Maxims, rules of thumb and other observations on human cognition and sociocultural affectations

This will be added to on an irregular basis...
  • What is said to humans directly is received with skepticism and considered with dubiousness while that which is heard in passing, especially that which most conforms to their mentality or prejudices, is readily believed.
  • Humans have a certain cognitive latency between exposure to new information or experiences and the ability to think dispassionately and intellectually about it.
  • Humans have a certain cognitive spectrum starting with the moment of exposure to new information or experiences and ending with some point at which the thing is effectively "in the past" for them.
  • This cognitive spectrum is linked to the emotional process often referred to as shock, anger, denial and acceptance.
  • The more and faster information or experiences are presented to people and the closer the quarters and the lesser the distance between people, the more their early reactions in the passionate emotional stage are reflected back to them in the manner of responses to those reactions from others in light of those responses.
  • The more outrages which are suffered without sufficient time to allow emotional bleed-off, the farther the bar for subsequent reaction and outrage are pushed, and the more further events must progress before reaction and outrage.
  • It is possible for serious detriments to eventually sit below this threshold for long enough for their damaging effects to build and multiply until their entire society undergoes some reactive convulsion.
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Monday, January 05, 2009

And now a JPost-centric round-up...

The Warped Mirror: "We are Hamas". Speak for yourself. I am a meat popsicle.

Alan Dershowitz says on Double Standard Watch: Israel's actions are lawful and commendable and makes some of the most sense he's made in decades.

International law is not a suicide pact but then neither is society. But then again in a limited environment shared by disparate entities, it is. ARRRRGGHHHH! The seeming paradoxes of social existence burn me!!!

In this article, Hamas gunman captured by IDF troops taken to Beersheba hospital, we see what Israel does to their captured wounded enemies. What would Hamas do to an Israeli? Hint, watch the movie Hostel.

Continuing to display either delusion or derangement or both, Zahar promises victory over Israel. Yeah, good luck with that. Let me know when Elvis returns.

And of course according to an Egyptian film star: Hamas is to blame. You don't say...

Gaza civilians tell 'Post' their city has 'gone backward 50 years' but has gone backwards over 1300 years culturally.