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Fun Way To Fool Yourself -- Condemn Someone for Doing What You're Doing

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
Have you noticed how much fun it is to fool yourself by attacking and condemning someone else for "feeling smug and superior" in such a manner that it makes you feel smug and superior to them?

Like,"Those religious folks think their religion makes them better than us atheists, but us atheists are really better than those religious folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Or, "Those atheist folks think their atheism makes them better than us religious folks, but us religious folks are really better than those atheist folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Ever notice how easy it is to fool yourself?

Ever notice how much fun it is?

I thinking ranking oneself as superior or inferior in comparison to other people pretty much goes with the territory of being human. It's almost impossible to escape doing it. So why should we condemn people for doing it? It is one thing to point out to folks that they are doing it -- but why try to condemn them for it? Does condemning people for feeling superior or inferior to you make any sense to you? Do you think condemning people is gong to change human nature? If so, why? If not, why not?
 

PoetPhilosopher

Veteran Member
I find the human mind a bit erratic. For example, three people might be able to work 12 months on a nice little software project, completing it, then when it comes to a politics or ethics debate with each other, have a meltdown.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
I find the human mind a bit erratic. For example, three people might be able to work 12 months on a nice little software project, completing it, then when it comes to a politics or ethics debate with each other, have a meltdown.

I'm genuinely confused. Does that have some relevance to the OP that I should know about?
 

bobhikes

Nondetermined
Premium Member
Have you noticed how much fun it is to fool yourself by attacking and condemning someone else for "feeling smug and superior" in such a manner that it makes you feel smug and superior to them?

Like,"Those religious folks think their religion makes them better than us atheists, but us atheists are really better than those religious folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Or, "Those atheist folks think their atheism makes them better than us religious folks, but us religious folks are really better than those atheist folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Ever notice how easy it is to fool yourself?

Ever notice how much fun it is?

I thinking ranking oneself as superior or inferior in comparison to other people pretty much goes with the territory of being human. It's almost impossible to escape doing it. So why should we condemn people for doing it? It is one thing to point out to folks that they are doing it -- but why try to condemn them for it? Does condemning people for feeling superior or inferior to you make any sense to you? Do you think condemning people is gong to change human nature? If so, why? If not, why not?

That's why I'm Agnostic, I know I really don't know.
 

74x12

Well-Known Member
Have you noticed how much fun it is to fool yourself by attacking and condemning someone else for "feeling smug and superior" in such a manner that it makes you feel smug and superior to them?

Like,"Those religious folks think their religion makes them better than us atheists, but us atheists are really better than those religious folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Or, "Those atheist folks think their atheism makes them better than us religious folks, but us religious folks are really better than those atheist folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Ever notice how easy it is to fool yourself?

Ever notice how much fun it is?

I thinking ranking oneself as superior or inferior in comparison to other people pretty much goes with the territory of being human. It's almost impossible to escape doing it. So why should we condemn people for doing it? It is one thing to point out to folks that they are doing it -- but why try to condemn them for it? Does condemning people for feeling superior or inferior to you make any sense to you? Do you think condemning people is gong to change human nature? If so, why? If not, why not?
I like your post; but personally ... I am far to humble to ever think I am superior to anyone. So in my superior sense of humility; I think everyone is superior to myself. Which makes me better than everyone who doesn't do the same thing ... of course.

Just so everyone knows I'm joking. But seriously, yes we mere humans all can be prone to being judgmental and proud. Doesn't make it right but something to guard against.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
Have you noticed how much fun it is to fool yourself by attacking and condemning someone else for "feeling smug and superior" in such a manner that it makes you feel smug and superior to them?

Like,"Those religious folks think their religion makes them better than us atheists, but us atheists are really better than those religious folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Or, "Those atheist folks think their atheism makes them better than us religious folks, but us religious folks are really better than those atheist folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Ever notice how easy it is to fool yourself?

Ever notice how much fun it is?

