Gurwinder, over at The Prism (sidebar) had an essay about everyone being some sort of NPC (because it is efficient to take thinking shortcuts), about two years ago. He identifies five types of NPC
1. The Conformist. I say - yes, I have said things like this about other people before. I also say ouch.
2. The Contrarian. I also say yes, he is echoing some of my themes about such thinking. I also say ouch.
3. The Disciple. Less often, but reliably, I have expressed this as well. Not as well. And Ouch.
4. The Tribalist. I complained about this group for the whole first decade of this blog. BTW, ouchies.
5. The Averager. A much better version of things I haven't said quite often enough. OUCH, dammit.
He offers an interesting solution to these thinking shortcuts. Ouch to that, too.
1 comment:
I think of an NPC not so much as someone with lazy beliefs as someone who can't be made to look at new information by any reasonable means. I'm more patient with people who don't have time to research possible alternatives viewpoints about issues that aren't central to them than I am with people who can maintain a belief only by vehemently refusing to see or hear information that might be inconvenient, particularly if they're a little vague about the obligation to exert their wills in favor of choosing right over wrong in action.
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