:28:00.000-04:002008-08-07T02:28:00.000-04:00The tricky thing is that your skepticism is a scar...The tricky thing is that your skepticism is a scarce resource. So you end up having to be skeptical about where to expend your skepticism budget, which only further taxes your skepticism budget (which is especially bad when you're skeptical about a tax write-off a buddy told you about). Wicked problems, indeed.<BR/><BR/>Also (more seriously), I think one major impediment to exercising skepticism in a social context is how your friend will respond when you question their position. It's often easier to agree with someone, and then investigate the issue further on your own time, than to question them about the validity of their position (I prefer friends who are generally open to such questions, but everyone has their dogmas). Except, maybe you are busier than you expect, and two of your friends a few days later offer the same opinion, and you agree this time, because you have a cloudy recollection of hearing it somewhere else and examining it. So the next day you put forth that opinion to yet another friend, and on and on it goes. Whence, I suppose, the childhood injunctions against rumor-mongering (and whence their inefficacy!)HPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09120124708439425495noreply@blogger.com