Fear can serve a useful purpose when it warns of actual danger, and prompts us to take action to alleviate the threat. The problem with much of the dread in this current circumstance is that it is manufactured solely to facilitate interpersonal manipulation.
It's much easier to push someone around when they are off balance, and the fear of imperfection leaves everyone wanting greater stability- something that proves most profitable to the shills and their masters.
Being heavy or trans or old or different isn't inherently dangerous, but the perception that these characteristics warrant abhorrence prompts not only disdain but sanctified violence; for although no one can fully attain the ever shifting standards of beauty and style, everyone can inflict pain on those who fail- if for no other reason than to defect attention from their own shortcomings. Instead of being recognized as craven behavior, public denouncement of non-conformity is lauded for affirming social values, even as it diminishes and destroy the society it purports to cherish.
When fear becomes continuous, it loses its value; the constant alarm tends to be ignored, even when the threat is real. With the inability to distinguish between clear and present danger and contrived dread, comes a lust for the one element that is seen to provide mastery of the situation : power. Perhaps control over one's self is unattainable, but with enough money, fame, violence, etc., order (no matter how dismal) may maintained by controlling others.
The problem, however, is that power creates its own fear- fear of its loss, fear of greater power- which demands ever more power to control. This path leads down into the mire of terror; where all the conformity and power imaginable aren't enough to prevent being taken over and pulled under by fear.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Mutually Assured Destruction
To shape unique individuals into interchangeable components requires a willingness and desire to amputate all forms of meaningful differentiation.
The power holders delegate this function through social norms to assure that groups enforce strict compliance by means of mental, emotional, and physical violence.
People must be taught to regard their most basic reality- their intrinsic sense of self- as a criminal perversity; deserving both abhorrence and punitive measures. Self hatred that springs from the recognition of human distinctiveness creates powerful tools in the hands of the unscrupulous; a truncheon to beat down diversity, and a blade to excise confidence in one's ability to create a viable personality.
Thus, personal validity becomes linked to conformity; and the willingness to destroy uniqueness in others. One can't have an identity , but one can prevent others from having theirs. The mutual destruction assures that no one survives; only the imitations of life are left to fill the societal slots.
Existence at the price of reality; a MADness controlled by insanity of power.
The power holders delegate this function through social norms to assure that groups enforce strict compliance by means of mental, emotional, and physical violence.
People must be taught to regard their most basic reality- their intrinsic sense of self- as a criminal perversity; deserving both abhorrence and punitive measures. Self hatred that springs from the recognition of human distinctiveness creates powerful tools in the hands of the unscrupulous; a truncheon to beat down diversity, and a blade to excise confidence in one's ability to create a viable personality.
Thus, personal validity becomes linked to conformity; and the willingness to destroy uniqueness in others. One can't have an identity , but one can prevent others from having theirs. The mutual destruction assures that no one survives; only the imitations of life are left to fill the societal slots.
Existence at the price of reality; a MADness controlled by insanity of power.
Monday, February 2, 2009
disgusting
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=you-disgust-me-bad-behavior
"Regardless of how they may explicitly justify their beliefs on the subject, most people who believe that homosexuality is wrong also experience disgust at the thought of gay sex. Much of this work suggests it is the gut-level feeling of disgust that leads homophobes to reason that the behavior is immoral, not the other way around. In other words, “that which disgusts me must be wrong” rather than “it is wrong, therefore I should be disgusted.”
-----------------------------------
"What had been in his far-off youth a merely aesthetic repugnance to realities that were crude or vulgar, had deepened and darkened, year after year, into a fixed refusal of everything that was in any degree other than himself."
--C.S. Lewis
-------------------------------
Thus, through pride, ignorance, and intolerance, arises the notion that personal bigotry and hatred is sanctioned by divine law. Disgust is not the litmus test for sin; it may be reassuring to believe such, but that assumption is merely a convenience of hubris. Repugnance should not lead to abhorrence, especially when it concerns other people, lest contempt be indulged for individual satisfaction; and lives be damaged or ruined.
One of the primary functions of love remains its ability to bridge the gulfs between unique entities; the power to find worthy attributes in even the most dissimilar worldviews and cherish them. Worse still, when the omnipotent power is invoked as justification for worldly revulsion, it unburdens the conscience from the responsibility to treat each other with compassion and charity. Loathing becomes a duty; a mandate that frees up the destructive powers of condemnation and vengeance to annihilate perceived adversaries. This abrogation of moral obligation proves pernicious for both the accuser and the accused; fostering derision on both sides, and leading to violence.
The need to evaluate and govern one's own behaviors can not be taken as license to castigate others for perceived differences; and certainly not as justification for destroying those whose paths vary from our own. Personal prejudice can be effectively mitigated by acknowledging bias and striving to learn from everyone.
There is little more disgusting than a closed heart and mind that opens only to hatred.
