On the other hand, hasn't there been some discussion of the idea that you have to believe something, however briefly, to understand it?

Even though expressing a desire to slap has no macro bodily effect [1], it still has an emotional effect which is going to affect how a conversation goes, however slightly. [2]

[1] Tentative phrasing used to respect the idea that everything is physical, including thoughts and emotions, but that some things affect people physically more than others.

[2] I believe that "just ignore it" leaves out that ignoring things is work.