Brainwashed!?

Question

Do you think reading others work (books), discoveries, or perspectives/insights on how they view the world brainwashes your mind to think like them? For example, if you read a science book, can it take you of the road from finding your own path, because your simply focused in there minds/ideas now of how they view things? This is just a thought. Also, did you ever feel that way before, and how did you deal with it?

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question!

Answer 1

the key word is interpretation. if we were born with out any information to help us we would not be able to speak or think the way we do. when we are born we start to absorb language, you did not invent that language others before you did, so in a way you are "programed" or "brainwashed" into thinking a specific way, this is compounded by the tons of information your mind is exposed to in a lifetime, most of the information you will run into is not original thought but your own private interpretation of what that information means to you. this interpretation then becomes "you" and how you perceive yourself.-blurey

Answer 2

Yes, you are being brainwashed.

Nearly everyone is brainwashed to some extent.  Basically getting brain washed means that you are only exposed to one side of a two sided argument.

If I read a science book, I quite often feel that I am only getting one side of the story.  I often consider and investiage other perspectives.  You shouldn't believe everything you read.  You shouldn't believe much of what you read.  However, there are many arguments that I feel I have heard strongly from both sides, and I often favor one side over the other usually due to logical inconsistancies in the arguments I am presented with.

I am religious and scientific and I feel that sometimes religion is right and sometimes science is right.  However, it rarely boils down to just those two options.

Answer 3

i don't think you get brainwashed, because after you read the book, you have your side of the argument and theirs, whatever which side is, or you could have the same thought as them. but after you get what the other side of the argument, you can make up your own mind.

Answer 4

No, not unless you're living on "Animal Farm"! Academic exercises are meant to develop critical reading and comprehension, not to brainwash you.

Answer 5

I'm a big time reader. I definitely disagree with your opinion. The more I read, the easier I make associations and develop more intelligent reasoning. It's like mathematics. I would not have been able to perform calculus without first learning how to add.

It opens my mind and expands my world. I get the benefit of someone else's experience/expertise/perspective and either incorporate it into my own belief system, modify it, or discard it. It gives me perspective and allows me to go further than the authors. There are only a few societies that do not have a written language left on earth. The members of these societies are significantly limited as compared to those of us who do.

Answer 6

In a way - yes. There is suggestive and hypnotic language patterns that can influence people.  If you want to see what I mean (but do so at own risk) read Dianetics, (scientology book) - I read it as a sceptic to see what its all about, but at the end I was like, wow, this is interesting. However, it wasnt till I put the book away for a while before coming back to it and realising that it was written in such a way to influence ppl, and in my opinion, its still strangeeeeee.

Also - re: finding your own path - mum and dad influenced you, the teachers did, friends, books, everything you are is a result of your genetic make up and experiences, so I guess a book can influence you, but my advice is be positively influenced, read good books, read science etc, but always come back objectively and take your own stance on things.

Answer 7

I guess it depends on how gullible you are.  Do you believe everything you read, or do you take it in and analyze it?

Intelligent people can read others' ideas and decide whether the information is valid or not.