why we're opinionated (or everything you know is wrong!)

Ah, this explains why people who disagree with me can never be convinced that I'm right and they're wrong! “Confirmation bias: We tend to remember evidence that confirms our beliefs or decisions, and ignore or belittle evidence that goes against them. It was recently shown that the brain seems to be wired this way. A study of the brain using new technology showed that the thinking areas practically shut down when people were made to listen to information that contradicted their political beliefs. Conversely, when they heard information that tended to confirm their beliefs, the happiness centers of the brain lit up.” from Rewire by Richard O'Connor

;-)