If logic, reason, and continuity were elements of thought within the circles of antisocial automatons, well, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.
All points made are absolutely brilliant, but ultimately moot in the face of those harboring predetermined and illogical beliefs. The things they believe to be convictions become quite floppy when exposed to situations that make principles inconvenient. I do not think rearranging words or appealing to their favorite phrases will be effective. There will always be a sidestep, an exemption, an excuse for why an action/ inaction is justified in stark contrast to supposed "beliefs". If I know anything, it is that the antisocial among us will bend anything to fit their view - quite the opposite of a healthy grounding in reality which requires of us to bend our view based on our most honest understanding of events and facts.
The "free market" concept is fantastic. I've entertained that approach as well, since they can't get enough of that empty phrase. Yet again, they will contort themselves into a pretzel to explain how it magically does not apply in this particular situation.
We are dealing with literal insanity. Logic does not apply. The believers will believe - no matter what. They are a lost cause.
The best we can do, in my opinion, is to reinforce sanity so no more fall over the event horizon. We focus on truth, on those who may still be tethered to reason, and doing what we can do with those left floating in the space of innocent unknowing. We message to the inactive, the dormant, the apathetic.
We will never convince the truly indoctrinated of their plight.
An abiding trait of our poorly educated fellow citizens is that they have learned to be bad at learning. And they got that way because they were the victims of too many crappy decisions while growing up that quashed their natural thirst to learn. They become crappy decision-makers as adults, and find security in their tribe of choice, and when their tribe morphs into a cult and the leader is Trump, well, we’re living in a prequel of “Idiocracy” and it won’t be long until Netflix produces Dennis Miller as Host of Crotch Kicking Kandid Kamera. Regardless, Thom has delivered yet another great history lesson that highlights the two root causes of the devolution of our democracy-our poorly educated citizens and corporate personhood. Thom has shared countless stories that link these two issues, and there is a way to address them effectively. I agree that changing the minds of people who are already toxically bad learners is a fool’s errand, or as John noted “We will never convince the truly indoctrinated of their plight.” The best you can do with cult members is forgive them for their stupid decisions (because they are the victims of a lifetime of stupid decisions) and offer them the opportunity to gain a role model education. Of course it will just piss them off, but it should at least make you feel better, or as Oscar Wilde observed, “Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much.”
"..quashed their natural thirst to learn.". I have thought a lot about the role of curiosity (or lack thereof) in a population and how it impacts societal conditions, and trajectory. I think it is a HUGE factor.
Attraction to shiny objects solely because they are shiny is death in waiting - asking why they are shiny is a different matter entirely.
"Idiocracy" is a great documentary about the future.
Vaccinations are THE passport to a job! On Monday, Aug 23rd, 2021 the stock market soared and the business community responded positively to the FDAs full and final approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for people 16 and older. There was an immediate flood of announcements by employers that they will REQUIRE employee vaccinations. Sadly, there will be pockets of "freedom fighters" who will continue to infect themselves and others, filling cemeteries and destroying their communities as they did in the Great Rebellion of 1861-1865, to this day. Businesses who continue to contribute to GOP politicians who cheer and encourage behavior which enables infection and death need to be exposed and boycotted and lose tax breaks. It is estimated that this last wave of Delta will not be over until the Spring of 2022. Conquering COVID is our American Revolution. May we be resolute and determined to defeat COVID and retain our American democracy so hard won by our ancestors in many wars for almost 400 years.
The anti-vax situation we are experiencing is the best all time example of "perception is reality" . One of my friends LIVES online Zooming with many of the anti-vax leaders. We're pretty sure she had the virus in late March of 2020.
There is much I hate about our medical-industrial complex, but I don't dismiss common sense medicine. Vaccines truly are common sense. There's room for discussion on ages, too much, too little, boosters, etc.. I thank scientists, not mother nature, for not getting polio, smallpox, tetanus and the list Thom gave, because I too had to vax to go overseas.
This friend said the corona virus made her the sickest she had ever been. There was very little testing available at that time. I hope that's what she had and her antibodies are still working, because her common sense is not. Her perception of what is "real" could kill. She thinks natural solutions will cure EVERYTHING. They didn't cure the over 1300 people that died needlessly yesterday. This is like the drowned man parable where he asks God why he didn't answer his prayer, and God responded "I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?" Amen.
