Bias and Blur

Social identity is important for mental health.

I'd say you're mentally ill if you do not identify more strongly with some groups than with others.

Diversity is a meta-identity.

There is a social identity for those who value diversity.

This group is intolerant of those who are intolerant.

There is a group that values individualism too.

This group will form nations and wage war against collectivist types.

Individualism becomes a sacred value, enshrined in our constitution.

"Implicit bias" is a natural and healthy result of a strong in-group identity.

Sorting a deck of cards into red and black piles is easy.

Sorting the same deck into Hearts-Spades and Diamonds-Clubs is more difficult.

Likewise for racial stereotype mismatches.

The more difficult it is for you, the higher your implicit bias score.

Diversity kills decisiveness.

Instead of choosing your favorite movies, foods, or beers, imagine forcing yourself to always try something different.

Pretty soon, you might not know what you like.

If someone asked, you might say, "I don't know, whatever."

The more you know, the less clear it becomes.

Reality is complicated and muddled.

To really believe in something is to be really biased.

A bias is a filter, a way of categorizing and clearing things up.

Without bias, it would all be a blur.

Of course, I am oversimplifying, just to make a point.

And that is my point: simplification is necessary to separate the signal from the noise.

It's pleasant to see an out-group in pain.

When the opposing team looses, we cheer.

When the other political group looks foolish, we laugh.

We laugh - and laughter is good for the soul.

"id" - the part of the mind in which innate instinctive impulses and primary processes are manifest.

idiot = id+iot

A jester plays the fool and acts like an idiot, mocking what we despise.

Nietzsche and Dostoevsky both saw Christ acting this role.

Scapegoats are good for the soul too.

Scapegoats are sacrifices, which are religious - as are souls.

Who supposedly took all of mankind's sins on himself, as a scapegoat?

Anxiety sucks, but once we have someone to blame, we have anger.

You can do something about anger - even if it is usually something stupid.

Anxiety just wears us down.

Comedy is a nonviolent way of scapegoating someone.

Ah, the Divine Comedy...

There is a place called The Inferno Comedy Club, in Laughlin, NV.

I bet it's hot there, being Nevada and all.