I'm not talking about trolls and nutjobs, but people who don't know that the U.S. military is under civilian command, and can't grasp it even when told or shown. And then lash out to twist whatever facts are handed to them to fit their wrong notion, instead of saying, "huh. Did not know that."

Or people who think "theory" in science or math means "a guess."

And they do the same as the above to wrestle down any facts that don't mesh with their incorrect belief. Or simply ignore new information in some sort of cognitive dissonance gymnastics.

It's frustrating, and I keep wondering how they get through the day.

Also, I see this more and more: "Everyone has a right to their opinion."

And the person will be talking about Neil deGrasse Tyson's lecture on the cosmos, versus an astrologer. As if both people's ideas on the gravitational pull of Jupiter are equal.

Dangit I'm working hard today but I want to be in on the bi discussion!! There is desfinitely abhuge "bi now gay later" feeling for guys, and a "it's just a phase" feeling for girls. I think it's a social thing as much as anything--men are much more willing to date bi women ("that's hot!") than women are to date bi men ("I'm not your beard!"--though I think that's changing), thus it bwcoems a self fulfilling prophecy. And like Kate P said, at least for women, you meet more straight men than you do queer women. (for men, you can meet as many gay men as women open to datiing a man who's slept with men, I expect).

That all said--teppy, your thing with queer made me smile remembering a convo had with a friend re another friend who is a transguy, dating a girl who IDs as straight. And we were all "yes, not to invalidate his male identity, but there's something fairly queer about being willing to date a trans guy".

Has there ever been a supervillian called The Master of Sock-puppets or somesuch? If not, there should be.

Well, there was a villain on the Tick (animated version) where a big, dumb goon was wearing a puppet, and the puppet was the brains of the operation. I can't remember the characters' name, though.

"Read a BOOK!!!!"

I think maybe the ability to go out on the Internet (and radio and TV to a certain extent) and find support for your position, no matter how ignorant it is, has insulated people against facts and actual experts.

ignorance is bliss?

eta: in response to Allyson

Also, I see this more and more: "Everyone has a right to their opinion."

Yeah. The inability of people to agree on facts is really fucking this country up politically.

I think it's that you work at JPL, Allyson. You don't spend a lot of face time with the "Don't make me think!" crowd.

Apparently my straight FTM cousin doesn't tell his dates early on that he's trans. I have no idea how I'd deal. I think the whiplash of expectations would be a big deal--is it easier to come to terms with that up front, or to already fall for someone and then process it later?

Then again, I think he's a fairly religious Jew (and, obviously, black), so the whole dating thing is massively complicated.

Also I think the media (in least in this country) has gotten lax about trying to report actual facts, preferring to cover the debate instead.