I know I’m on the right side of the side of the fence with most of this crap we are experiencing is because every time I drop a verifiable, ironclad fact that punctures one of the “other side’s” sacred lies, I get a verbal Molotov cocktail lobbed at me.
It's just too disheartening trying to fix the moronicity that has infected the general population. A functioning brain is required to understand logic and facts, and they are as rare as hens teeth.
I am continually astounded as to how easy it is to manipulate the human mind. I suppose this has always been the case, but I honestly believe there was a time when it was a bit more difficult. One HAD to have some common sense in order to survive back in the day...every day decision making could kill you if you didn't have some wits about you.
I think survival was one thing, then as you moved up Maslow's pyramid, you needed more sophisticated wits about you...for business, dealing with the government, other "swindlers"...and you need to protect your soul through a moral awareness which came from religion. People were "smart"...they read books (the people higher up on the pyramid), they appreciated art, literature, even science. All that is gone now.
Great article Todd. There is definitely a mob mentality in regards to hating Trump. And there is no reasoning with most of them. Clearly, they listen to mainstream news and the channels never stop the bitterness toward Trump so therefore, without thinking most people repeat what they hear. Truth doesn't matter much these days. Look at the last 5 years and especially through they plandemic, there was so much hatred toward those who chose not to take the toxic jab. Why? Because it was featured on the news daily and by Trudeau himself. Most aren't open to facing their shadow but wouldn't it be wonderful if they did.
Truth doesn't matter at all. Actually, it never really has, it is very difficult for anything to penetrate a person's complex psychology. Only people who are relatively well integrated can get truth to penetrate.
Now, the "mass" phenomenon is the strange one...maybe not strange, but certainly important to recognize as "different"...Jung also had a lot to say about that, and most recently Mattias Desmet's book covers a lot of it. So does Douglas Murray's "The Madness of Crowds"...
Speaking of books, I am reading, actually re-reading one titled, "Love Without Conditions" by Paul Ferrini. I was having a bath on Monday evening, after reading your post and it just so happened to be at this chapter: The Tyranny of Agreement. According to this author "a friend is one who is free to agree or disagree. A friend will speak to you truthfully". And also that "You can't be a friend if you are not willing to tell the truth". And there was more. But in relation to your friend - he didn't want to hear the truth. In the big picture, was he really a friend? Or was he an acquaintance who just randomly dropped you because of Trump. Crazy.
Definitely my definition of "friend", these people do not meet...but that would pretty much mean I have NEVER had a "friend." Anyone I used to call a friend who is on the left is no longer a friend. They have dissed me in a variety of ways, a few of them actually telling me to my face they hoped I got Covid and died. This single fact (that I have lost ALL of my liberal friends) is what I grieve about the most in this insanity. It is so perplexing to me that I cannot make sense of it.
The guy I mentioned my article was never a deep, close friend. He is the brother of my best friend growing up (since 1966), so I have known him for a long time. Still, no reason to treat me the way he did. My other friends who have left me were DEEP friends, friends I would probably die for, or at least risk my life for...they flicked me out of their lives like you would flick a mosquito off your arm. Horrible.
Honestly Todd, it is hard to truly be 'friends' with people because if you are too honest, that typically doesn't fly and if you aren't honest enough, then it is pretty shallow. I have a good friend who didn't drop me for my bold opinions even though she took the jabs and now is regretful. I never even considered dropping her for her choices. As for the views on Trump, it isn't like he is my best friend but the bias against him is just crazy and the derangement syndrome some people have for him, is over the top.
You know, I can't tell you how meaningful it is for you to say that...although all of us are not "pals"...there is a huge comfort in knowing all of you are out there...and are in more contact than just a name, or a face on the screen.
I feel like if many of us met in person we would really like each other. It isn't like we have to all think alike but in general we are willing to listen and decide for ourselves. You and others have kept a lifeline going for many of us, without doubt. :)
I'm paraphrasing, but someone on a podcast I listened to recently said that if people have arrived at an incorrect view/conclusion via reason and evidence, one might be able to change their mind using reason and different evidence. If they are operating from emotion, like many of our TDS-afflicted friends and family, there is no way to change their minds. These folks have no epistemic humility because they don't arrive at knowledge in a rational way so there can be no meeting of the minds. We're not even on the same playing field as these folks and I'm convinced that only a wallop of reality *might* knock them back to reality. I say might because we've seen them rationalize the most absurd things in light of solid evidence right in front of their faces. I just don't bother anymore and avoid the nastiest of them.
