[Foundation-l] [Wikimania-l] Wikimania 2008 will happen in Alexandria, Egypt

[Marc Riddell]

> On 10/12/07, rfrangi at libero.it <rfrangi at libero.it> wrote:
>>> on 10/12/07 1:57 PM, Anthony at wikimail at inbox.org wrote:
>>> 
>>>> On 10/12/07, Dan Rosenthal <swatjester at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> How about the argument as to whether being gay is a choice or not. I
>>>>> can choose my religion. I cannot choose my taste in sexual partners.
>>>>> 
>>>> I don't think you can choose your beliefsS
>>> 
>>> Are you serious, Anthony?
>>> 
>>> Marc Riddell
>>> 
on 10/12/07 2:44 PM, Anthony at wikimail at inbox.org wrote:
>> 
> First of all let me correct the misquote.

It was not a misquote, Anthony; I took your words exactly as you wrote them.

> What I said was "I don't
> think you can choose your beliefs

And that is what I quoted, and I questioned.

> any more than your taste in sexual
> partners."
> 
> Now, let me give an example.  Could a non-Christian choose to become a
> fundamentalist Christian?

Absolutely!

> I'd say it's maybe possible, but extremely
> unlikely.

"I don't think you can choose" is not the same as "unlikely".

> I think it's about as possible for someone to change their
> taste in sexual partners.  Maybe it could be done, but it's extremely
> unlikely.

Apples and oranges here, Anthony.

Beliefs are a result of learning; what is learned can just as readily be
unlearned.
> 
> Of course, I'm thinking adults here in both situations.
> 
If you are taught as a child that you are "useless", this will be a major
part of your self-concepts, your "beliefs", about yourself until you are
taught or self-discover otherwise. This is one of the fundamentals of
individual psychology.

Marc

-- 
Just be.