Is confirmation bias the biggest trap for the self and humanity?

[PurpleTree]

At some point you get a belief and then you just keep confirming it.

Could be anything from “i’m a loser” to “Mexicans are lazy” to “Islam is true”

It’s just egoic pattern/sense making of the surroundings by the mind.

But it certainly does keep us trapped.

 

I just now looked up if Leo has an episode on it and surely enough. But I don’t really remember it and will listen to it again.

 

[Hojo]

I think its good. It creates a strong identity. The only people who care about it are people who want you to be wrong. I don't agree with his definition of bias it dosent always mean you are wrong. You pick it cause it works and it works till it dosent. When you see your bias is leading you astray you can see it and changed it. Seeing bias as being wrong and ignoring it to suit your bias is what this video is talking about not just bias generally. Reality is a fight for truth believing in God is a bias.

Edited January 23 by Hojo

[PurpleTree]

27 minutes ago, Hojo said:

 believing in God is a bias.

Agreed.

Why do you think it’s good to have a strong identity?

[gambler]

1 minute ago, PurpleTree said:

Why do you think it’s good to have a strong identity?

In my experience, your guard is down when you're doubtful, when you're unsure of standing on any principle. You're susceptible to brainwashing as opposed to when you strongly identify with some truth or principle. It's a mental defense against manipulation.

[PurpleTree]

1 minute ago, gambler said:

In my experience, your guard is down when you're doubtful, when you're unsure of standing on any principle. You're susceptible to brainwashing as opposed to when you strongly identify with some truth or principle. It's a mental defense against manipulation.

Yea but i also think that “guard” is what causes a lot of suffering. 

[gambler]

Just now, PurpleTree said:

Yea but i also think that “guard” is what causes a lot of suffering. 

Of course, that's why it's important to identify biases and uncover their negative consequences.

[Lyubov]

Great insight @PurpleTree 

I think it’s one of the biggest ones, but it’s also a choice because once we become aware of it and how we may be using it to limit ourselves, it can be seen through pretty easy. 

I would say a lot of personal issues we have culminate in a deeper spiritual issue though, confirmation bias is a symptom. 

At the core much of it revolves around our belief and desire for familiarity and safety and our disconnection from truth, usually from a core belief of believing we are separate and not enough. 

[Salvijus]

What is the driving mechanism that makes us seek for confirmation bias? The answer to that question is the biggest problem. 

Edited January 23 by Salvijus

[PurpleTree]

2 hours ago, Salvijus said:

What is the driving mechanism that makes us seek for confirmation bias? The answer to that question is the biggest problem. 

ego, survival, wanting to be liked by the group and whatever.

[BlueOak]

4 hours ago, Salvijus said:

What is the driving mechanism that makes us seek for confirmation bias? The answer to that question is the biggest problem. 

To experience, and to keep reality being created.

Consciousness  -------> | (Reflection)
(Decided-Meaning-Reality) ------> | Consciousness 

Loop, begin again.

[Whitney Edwards]

The biggest and the ugliest trap is Ego. Rest are just tools used by the Ego. 

[VeganAwake]

"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge".

‐Daniel J. Boorstin

[Joshe]

You might be right. It seems the biggest cause of continued delusion and self-deception. 

His self-bias video is my all time fav. The one with a thumbnail of a dude shoving his head in the ground. 

If you value what is actually true more than your own ideas, you’re much less vulnerable to confirmation bias. “Confirm” being the key word. Instead of confirming you are right, try to confirm you are wrong and accept the result if you are. If you just create a rule for yourself to always be open to being wrong and to earnestly check if you are, and then accept the result, I think that’s the best we can do. Many find this too painful and for others, it robs them of excitement and cherished beliefs, so of course the masses are far from allowing themselves the self-awareness that would take that away from them, which is why they don’t allow it.. seems like cowardice to me. 

 

Edited January 24 by Joshe

[PurpleTree]

8 hours ago, Joshe said:

 

His self-bias video is my all time fav. The one with a thumbnail of a dude shoving his head in the ground. 

A few mins in

Leo:

“Imagine you were a rock rubbed on the boobs of a stripper”

”Why don’t you want to bang your mom or a cute goat?”

Gosh 😎🐐

Nono it’s a great episode 

[Joshe]

2 hours ago, PurpleTree said:

”Why don’t you want to bang your mom or a cute goat?”

😂 so funny.