I thinking ranking oneself as superior or inferior in comparison to other people pretty much goes with the territory of being human. It's almost impossible to escape doing it. So why should we condemn people for doing it? It is one thing to point out to folks that they are doing it -- but why try to condemn them for it? Does condemning people for feeling superior or inferior to you make any sense to you? Do you think condemning people is gong to change human nature? If so, why? If not, why not?


It surre does not fool anyone else
 

David1967

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Have you noticed how much fun it is to fool yourself by attacking and condemning someone else for "feeling smug and superior" in such a manner that it makes you feel smug and superior to them?

Like,"Those religious folks think their religion makes them better than us atheists, but us atheists are really better than those religious folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Or, "Those atheist folks think their atheism makes them better than us religious folks, but us religious folks are really better than those atheist folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Ever notice how easy it is to fool yourself?

Ever notice how much fun it is?

I thinking ranking oneself as superior or inferior in comparison to other people pretty much goes with the territory of being human. It's almost impossible to escape doing it. So why should we condemn people for doing it? It is one thing to point out to folks that they are doing it -- but why try to condemn them for it? Does condemning people for feeling superior or inferior to you make any sense to you? Do you think condemning people is gong to change human nature? If so, why? If not, why not?

Condemning others due to their beliefs or lack of accomplishes nothing. And it sure doesn't inspire useful conversation.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Have you noticed how much fun it is to fool yourself by attacking and condemning someone else for "feeling smug and superior" in such a manner that it makes you feel smug and superior to them?

Like,"Those religious folks think their religion makes them better than us atheists, but us atheists are really better than those religious folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Or, "Those atheist folks think their atheism makes them better than us religious folks, but us religious folks are really better than those atheist folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Ever notice how easy it is to fool yourself?

Ever notice how much fun it is?

I thinking ranking oneself as superior or inferior in comparison to other people pretty much goes with the territory of being human. It's almost impossible to escape doing it. So why should we condemn people for doing it? It is one thing to point out to folks that they are doing it -- but why try to condemn them for it? Does condemning people for feeling superior or inferior to you make any sense to you? Do you think condemning people is gong to change human nature? If so, why? If not, why not?
I can't recall the last time I heard anyone on either side of this issue condemning the other side for their feeling of superiority.

... though what you're describing did remind me of this comic:


atheists.png
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
Have you noticed how much fun it is to fool yourself by attacking and condemning someone else for "feeling smug and superior" in such a manner that it makes you feel smug and superior to them?

Like,"Those religious folks think their religion makes them better than us atheists, but us atheists are really better than those religious folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Or, "Those atheist folks think their atheism makes them better than us religious folks, but us religious folks are really better than those atheist folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Ever notice how easy it is to fool yourself?

Ever notice how much fun it is?

I thinking ranking oneself as superior or inferior in comparison to other people pretty much goes with the territory of being human. It's almost impossible to escape doing it. So why should we condemn people for doing it? It is one thing to point out to folks that they are doing it -- but why try to condemn them for it? Does condemning people for feeling superior or inferior to you make any sense to you? Do you think condemning people is gong to change human nature? If so, why? If not, why not?

It truly must be a basic human instinct that thrusts this notion in us to out-do another. The mechanisms we use here such as religion, politics, humor, are all secondary to the instinct itself -which is a reflection of life's tendency to survive.
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
I like your post; but personally ... I am far to humble to ever think I am superior to anyone. So in my superior sense of humility; I think everyone is superior to myself. Which makes me better than everyone who doesn't do the same thing ... of course.

Just so everyone knows I'm joking. But seriously, yes we mere humans all can be prone to being judgmental and proud. Doesn't make it right but something to guard against.

Pretty much everyone who debates in these forums are exercising their survival instincts via social topics. But the instinct itself is so strong and is such a major pillar of life, that we often don't even notice it's there ourselves. Our inability to identify it, also serves the purpose of us actually 'believing' in our own arguments.

...So I think it's safe to say that this instinct is primordial.
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
But you know what, people should identify this instinctive trait for the sake of human progress. I urge @Sunstone (who seems to already have possessed this knowledge) and myself, and anyone else who can recognize this to help take part in the cause of spreading this knowledge onto others for the sake of their understanding... As for helping to establish peace and to do their part in their time for the advancement of the human race.

