Humans have an inherited tendency to see patterns. Sometimes this is a good thing. Our ancestor who thought he spotted a tiger and ran for his life got to pass on his genes. Whether it really was a big cat or just an illusion makes no difference because, when your life is on the line, a false positive is going to be the preferred option.
And it may be that we are especially attentive to faces because such patterns have especially high survival value. Babies that look into your eyes are more apt to bond and be fed while a face in the shadows can spell trouble. Hence, even as adults, we see faces in clouds, tree trunks, rock formations and don't forget the Man in the Moon. Actually, there's nothing basically wrong with seeing imaginary patterns unless you then build baseless beliefs around them. This is the down side of our inherited default system. Fantasy prone humans come to believe the craziest things. Jesus Christ on a cracker will sell for big bucks because it's assumed to have some sort of mystical power. An early astronomer thought he saw patterns of lines forming canals on Mars and we've been saddled with the notion of little green men ever since.
The simple fact is that if you look for patterns, you'll probably find them. Hence we have countless books tying Masonic ritual to Rosicrucian lore, the Knights Templar to the Knights of the Golden Circle and all of the above linked with an ancient geometry of lines and angles drawn across Medieval Europe. The Oak Island Money Pit and the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine hold our attention because the patterns have yet to be resolved. One theory suggests that it's the predictable patterns in music that account for its universal appeal. Humor is just the opposite. It gets its kick, according to the same theory, when what seems like an obvious motif suddenly and unexpectedly changes course. No surprise, no laugh.
Unfortunately, laughs aren't taken seriously. That a sudden break in design can happen for no good reason is a reality that seems counter intuitive. This is because individuals live at the center of their universe and consequently believe that everything involves them and is intentional. Their being here is part of a great plan. The stars are aligned to foretell their destiny. The tornado spared their trailer for a special reason. Consequently, their opinion must hold some unique significance and thus needs to be defended at all cost.
As a result, many people are far less interested in new information and greater insight than they are in confirmation bias. This means they will accept whatever reinforces their belief and reject (often with foaming mouth) whatever doesn't. It's why Right/Left critics have a built-in following. All they need do to maintain their ratings is figure out a way to pin the latest disaster on the other side. Audiences aren't looking for information so much as confirmation. We don't have pundits so much as cheerleaders...reason and logic so much as faith and belief...critical debate and an exchange of ideas so much as bumper stickers.
Look At It This Way
My columns rarely address things like abortion or gun control. The reason is simple. There are already two firmly established sides on such issues. Instead, I look at questions that have, to most minds, already been answered...their patterns accepted without doubt. Monogamy is the natural way, addicts are victims of overwhelming forces, kids are an undeniable blessing, using stereotypes and referring to class structures is evil. Case closed. Personally, I hold no firm views. Looking out at the expanding universe (wondering if it may be just one of many) and then turning the telescope around and looking in at the shrinking quantum world, I can only marvel at the notion of anyone ever being 100% certain of anything.
