Insight

I just had what I think is a marvelous observation about the human condition.

The truth doesn't form our opinions- our opinions form our perception of the truth.

Take a person who says, "I hate raccoons." They might not know why, but their opinion will instantly come up with reasons to hate raccoons. They carry rabies, get in garbage, etc.

Take a person who says, "I love raccoons." They might not know why, but their opinion will instantly come up with reasons to love raccoons. They're inquisitive, intelligent, etc.

This is why debate is largely pointless. People believe different things because their personal beliefs and opinions is what controls the scales of truth. A person can believe something that's perfectly wrong because they'll find evidence to support it. Because they want to believe it.

I think our society, as a whole, would be much better off if we would explore the facts with a clear eye before forming an unbiased opinion. Unfortunately, we're all human. So we harbor our biases, prejudices, moral weights, and indoctrinated beliefs as children. Which determine for us not only the life we lead, but how we live it.