| >It's psychological and goes much deeper than beliefs. Oh yes! And you can get into trouble trying to engage with logic, because that is not the name of the game. >I've been perversely interested in this Me too, and with other crankery. I recommend the book Mathematical Cranks for similar entertainment. https://books.google.com/books/about/Mathematical_Cranks.htm... Maybe I am interested in it because you begin to see small reflections of similar behavior everywhere once you start looking for it. It seems rare at first, but now I think similar thinking is to be found everywhere, on lots of topics. It is really mostly a strident, emotional attachment to a point of view that is not founded on a desire to find the truth. It is founded on a deep personal association. To deny your personal "truth" would be like tearing down your view of yourself. So instead it must be defended at all costs, which is fine because you already are certain it is "true". |