tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post6331465038764684193..comments2024-03-20T03:33:22.357-07:00Comments on Skeptophilia: Ham saladGordon Bonnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06003472005971594466noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post-58149470960334296762016-02-23T08:18:58.095-08:002016-02-23T08:18:58.095-08:00Think of it like currency . . . both literally and...Think of it like currency . . . both literally and allegorically. Think of the investment he has on said currency.<br /><br />He has both an emotional and physical investment in what he believes. It's what defines him, gives him purpose, and, coincidentally, provides him with a livelihood. <br /><br />Say he does "see the light", so to speak . . . he literally loses his identity and income. <br /><br />Not saying is callously propagating the illusion, but people rationalize things all the time. He needn't admit fears of obscurity and having to get a real job for him to forge forward. <br /><br />After all, you struggled with facing evidence with regards to Tarot cards, but your investment in them was small at the time. Imagine you have been doing Tarot readings your whole life and now you have doubts . . . it might not be as easy to divest yourself of the belief. You might even call on "evidence" they work (remembering hits and forgetting misses).<br /><br />I mean, what would Ham do if he were to convert to reason? Start preaching evolution? Preach rationality? Very small audience for that, and they expect, reasonably so, to not pay for the privilege of hearing what they already know. Again, not saying he doesn't believe or that he's lying. It's just easier lying to yourself when you have strong motives for doing so. ejdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15190602228388892520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post-32180770787440750142016-02-22T18:56:27.377-08:002016-02-22T18:56:27.377-08:00I'm not sure it's as simple as people beli...I'm not sure it's as simple as people believing that they sound crazy. More like they think others are crazy for not wanting to believe in the same things. In the end you reach an impasse. But I'll say this, they certainly have more imagination than we do.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020516704344292208noreply@blogger.com