Hey, this is just a friendly reminder, but sometimes I am not feeling up to really honestly looking at the arguments of someone who disagrees with me. It's not ideal, but it happens. If you probably see things differently than me and this is you right now; it probably makes sense to acknowledge it and just come back later when you are able to look at the concepts discussed in a better light. Obviously I think I am right, or I wouldn't be writing these points out, but even if I am 70% percent wrong 20% right and 10% in between, if you come in with a sarcastic or let's show what an idiot this guy is tone, you'll have trouble seeing the 20% I am correct on. And the proportions that we miss are usually disproportionately negative on us, because the parts that we get, we get, and so aren't hurt by them nearly as often. And that assumes a 20% correctness, which is much less than I am hoping to achieve.
Cognitive dissonance is a real thing. (Add a link later?) Studies have shown that we are more likely to pay attention to data that corroborates our beliefs and more likely to dismiss, or not even see data that disagrees with our belief.
A good rule of thumb for me; is, do I read and appreciate the Gospels about Jesus, or the Sermon on the Mount; and do I think that there's at least a 3% chance that there is a God? If yes, you are more likely to appreciate this web comic. If not; maybe go find the value in those, first. Because they are literally probably more than a billion times more relevant and powerful than the stuff that I am writing, so if you can't see the value there, than there's almost certainly nothing I can offer to the table that you will be able to appreciate. Even if you really like those, you still might not like my stuff. but at least then, you have a shot at appreciating my way less skilled and valuable points that I am trying to make.
