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, February 02, 2009

More Internet porn, less rape?

Looks possible, but then I’ve been saying for years that it is a no-brainer that people who commit sex crimes use porn, but there’s no linkage between porn use and rape. How many rapists are there? How many people masturbate to porn? Compare the numbers. No contest. If porn induced rape, the world would be like the nightmare sequences from Event Horizon as conceived by Ron Jeremy.

Man, if looking at girly mags was a prescription for rape, every guy in my high school would have been in prison.

However, there’s a caveat I’d like to remind you of… Self-control, balance, and a good head on your shoulders are as important with sex as with anything else. Going based on maturity, I’d say a lot of adults aren’t ready for sex, never mind kids. Yet, we give the high speed Internet access to them, and the poison cherry on the sundae, a webcam.

DON’T.

Put their computer in the family room. DO NOT LET THEM HAVE A WEB CAM. If you want one for sending silly faces to grandma, keep it on the PC in your bedroom and keep it under lock and key or your bedroom or both.

If you’ve ever felt enticed by the idea of showing off for an appreciative stranger, EVER, consider what happens when an immature inexperienced teen gets that idea at a time when they are at their exhibitionistic extrovert peak so to speak.

BAD IDEA.

Parents, take control. Teach your kids well. Encourage responsibility. Instill empathy. Relate back to the golden rule constantly. Make them tend to think before they act.

It will make your time a lot easier and less messy, generally.