Chapter 5 & 6 Quotes

 Chapter 5

“Researchers have also found that we tend to only consider information that fits into what we already believe. That is, we don’t create our sense of reality based on the facts we come across, we find and bend the facts, so they conform to what we think we know” (184).

We are more likely to take information that conforms to our beliefs while ignoring information that opposes those views. Instead of having an open mind, there is a sense of believing that our worldview is correct and anything that differs from that is wrong.

“When are confronted with information that challenges the beliefs we hold as true, instead of changing our minds we often “double down” on our original belief systems” (184).

It is as though it is inconceivable to think that there is another perspective to the beliefs. They feel threatened by this information and choose to be stubborn in their ways. 

"By telling stories people are open to hearing, and understanding how we can fit our concerns into stories people already tell themselves, we can get them to listen to what we have to say and look at what we want to show them” (194).

People enjoy listening to stories.  By using that we can get them to understand our views.  

Chapter 6

“When people don’t agree with us, and when they don’t change their behaviors in the ways we’d like, we too often dismiss them as bull-headed, ignorant, or even stupid” (211).

The moment someone sees a different person do something that goes against their views they immediately label them as insignificant. It’s like when an older person sees their way of life to be the correct way and a younger person challenging that doesn’t know what they’re talking about. 

“As artistic activists, we need to compromise between being effective and efficient” (238).

There can’t be an intervention that leaves an impactful effect but is poorly organized and vice versa. There needs to be a balance between the two maximizes the protest to its full potential. 

"Try and understand why people think what they think and do what they do, and then use this to build a better world together” (240).

To put yourself into someone else’s shoes allows you to understand why and how they view the world as they do. Only when you understand them could you begin to find common ground and try to create a better version of the world.