--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Xenophaneros Anartaxius" <anartaxius@...> wrote: > > Turqoiseb said something really interesting: 'On the > other hand, I thrive on cognitive dissonance; it defines > for me some of the highest, most profound moments of my > life. I actually seek it, as much as I seek anything.' > > I wonder if he might expand on this idea. Surely he > thrives in trying to create the experience of cognitive > dissonance for others, at which he is quite good, but what > would be his reason for seeking it out? It is normally > not natural to seek out discomfort.
There is nothing inherent in the experience of cognitive dissonance that causes discomfort. It's how you react to it. I see cognitive dissonance as a kind of energy field. I am comfortable with that energy field; it's more interesting to me than the energy field of "knowing" or claiming to "know" things. I like the dynamic of the swirling energy of contradictory ideas being juggled. As usual with me :-), there is a Bruce Cockburn lyric that captures my feelings about this. It's as close as I can get to explaining it: You see the extremes Of what humans can be? In that distance some tension's born Energy surging like a storm You plunge your hand in And draw it back scorched Beneath it's shining like Gold but better Rumours of glory