Thank you all, and have a wonderful day.
 
Have you noticed how much fun it is to fool yourself by attacking and condemning someone else for "feeling smug and superior" in such a manner that it makes you feel smug and superior to them?

Like,"Those religious folks think their religion makes them better than us atheists, but us atheists are really better than those religious folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Or, "Those atheist folks think their atheism makes them better than us religious folks, but us religious folks are really better than those atheist folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Ever notice how easy it is to fool yourself?

Ever notice how much fun it is?

I thinking ranking oneself as superior or inferior in comparison to other people pretty much goes with the territory of being human. It's almost impossible to escape doing it. So why should we condemn people for doing it? It is one thing to point out to folks that they are doing it -- but why try to condemn them for it? Does condemning people for feeling superior or inferior to you make any sense to you? Do you think condemning people is gong to change human nature? If so, why? If not, why not?

Thats a interesting point.

Id say instead of condemning, point out as you say. But also, we wont change others. But we should all make the effort to disapline and tame our "human nature".
 

Evangelicalhumanist

"Truth" isn't a thing...
Premium Member
Have you noticed how much fun it is to fool yourself by attacking and condemning someone else for "feeling smug and superior" in such a manner that it makes you feel smug and superior to them?

Like,"Those religious folks think their religion makes them better than us atheists, but us atheists are really better than those religious folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Or, "Those atheist folks think their atheism makes them better than us religious folks, but us religious folks are really better than those atheist folks because we don't go around feeling superior like they do".

Ever notice how easy it is to fool yourself?

Ever notice how much fun it is?

I thinking ranking oneself as superior or inferior in comparison to other people pretty much goes with the territory of being human. It's almost impossible to escape doing it. So why should we condemn people for doing it? It is one thing to point out to folks that they are doing it -- but why try to condemn them for it? Does condemning people for feeling superior or inferior to you make any sense to you? Do you think condemning people is gong to change human nature? If so, why? If not, why not?
Do you think that you are doing that? Do you think that anyone else here is?

I agree, "ranking oneself as superior or inferior in comparison to other people" is pretty much a mug's game, but is asking serious question about important topics that really have deep impact on human life and society really only about such comparisons?

People with religious beliefs have, I think I've observed, real questions about why everybody else doesn't see what seems so obvious to them. And I can attest at first hand that people without religious beliefs, or with some knowledge of the science that seems to describe our world, have serious questions about those who deny that knowledge based only on religious belief.
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
Do you think that you are doing that? Do you think that anyone else here is?

I agree, "ranking oneself as superior or inferior in comparison to other people" is pretty much a mug's game, but is asking serious question about important topics that really have deep impact on human life and society really only about such comparisons?

Or have we convinced ourselves that these "important topics" need urgent attention? And in actuality, aren't really that important afterall.

Is our own human ego the driving force behind the various topics that individuals feel are urgently important to spread? Is this a branch stemming from the pillar of *what life is* in it's fight to survive? All stemming from the first moment of life on earth?

<EDIT>
Even I, in post #14 failed to rise above this instinct, even while I am consciously aware of it's existence, which proclaims the strength of this primordial instinct.
 
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sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
The OP is basically about the personal ego which feeds on feeling superior or inferior to other people and feeds on letting them know.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
The ego is always there, looking to strengthen and protect our imagined "self", but we don't always have to let it control our thoughts and actions. Stopping it, though, takes practice and persistence. And even then it'll win out as often as not. It's a powerful force in the human psyche.
 

74x12

Well-Known Member
Pretty much everyone who debates in these forums are exercising their survival instincts via social topics. But the instinct itself is so strong and is such a major pillar of life, that we often don't even notice it's there ourselves. Our inability to identify it, also serves the purpose of us actually 'believing' in our own arguments.

...So I think it's safe to say that this instinct is primordial.
Explain this "survival instinct". I don't follow what you mean.
 
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