Yes, in my opinion you are absolutely correct. That is a good way to look at it. If some conclusion is arrived through cause and effect reason there are fewer holes in it where fantasy can seep in. Human's ability to deal with the imaginal mind is very important when dealing with cause and effect reality. The imaginal mind is very important for proper mental health, but there has to be some sort of realization regarding it...if it stays in the unconscious, a person will not be able to protect themselves from the story telling, and convincing, it will engage in.
Thinking about sending this to my friend whose ex won't attend his granddaughter's wedding because she is a Trump supporter. But I probably won't. Nothing seems to help. Sigh.
Send it. I was thinking of sending it to some of my sheep friends and family...it probably will not "help"...but I think it is important that we remain the pebble in the shoe...
Beware the BOTS. The YouTube haterage has past. If "people" are coming at you with hate they very well could be algorithms programmed to do it. My Digital friends gave me their achilles heel. Cognitive Dissonance. Try it out on them. It works. 😊
Walking middle finger. Brilliant. Really enjoyed this one. Also I have enxountered so much straw man reaction. I sent a news piece from an India based, very right online source to various folks. It was,reporting the rioting in Paris, the first report of this I had encountered. I'd seen lots of Ireland and the UK, even Brampton, but this was new. Didn't pay too much attention to the bias of the language...BIG mistake! I should have asked, have you seen anyrhing else,about this? Instead I got accused of being an irresponsible ,racist extremist because the speaker referred to the groups of rioters as being from North Africa and migrants, coming into France by boatloads, and into the UK too. I was actually looking for confirmation of the facts. Since, I've seen other mainstream (Lib media) pieces that omit identification of group members. So again, I will have to couch everything I say in motives, contexts and specifics, or be automatically relegated to the horde of deplorables, whether or not what I say is True, or is simply a questiioning. Either I have to go to too much trouble or just,shut up.
You make such an important point here...I hope everyone here in shrew-land reads it. This is so clearly the "straw man" tactic, which has become so prevalent in responding to many of our questions I doubt if people who do it have any clue as to what they are doing.
It's just too disheartening trying to fix the moronicity that has infected the general population. A functioning brain is required to understand logic and facts, and they are as rare as hens teeth.
I am continually astounded as to how easy it is to manipulate the human mind. I suppose this has always been the case, but I honestly believe there was a time when it was a bit more difficult. One HAD to have some common sense in order to survive back in the day...every day decision making could kill you if you didn't have some wits about you.
I think survival was one thing, then as you moved up Maslow's pyramid, you needed more sophisticated wits about you...for business, dealing with the government, other "swindlers"...and you need to protect your soul through a moral awareness which came from religion. People were "smart"...they read books (the people higher up on the pyramid), they appreciated art, literature, even science. All that is gone now.
Great article Todd. There is definitely a mob mentality in regards to hating Trump. And there is no reasoning with most of them. Clearly, they listen to mainstream news and the channels never stop the bitterness toward Trump so therefore, without thinking most people repeat what they hear. Truth doesn't matter much these days. Look at the last 5 years and especially through they plandemic, there was so much hatred toward those who chose not to take the toxic jab. Why? Because it was featured on the news daily and by Trudeau himself. Most aren't open to facing their shadow but wouldn't it be wonderful if they did.
Truth doesn't matter at all. Actually, it never really has, it is very difficult for anything to penetrate a person's complex psychology. Only people who are relatively well integrated can get truth to penetrate.
Now, the "mass" phenomenon is the strange one...maybe not strange, but certainly important to recognize as "different"...Jung also had a lot to say about that, and most recently Mattias Desmet's book covers a lot of it. So does Douglas Murray's "The Madness of Crowds"...
Speaking of books, I am reading, actually re-reading one titled, "Love Without Conditions" by Paul Ferrini. I was having a bath on Monday evening, after reading your post and it just so happened to be at this chapter: The Tyranny of Agreement. According to this author "a friend is one who is free to agree or disagree. A friend will speak to you truthfully". And also that "You can't be a friend if you are not willing to tell the truth". And there was more. But in relation to your friend - he didn't want to hear the truth. In the big picture, was he really a friend? Or was he an acquaintance who just randomly dropped you because of Trump. Crazy.
Definitely my definition of "friend", these people do not meet...but that would pretty much mean I have NEVER had a "friend." Anyone I used to call a friend who is on the left is no longer a friend. They have dissed me in a variety of ways, a few of them actually telling me to my face they hoped I got Covid and died. This single fact (that I have lost ALL of my liberal friends) is what I grieve about the most in this insanity. It is so perplexing to me that I cannot make sense of it.
The guy I mentioned my article was never a deep, close friend. He is the brother of my best friend growing up (since 1966), so I have known him for a long time. Still, no reason to treat me the way he did. My other friends who have left me were DEEP friends, friends I would probably die for, or at least risk my life for...they flicked me out of their lives like you would flick a mosquito off your arm. Horrible.
