Five times.
It’s not imperative, but when I personally sense that I’m obstructing myself around a topic, I take some time to reset myself and give things a fresh go. The hardest part is leaving out all my preconceptions and keeping my stink face off, but it’s proven worth it enough times that it’s become something I’ve made a habit.
Like if Watts says, "Life isn't a journey, it's a dance," one can hear that and say, "Ok, I get what you're going for, I've reflected on it deeply, but for me, life is a journey, not a dance." And it's not necessarily true that, if one reflects deeper, and grows wiser, and puts down one's preconceptions, etc etc, they will eventually, in the fullness of time, realize Alan was right. That's the sort of presumptive condescension that is being called out.
(Six.)
In a different context this would have been played for laughs, or it would have been considered trolling. I do not think the above commenter was trolling. People are just attached to idols and ideas they like and having them tarnished results in an impulsive reaction to defend them.