Each of us has views and ideas and we tend to value our own opinions more some times than the truth why?
I in my roll with the NSW RTA had to attend 100,s of traffic accidents and never once found a driver who said it was my fault I did it.
I did find on a hill one day a very slow truck that had been wrecked by a very fast one hitting it from behind.
The fast truck driver was very upset and stated if he the slow truck, was going faster it never would have happened!
I am sure I too sometimes refuse to except others views as much as my own, but maybe we all do.
And in some cases we are quite right to do so, after all no one is always right.
I am amused by the thought one poster see,s me a trade unionist as a bib and brace overall wearing thug marching of to work singing some song that has comrade in it .
Are our views often just not in touch with reality?

well written, belly, we are all here to astound others with our wisdom, or so we imagine.

the good news is, nothing we say here actually matters. that's the bad news, too.

DEMOS I understand what you are saying but is it always true?
We get it of our chest and at least I think I learn from others posts and thoughts.
An early school leaver I learn more by reading such, and as a leader in my role at work I can tell you swapping of views is of worth.
Both ways I learn and just maybe sometimes teach.
It however is worthwhile to observe some are quite wrong yet quite convinced they alone have the answers.
For example my whole view of my industry the trade union movement is that it should be a constantly changing constantly improving thing.
Using fresh ideas fresh ways to service its share holders union members.
My most resent disappointment was
Belly this is not the time for new ways?
Rest my case here we get true freedom to express our thoughts let me tell you you will never get that in any papers letters to the editors pages.
My post was not meant to highlight the view we are wasting our time others thoughts are well worth a read.

Belly, I've searched and not found out who describes you in those colourfull terms. Was that from the recent thread or an older one?

On topic I think all of our understandings of reality are coloured by our world maps. Things that are vitally important to one person can be a non issue to another and that can have a massive impact on our shared perception of reality.

Sometimes it's not so much a denial of reality but different criteria used to evaluate it.

R0bert

RObert you are of course right the idea can be expanded.
Take this mornings news storey. it seems in Basra A city in Iraq a brand new monster has been released by the British army.
No not really but the storey tell us much about false ideas and education both wrong and that education is often putting idiot ideas to some.
An existing Badger weighing about 30 kgs is said to be imported by the British army to eat and kill people!
One man tells of it eating his cow!
Also the storey touches on the idea those troops are storing eggs from a viper and planting a re flooded water way with snakes?
Now that is one form of miss education and information that is both dangerous and reminds us why we need honesty in education.
Some, far too many, of these people indeed can be read like a book, if the lips are moving they are lieing.

In my memory Belly, I have agreed with you more often than not. I can't remember a time when I disagreed with you. I have learnt something from your posts.

With Basra, well I'm not sure if many of us know the truth at all. I doubt we will know for a long time.

It is far easier to follow folklore if this is what we want to believe, than to see reality if it is in any way uncomfortable.

The following famous quote from a film "A Few Good Men" is a chilling reflection of the way things are.

"You can't handle the Truth" Jack Nicholson: A Few Good Men.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hGvQtumNAY

Thanks mate, but I found the existence of that Badger new to me and explored the storey.
Seems it s closely related to the well know Honey Badger and has existed always.
Climate variations and the army's who knows? have seen it enter areas it has not been seen in before in recent history.
And the snakes? a water way Saddam drained in spite is being re filled and as we would expect the snakes are returning.
So to me at least the issues are both that primitive lies are being spread.
That primitive belief is being taken as true.
And this is impacting on the quality of life of so very many not just in Iraq but far too many tribal places that need desperately to see the light of truth.
Education is indeed both a blessing and a lifetime tool box.
Or the opposite.

Twice this weekend I have braved the speech of Bush on staying the distance in Iraq, any room for reality George?
3 in ten Americans support your stance, not good numbers are they?
If you look over and again you will be wiser than me if you find a way out for America.
A way out that justifies so very many dead, so much money spent and a way Iraq can find peace.
Sometimes reality is cruel but it can not be avoided.