Why do so many people believe Donald Trump?

A simple to understand lie is often more believable than a complicated truth.

Phelps

Where stupid is actually smart

If someone says something so stupid it leaves us speechless/bemused, aren't we the stupid one,  just with extra range because of the fact we don't understand.

You are wrong! Unless you're not.

There's a picture going around of two people facing each other...  In the middle is either a 6 or a 9 ... Both think they are right...  Then someone added that just because they both think they are right, that doesn't mean one isn't wrong,  and about adjusting perspective to see which it actually is not just want you think it is...  This is my response.

Really cool,  really interesting...  I love how the original picture got me thinking,  liked it and said the end.  Never to dwell again,  then this comes along and make me think again, the original I was sure of, this challenges that notion and makes me want to go down the rabbit hole...

Why we can't figure shit out is we are arguing over different things masquerading as the same thing... 

Straight away any topic is either perception or reality. Some topics, sure, lend itself to reality - the distance from Sydney to Melbourne - I have a ruler, I've measured it, we all have a ruler to measure it which at some point we all agreed is a unit of measurement.
Some things lend themselves to perception - tomato tastes awesome!
How about flipping fact and feeling - I feel like its a longer  trip thanthe ruler tells me because the car radio is broken and the engine is clunky. That's Perception...  Tomato contains natural MSG - that's fact.

The 6, or the 9... Both are right and wrong and the person adding the text is both right and wrong,  because it all depends on the parameters you've set out. If it's opinion based like the taste of food,  both are right...  If it's about it can only be one number,  both are wrong,  if we use the origin of the intended design,  this contributor adding red text is right,  if the actual designer of this pic had a different intention,  then that cancels out the bolted on intention of the contributor...  Then in your opinion I am wrong regardless of how long I take to craft a balanced argument, while others may think I'm right either because they already have this opinion and I've reinforced it or the much less likely; someone has/will change their mind because of the rational behind my point...

What is the point?

Maybe it's less about being right and wrong...  We can all change the parameters to suit the win...  It's about being on the same page where even though you don't agree with something, you have enough knowledge on the subject to be able to successfully debate the opposing side...  "even though that opinion is wrong,  I can see why they came to that mindset in the fireplace".

But what about people who can't do that? Why should we be the one to bridge the gap to the racists,  biggots, stubborn, sexist, shallow, closed minded, evil people?

http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/11/fighting-prejudice-by-admitting-it/
Unfortunately we are all as prejudice as each other - only some people attack 'fixed' things (stuff that can't be changed,  race,  sexuality, history etc)  while others are prejudice against things are are 'perceived' to be fluid (non fixed choices - things that I could change if they 'wanted' to like religion,  character,  behavior, opinion)

Example: Let's say a guy beats up his kids - not acceptable - he should change,  nay,  be punished, Nay put to death,  Nay tortured.  The end.

Wait...  Will any of these scenarios heighten or lower you outrage?

* This man can from wealth and privilege.
* This man is a celebrity who is known for being a nice guy.
* This guy is passionately religious.
* This man is just some guy who saw his family murdered when he was a child,  adopted by a pedophile and was abusived every day there after until 16.

How are you going so far? For each example - do you have a scaling of justice? It's just your opinion,  your perception of justice and fair based on what he could choose and when,  and what he couldn't choose and when....  But even still, it's an explanation,  there's not an excuse right? He could still choose not to beat up his kids.  So because he could choose,  shouldn't he just not in the first place regardless of any of life's situations?

Hold up! MAOA and CDH13. Not Star Wars characters,  they are colloquially called the warrior gene. Genetic predispositions which are either turned on or left dormant forever...  How? Abuse, violence and major dysfunction at childhood. If someone has the gene but has a good upbringing (not fearing for their life essentially) it never activates. It's probably in agreement that a child generally doesn't choose how they are raised and treated yes? So combine nature and nurture and we have an adult to grow up violent with as much choice as someone who has a different skin colour or sexual preference.
So now a sub option:

* This man was abused as a child and does not have the warrior gene.
* This man was abused as a child and does have the warrior gene...

Is all of the points for you have different scalings of justice still? Why? Depending on the angle and 'facts' it determines the outcome right?

Hold up again!
www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2016/07/29/does-the-human-warrior-gene-make-violent-criminals-and-what-should-society-do/amp/
Then you've got facts which are changing...  The warrior gene is now being contested not of its existence but of its trigger...  Even though the majority of the scientific community believe something, does that mean it's true? Or is this one rouge research team in Finland about to make a new fact? I don't know,  maybe you don't either...

I don't know about you,  I'm getting pretty tried thinking about all this,  if you've read this far,  cool,  few will...  Why? It's hard to think this deeply and consider all sides... B it's easier to shout what we 'know' than challenge it day in day out...  This is why most people in the end go for cheap,  quick intuition which is determined by feelings... Can you really blame people for not knowing things when it's so much work to be educated? Maybe. Can you punish someone for being ignorant? I'm sure we are all capable. We all have a story and reasons,  even if we ourselves don't know our reasons... If you truly want someone to change their opinion,  make them feel like they matter as a person,  because there's a good chance you don't really think they matter,  how rude and blind,  how stubborn and closed minded,  how ignorant... You don't respect them so they won't change your opinion to their side will they? So why would it work in reverse?

If you really want to win...  Agree first (even if you don't)  then make suggests of 'improvement' notice I kind of did that at the top?

Whether the picture is a 6, a 9, a g, a map, a drawing,  a new toy... Whatever you call it, it exists.... Unless it doesn't.

Life Balance

Take the good stuff in stride and enjoy it but not get too attached.
Take the bad stuff in stride as well. Develop serenity or peacefulness of mind that allows you to look at what happens in your life with a bit of detachment.