"Regardless of how they may explicitly justify their beliefs on the subject, most people who believe that homosexuality is wrong also experience disgust at the thought of gay sex. Much of this work suggests it is the gut-level feeling of disgust that leads homophobes to reason that the behavior is immoral, not the other way around. In other words, “that which disgusts me must be wrong” rather than “it is wrong, therefore I should be disgusted.”
-----------------------------------
"What had been in his far-off youth a merely aesthetic repugnance to realities that were crude or vulgar, had deepened and darkened, year after year, into a fixed refusal of everything that was in any degree other than himself."
--C.S. Lewis
-------------------------------
Thus, through pride, ignorance, and intolerance, arises the notion that personal bigotry and hatred is sanctioned by divine law. Disgust is not the litmus test for sin; it may be reassuring to believe such, but that assumption is merely a convenience of hubris. Repugnance should not lead to abhorrence, especially when it concerns other people, lest contempt be indulged for individual satisfaction; and lives be damaged or ruined.
One of the primary functions of love remains its ability to bridge the gulfs between unique entities; the power to find worthy attributes in even the most dissimilar worldviews and cherish them. Worse still, when the omnipotent power is invoked as justification for worldly revulsion, it unburdens the conscience from the responsibility to treat each other with compassion and charity. Loathing becomes a duty; a mandate that frees up the destructive powers of condemnation and vengeance to annihilate perceived adversaries. This abrogation of moral obligation proves pernicious for both the accuser and the accused; fostering derision on both sides, and leading to violence.
The need to evaluate and govern one's own behaviors can not be taken as license to castigate others for perceived differences; and certainly not as justification for destroying those whose paths vary from our own. Personal prejudice can be effectively mitigated by acknowledging bias and striving to learn from everyone.
There is little more disgusting than a closed heart and mind that opens only to hatred.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
If you're mortal and you know it...
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=fear-death-and-politics
SOLOMON: A large body of evidence shows that momentarily making death salient, typically by asking people to think about themselves dying, intensifies people’s strivings to protect and bolster aspects of their worldviews, and to bolster their self-esteem. The most common finding is that MS increases positive reactions to those who share cherished aspects of one’s cultural worldview, and negative reactions toward those who violate cherished cultural values or are merely different.
------------------------------------------
Thus, invoking the fear of death can pander to people's bigotry, and arouse their hatred of the socially variant. This strategy has proved profitable for many groups; especially the reactionary religious ones. Further, by invoking the "death of culture" concept, this fear can be exploited even more adroitly.
By threatening the demise of concepts deemed irreplaceable to an individual's continued existence, the triggering of abhorrence occurs, and can be channeled into useful reservoirs of repugnance. Individuals that disagree with a cherished belief become life-threatening attackers; for which violence in kind is the only proper response.
Thus, the left-leaning morph into terrorist loving madmen; the gender variant mutate into horrific child molesters; and the poor distort into capitalistic crushing parasites; all inhuman creatures bent on cultural annihilation and requiring extermination.
Meanwhile, those espousing beloved viewpoints are canonized; their words and deeds a saintly inspiration by which to fashion life and livelihood. Absolved from the constraints of human ignorance and bias, the chosen ones don the mantel of omniscience; and thus are freed from the shackles of empathy or mercy.
A god adored becomes a comfort for mortals... and those aspiring to eternity through the elimination of the abominated adversaries.
SOLOMON: A large body of evidence shows that momentarily making death salient, typically by asking people to think about themselves dying, intensifies people’s strivings to protect and bolster aspects of their worldviews, and to bolster their self-esteem. The most common finding is that MS increases positive reactions to those who share cherished aspects of one’s cultural worldview, and negative reactions toward those who violate cherished cultural values or are merely different.
------------------------------------------
Thus, invoking the fear of death can pander to people's bigotry, and arouse their hatred of the socially variant. This strategy has proved profitable for many groups; especially the reactionary religious ones. Further, by invoking the "death of culture" concept, this fear can be exploited even more adroitly.
By threatening the demise of concepts deemed irreplaceable to an individual's continued existence, the triggering of abhorrence occurs, and can be channeled into useful reservoirs of repugnance. Individuals that disagree with a cherished belief become life-threatening attackers; for which violence in kind is the only proper response.
Thus, the left-leaning morph into terrorist loving madmen; the gender variant mutate into horrific child molesters; and the poor distort into capitalistic crushing parasites; all inhuman creatures bent on cultural annihilation and requiring extermination.
Meanwhile, those espousing beloved viewpoints are canonized; their words and deeds a saintly inspiration by which to fashion life and livelihood. Absolved from the constraints of human ignorance and bias, the chosen ones don the mantel of omniscience; and thus are freed from the shackles of empathy or mercy.
A god adored becomes a comfort for mortals... and those aspiring to eternity through the elimination of the abominated adversaries.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
three r's
http://www.slate.com/id/2202303/
You could say our lives as social beings are ruled by the three R's: respect—the sense that proper deference has been paid to our status, reputation—the carefully maintained perception of our qualities, and reciprocity—the belief that our actions are responded to fairly.
