[sinxoveretothex]

This distaste is unsurprising. Research has concluded (see this popular science article about it http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-09/why-were-shutt...) that polarized opinions do affect how strongly readers react to information.

But the core of the article is about how there is a problem about polarized opinions: the core problems with the Mizzou, Yale and al. situations are not related to the opinions expressed themselves: the initial email was that opinion (in the specific case discussed in the article) and the administrator wanted to meet with that student to discuss it.

The problem is that the conversation is not about the concerns expressed in that email anymore, but about the use of one word in the response.

Is that the more important conversion you talk about wanting to have?

[bmelton]

> Research has concluded that polarized opinions do affect how strongly readers react to information.

Ironically enough, Jonathan Haidt, the author of this article contributed greatly to the insights on the effects of such bias.

http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/jhaidt-819710-haidt...

[sinxoveretothex]

I love material that so profoundly affect my thinking like this one did (last time was probably being introduced to LessWrong).

I can't thank you enough for linking this.

[bmelton]

Glad I could accommodate. His research impacted me pretty profoundly too, quantifying with study a lot of what I'd felt, but been extremely uncertain of. I've since followed him around the net like a puppy consuming everything he puts out.

Since you enjoyed it so much, here are some more of his links:

https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind?l...

https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_humanity_s_stairway...

https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_how_common_threats_...

http://people.stern.nyu.edu/jhaidt/disgustscale.html

And, the one I consider to be the most deeply insightful (and also one upon which a lot of his other research relies):

http://www.moralfoundations.org/