January 24, 2020 - Holding Space
February 14, 2020 - Questions inspired by a National Geographic issue on Women

Why it’s So Tempting to Build Walls and Shut People Out (and what to do instead)

The article linked here adds to our conversation regarding 'to add or not to add' a new member or two and comes from TED.com

The intro begins like this:

"Why do humans often want to create a world of “us” vs. “them”? And what can we do about this unhelpful, often damaging, yet somehow reassuring instinct? Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger has some useful advice."

The article seems important to me because I still want to increase our membership just a little, and because, as many of you, I'm really concerned about how polarized we in America - and the world - have become.
This article, along with others that address how we are so often committed to those friends, news agents, mentors, preachers, etc., who support and report on issues from our own points of view, rather than diligently seeking out broader perspectives. 

The 'what to do instead' parts of the article are informative and creative. I'd like to see us consider them one day.
Meanwhile, an enriching topic for discussion might be 'Our Biases, and How We Came to Them'. and perhaps, 'How do They Serve Us Now'.

Meanwhile, I found these two definitions from Merriam Webster relevant and clarifying.

Bias

a : an inclination of temperament or outlook especially : a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment : prejudice
b
: an instance of such prejudice
c : bent, tendency
(1)
: deviation of the expected value of a statistical estimate from the quantity it estimates
   
(2) : systematic error introduced into sampling or testing by selecting or encouraging one outcome or answer over others

Prejudice

1 : injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one's rights especially
   : detriment to one's legal rights or claims
2 a (1) : preconceived judgment or opinion
      (2) : an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge
   b : an instance of such judgment or opinion
   c : an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics

 

(I'll also link the article in our List of Links and the topic in our list of same.)

 

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