Cognitive dissonance is uncomfortable. When we believe something to be true, yet our actions don’t match with this belief, cognitive dissonance occurs. It causes a gut feeling of hurt.
I recently posted a video about interactive media and health. I brought to light that in the industry, some of the jargon that has been developed is parasitic. Since jargon of an industry is resultant of its ideals*, I noted, in a less eloquent way, that the industry is thus idealizing parasitic tactics on its users.
On YouTube, this actually went over pretty well. I received ~10 likes, which is good for my channel’s current size, and the only comment that was posted was from a developer who was excited about the ideas. On TikTok, however, I received a rather nasty comment…
“idk what the actual fuh your talking about ima just go play ghost of yotei”
…Followed by a gif of a man creating a barrier between himself and the camera.
What provoked this response? This seemingly was a consumer rather than a developer? If anyone should be upset about such statements, shouldn’t it be the developers? Those who work in the industry? Why would the consumer be upset???
This, along with other experiences I’ve had in my personal life, has caused me to realize this sort of behavior is fairly common, and I’d like to create a mental schema for handling it.
But before we do that, of course we must understand what is happening.
I propose that it is information avoidance designed to protect the provoked from the discomforts of cognitive dissonance.
I’ve talked to other people who believe that we can believe what we want to believe, which I agree with, actually. I see people defending untrue beliefs in order to keep living the way they think is best.
But when one lives like this, I believe it eats away at them and sends them into hell.
In The Brothers Karamasov, a character talks about a French variation of the Dante’s Inferno style story in which people slowly descend further and further into hell. Until a point, however, they are able to make their way out. However, at a certain depth, it is no longer possible to escape.
This is not what I would call “theologically accurate for the ‘real’ Hell”. However, I think it is a good depiction of information avoidance.
The further you go down, the harder it is to escape…
…
Now, I’ve dedicated my life to seeking truth. I refuse to have cognitive dissonance and I’m always happy to receive information (so long as my head isn’t too tired that day, lol). I decided a while ago that a core principle of TABLEAUX THEORY is Truth seeking. So this means that disallowance of cognitive dissonance and information avoidance is essential.
My personal experience has been that if you follow these paths, you always end up at God having all value.
But I digress.
For myself, I figured this out a long time ago. For other people? What do you do? Can you force someone who is willingly involved in information avoidance or cognitive dissonance to stop?
From my experience, I’d say no.
So what’s the schema for dealing with these types? For these ones who deny Truth?
For now, all I can think is be patient, and pay attention to which direction on the hell-axis they are going. If they are moving further and further into hell, it is probably best to leave this up to God. If they are wanting out of hell, and wish to close the gaps in cognitive dissonance and are not avoidant of information, then be patient and work with them.
Tolkien did this with C.S. Lewis, and that turned out pretty good.
*This is true for language of any kind, in fact.