Honestly Todd, it is hard to truly be 'friends' with people because if you are too honest, that typically doesn't fly and if you aren't honest enough, then it is pretty shallow. I have a good friend who didn't drop me for my bold opinions even though she took the jabs and now is regretful. I never even considered dropping her for her choices. As for the views on Trump, it isn't like he is my best friend but the bias against him is just crazy and the derangement syndrome some people have for him, is over the top.
You have us as friends Todd. :)
You know, I can't tell you how meaningful it is for you to say that...although all of us are not "pals"...there is a huge comfort in knowing all of you are out there...and are in more contact than just a name, or a face on the screen.
I feel like if many of us met in person we would really like each other. It isn't like we have to all think alike but in general we are willing to listen and decide for ourselves. You and others have kept a lifeline going for many of us, without doubt. :)
I'm paraphrasing, but someone on a podcast I listened to recently said that if people have arrived at an incorrect view/conclusion via reason and evidence, one might be able to change their mind using reason and different evidence. If they are operating from emotion, like many of our TDS-afflicted friends and family, there is no way to change their minds. These folks have no epistemic humility because they don't arrive at knowledge in a rational way so there can be no meeting of the minds. We're not even on the same playing field as these folks and I'm convinced that only a wallop of reality *might* knock them back to reality. I say might because we've seen them rationalize the most absurd things in light of solid evidence right in front of their faces. I just don't bother anymore and avoid the nastiest of them.
Great article and I love the Jungian focus!
Yes, in my opinion you are absolutely correct. That is a good way to look at it. If some conclusion is arrived through cause and effect reason there are fewer holes in it where fantasy can seep in. Human's ability to deal with the imaginal mind is very important when dealing with cause and effect reality. The imaginal mind is very important for proper mental health, but there has to be some sort of realization regarding it...if it stays in the unconscious, a person will not be able to protect themselves from the story telling, and convincing, it will engage in.
Good read, Todd. Linked it already on Saturday @https://nothingnewunderthesun2016.com/ from Off Guardian.
Thank you! Yes, sometimes I have to meet OG's deadline with an article not yet published here...I try to avoid that, but sometimes I can't help it.
I always check both places anyway,
Thinking about sending this to my friend whose ex won't attend his granddaughter's wedding because she is a Trump supporter. But I probably won't. Nothing seems to help. Sigh.
Send it. I was thinking of sending it to some of my sheep friends and family...it probably will not "help"...but I think it is important that we remain the pebble in the shoe...
Isn't this sad - that he will miss his granddaughter's wedding. I think he is well past reasoning with.
Yes, very sad, and so so so so unnecessary.
Beware the BOTS. The YouTube haterage has past. If "people" are coming at you with hate they very well could be algorithms programmed to do it. My Digital friends gave me their achilles heel. Cognitive Dissonance. Try it out on them. It works. 😊
Really good point...
Wonderful article ….this answers a lot of my “ why’s “ re folks seeming to be so oblivious to reality while at the same time being so vengeful!
Thinking out loud this same dynamic is the source of so much conflict at the family level ……
It's one idea...
#truthovertribe as Trish Wood from Canada says.... and stay critical..... https://trishwood.substack.com/p/video-pod-saving-democracy-in-a-world
“tweeting like a drunk uncle at a wedding“
Perfect description. Just because it’s uncomfortable to watch him rampage, doesn’t mean he isn’t supposed to do it.
Good article. We try so hard to deny our shadow
I like your comment, "Just because it’s uncomfortable to watch him rampage, doesn’t mean he isn’t supposed to do it."...that is so "right on."
Walking middle finger. Brilliant. Really enjoyed this one. Also I have enxountered so much straw man reaction. I sent a news piece from an India based, very right online source to various folks. It was,reporting the rioting in Paris, the first report of this I had encountered. I'd seen lots of Ireland and the UK, even Brampton, but this was new. Didn't pay too much attention to the bias of the language...BIG mistake! I should have asked, have you seen anyrhing else,about this? Instead I got accused of being an irresponsible ,racist extremist because the speaker referred to the groups of rioters as being from North Africa and migrants, coming into France by boatloads, and into the UK too. I was actually looking for confirmation of the facts. Since, I've seen other mainstream (Lib media) pieces that omit identification of group members. So again, I will have to couch everything I say in motives, contexts and specifics, or be automatically relegated to the horde of deplorables, whether or not what I say is True, or is simply a questiioning. Either I have to go to too much trouble or just,shut up.
You make such an important point here...I hope everyone here in shrew-land reads it. This is so clearly the "straw man" tactic, which has become so prevalent in responding to many of our questions I doubt if people who do it have any clue as to what they are doing.