#656, 662, 723, 740
723. The most effective way of attacking vice is to expose it to ridicule. We can stand rebukes, but not laughter; we don't mind seeming wicked, but we hate to look silly. ~ Moliere, 1622-1673
I think this quote reflects very accurately an aspect of human nature that we tend to sweep under the rug. We like to think that we are well thought-out, logical people at heart, persuaded only by stone-cold results and pure, hard fact. In reality, humans are predominantly social animals, and are thereby chiefly swayed by propaganda and rhetoric that emphasize social acceptability. Being laughed at or ridiculed indicates a deviation from the accepted social 'norm', and any argument that appears too far outside of these accepted social boundaries is bound to be judged negatively by the people. With his quote, Moliere points out that people are more subject to social and emotional cues than they would like to think, rather than purely swayed by rational, structured argument.
A real-life example is our approach to political candidates. If a candidate has some embarrassing history he or she has kept private that is then brought into the open, any fact-based platform they've chosen to run their campaign on will be swept aside in favor of media coverage on their history. People will no longer see the candidate for what they stand for, but will instead recognize them by whatever embarrassing thing they're known for. That candidate is much less likely to be elected, because they've been put in a position where their poor social stance outweighs their political platform.
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