If logic, reason, and continuity were elements of thought within the circles of antisocial automatons, well, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.
All points made are absolutely brilliant, but ultimately moot in the face of those harboring predetermined and illogical beliefs. The things they believe to be convictions become quite floppy when exposed to situations that make principles inconvenient. I do not think rearranging words or appealing to their favorite phrases will be effective. There will always be a sidestep, an exemption, an excuse for why an action/ inaction is justified in stark contrast to supposed "beliefs". If I know anything, it is that the antisocial among us will bend anything to fit their view - quite the opposite of a healthy grounding in reality which requires of us to bend our view based on our most honest understanding of events and facts.
The "free market" concept is fantastic. I've entertained that approach as well, since they can't get enough of that empty phrase. Yet again, they will contort themselves into a pretzel to explain how it magically does not apply in this particular situation.
We are dealing with literal insanity. Logic does not apply. The believers will believe - no matter what. They are a lost cause.
The best we can do, in my opinion, is to reinforce sanity so no more fall over the event horizon. We focus on truth, on those who may still be tethered to reason, and doing what we can do with those left floating in the space of innocent unknowing. We message to the inactive, the dormant, the apathetic.
We will never convince the truly indoctrinated of their plight.
An abiding trait of our poorly educated fellow citizens is that they have learned to be bad at learning. And they got that way because they were the victims of too many crappy decisions while growing up that quashed their natural thirst to learn. They become crappy decision-makers as adults, and find security in their tribe of choice, and when their tribe morphs into a cult and the leader is Trump, well, we’re living in a prequel of “Idiocracy” and it won’t be long until Netflix produces Dennis Miller as Host of Crotch Kicking Kandid Kamera. Regardless, Thom has delivered yet another great history lesson that highlights the two root causes of the devolution of our democracy-our poorly educated citizens and corporate personhood. Thom has shared countless stories that link these two issues, and there is a way to address them effectively. I agree that changing the minds of people who are already toxically bad learners is a fool’s errand, or as John noted “We will never convince the truly indoctrinated of their plight.” The best you can do with cult members is forgive them for their stupid decisions (because they are the victims of a lifetime of stupid decisions) and offer them the opportunity to gain a role model education. Of course it will just piss them off, but it should at least make you feel better, or as Oscar Wilde observed, “Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much.”
"..quashed their natural thirst to learn.". I have thought a lot about the role of curiosity (or lack thereof) in a population and how it impacts societal conditions, and trajectory. I think it is a HUGE factor.
Attraction to shiny objects solely because they are shiny is death in waiting - asking why they are shiny is a different matter entirely.
"Idiocracy" is a great documentary about the future.
Vaccinations are THE passport to a job! On Monday, Aug 23rd, 2021 the stock market soared and the business community responded positively to the FDAs full and final approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for people 16 and older. There was an immediate flood of announcements by employers that they will REQUIRE employee vaccinations. Sadly, there will be pockets of "freedom fighters" who will continue to infect themselves and others, filling cemeteries and destroying their communities as they did in the Great Rebellion of 1861-1865, to this day. Businesses who continue to contribute to GOP politicians who cheer and encourage behavior which enables infection and death need to be exposed and boycotted and lose tax breaks. It is estimated that this last wave of Delta will not be over until the Spring of 2022. Conquering COVID is our American Revolution. May we be resolute and determined to defeat COVID and retain our American democracy so hard won by our ancestors in many wars for almost 400 years.
The anti-vax situation we are experiencing is the best all time example of "perception is reality" . One of my friends LIVES online Zooming with many of the anti-vax leaders. We're pretty sure she had the virus in late March of 2020.
There is much I hate about our medical-industrial complex, but I don't dismiss common sense medicine. Vaccines truly are common sense. There's room for discussion on ages, too much, too little, boosters, etc.. I thank scientists, not mother nature, for not getting polio, smallpox, tetanus and the list Thom gave, because I too had to vax to go overseas.
This friend said the corona virus made her the sickest she had ever been. There was very little testing available at that time. I hope that's what she had and her antibodies are still working, because her common sense is not. Her perception of what is "real" could kill. She thinks natural solutions will cure EVERYTHING. They didn't cure the over 1300 people that died needlessly yesterday. This is like the drowned man parable where he asks God why he didn't answer his prayer, and God responded "I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?" Amen.