FIXED IDEAS

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Definitions

1. the "id?ée fix?é" is the bug in sanity. Whenever an observer himself has fixed ideas he tends to look at them not at the information. Prejudiced people are suffering mainly from an "id?ée fix?é. " A fixed idea is something accepted without personal inspection or agreement. It is the perfect "Authority knows best." It is the "reliable source." A fixed idea is uninspected. It blocks the existence of any contrary observation. Most reactionaries (people resisting all progress or action) are suffering from fixed ideas which they received from "authorities," which no actual experience alters. That British red-coated infantry never took cover was one. It took a score or two of wars and fantastic loss of life to finally break it down. If any single fixed idea destroyed the British Empire, this one is a candidate. (HCO PL 19 May 70)

2. some people have a method of handling a downstat which is a fixed idea or a clich6 they use to handle all downstat situations in their lives. These people are so at effect they have some idea sitting there "that handles" a down statistic. "Life is always like that." "I always try my best." "People are mean." "It will get better." "It was worse last year." They know it isn't any use trying to do anything about anything and that it is best just to try to get by and not be noticed-a sure route to suicide. Instead of seeking to prevent or raise a declining stat in life such people use some fixed idea to explain it. This is a confession of being in apathy. One can always make stats go up. Hard work, foresight, initiative. One can always make stats go up. That's the truth of it, and it needs no explanations. (HCO PL 8 Feb 68)