This is an Open Thread / Coffee Hour and all topics of conversation are welcome. Today I would like to share one of the best cognitive bias demonstrations I have ever seen with everyone on Daily Kos. It was done by Daryl Davis in an interview with Edwin Rutsch the founder of Building a Culture of Empathy. Daryl Davis is a black man that befriended over 200 Ku Klux Klan members and over time convinced them to turn in their robes.
Daryl Davis is a blues musician, but he also has what some might call an interesting hobby. For the past 30 years, Davis, a black man, has spent time befriending members of the Ku Klux Klan.
NPR article: How One Man Convinced 200 Ku Klux Klan Members To Give Up Their Robes.
The demonstration is on a video posted on YouTube and Daryl performs it on Edwin. It is a simple riddle and after I learned it I was able to repeat the riddle to two of my friends. Both Edwin and my friends, all liberal Democrats, demonstrated this cognitive bias. Even myself while watching the video took time to solve the riddle, because of this cognitive bias.
Here is another snip from the NPR article describing Daryl. And jump the fold for more on cognitive bias and a link to the video and a transcript for those that can not view videos. A little more about Daryl.
He says once the friendship blossoms, the Klansmen realize that their hate may be misguided. Since Davis started talking with these members, he says 200 Klansmen have given up their robes. When that happens, Davis collects the robes and keeps them in his home as a reminder of the dent he has made in racism by simply sitting down and having dinner with people.
NPR article: How One Man Convinced 200 Ku Klux Klan Members To Give Up Their Robes.
What is for dinner? How are you doing? What is on your mind. If you are new to Street Prophets please introduce yourself beyond the fold in a comment. This is an Open Thread / Coffee Hour and all topics of conversation are welcome.
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