---------------------------------
Indeed, these principles of education are the most prized within the academy of society; and inculcating them our most sacred task. Without due respect, there can be no self-esteem. Without a proper reputation, one's standing in the community is compromised. Without proportionate reciprocity, public intercourse becomes unbalanced and dysfunctional.
Managing these aspects of our lives becomes of paramount importance; calling us to expend all energy necessary to insure that our persona is properly cultivated and cherished by all pertinent people. Impressing others with our prominence should occupy a central position in our daily lives; insuring a stable and predictable pattern of interactions.
To achieve this worthy goal, both the powers of persuasion and coercion are vital, and need to be applied in copious portions to the festering sores of misperception that exist in the minds of others. Only when the infection of ignorance have been salved into submission can our proper station be restored and maintained.
This education needs to be continuing, for without constant reapplication; chances of a recurrence of reality are far too common; imposing the specter of infection and its insidious consequences.
You could say our lives as social beings are ruled by the three R's: respect—the sense that proper deference has been paid to our status, reputation—the carefully maintained perception of our qualities, and reciprocity—the belief that our actions are responded to fairly.
---------------------------------
Indeed, these principles of education are the most prized within the academy of society; and inculcating them our most sacred task. Without due respect, there can be no self-esteem. Without a proper reputation, one's standing in the community is compromised. Without proportionate reciprocity, public intercourse becomes unbalanced and dysfunctional.
Managing these aspects of our lives becomes of paramount importance; calling us to expend all energy necessary to insure that our persona is properly cultivated and cherished by all pertinent people. Impressing others with our prominence should occupy a central position in our daily lives; insuring a stable and predictable pattern of interactions.
To achieve this worthy goal, both the powers of persuasion and coercion are vital, and need to be applied in copious portions to the festering sores of misperception that exist in the minds of others. Only when the infection of ignorance have been salved into submission can our proper station be restored and maintained.
This education needs to be continuing, for without constant reapplication; chances of a recurrence of reality are far too common; imposing the specter of infection and its insidious consequences.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
hollowed be thy name
One of the most delightful procedures is the evisceration of faith through religion itself. Where virtues might be found to flourish, the application of self-righteous pride and ignorance allow individuals to forgo the tiresome burdens of charity, hope, and devotion; freeing them to tote whatever orthodoxy rides most easily.
By substituting the image of holiness for its reality, and focusing all attention and adoration towards such a graven image; there remains precious little energy allotted to the actual work of faith. Thus, the ostentatious display of pseudo-piety affords its devotees sanctimonious smugness without any corresponding responsibility; a perfect recipe for a feast of indulgent hatred.
Secure within the shell of conviction, belief in anything other than the justification of self seems remote, and one finds little danger in evoking whichever deity best serves that purpose- hollowed be thy name, wherever thou art.
By substituting the image of holiness for its reality, and focusing all attention and adoration towards such a graven image; there remains precious little energy allotted to the actual work of faith. Thus, the ostentatious display of pseudo-piety affords its devotees sanctimonious smugness without any corresponding responsibility; a perfect recipe for a feast of indulgent hatred.
Secure within the shell of conviction, belief in anything other than the justification of self seems remote, and one finds little danger in evoking whichever deity best serves that purpose- hollowed be thy name, wherever thou art.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
certainly wrong
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-certainty-bias
"the brain has provided us with a wide variety of subjective feelings of reward ranging from hunches, gut feelings, intuitions, suspicions that we are on the right track to a profound sense of certainty and utter conviction. And yes, these feelings are qualitatively as powerful as those involved in sex and gambling. One need only look at the self-satisfied smugness of a "know it all" to suspect that the feeling of certainty can approach the power of addiction."
"In short, please run, do not walk, to the nearest exit when you hear so-called leaders being certain of any particular policy. Only in the absence of certainty can we have open-mindedness, mental flexibility and willingness to contemplate alternative ideas."
--------------------------------------------
Indeed, the oh so admired quality of certainty bespeaks of a rather less cherished one: ignorance. Just as those dependent on chemicals derive pleasure from a source both dangerous and rarely sustainable; those who are slaves to self-righteousness wallow in a destructive and debilitating bliss.
The mental warping from the intoxicating effects of unwavering dogmatism prevent the lucid evaluation of any position; indeed, the requirements of feeding such an obsession demand a reckless disregard for reality, even at the cost of integrity and happiness.
When leaders crow about their ability to "stay the course", they boast of an inability to think objectively, or reason coherently. Such esteemed madness may be acceptable for the zealots of the faith; but for the rest of the population, it is simply a fanaticism unworthy of public office.
"the brain has provided us with a wide variety of subjective feelings of reward ranging from hunches, gut feelings, intuitions, suspicions that we are on the right track to a profound sense of certainty and utter conviction. And yes, these feelings are qualitatively as powerful as those involved in sex and gambling. One need only look at the self-satisfied smugness of a "know it all" to suspect that the feeling of certainty can approach the power of addiction."
"In short, please run, do not walk, to the nearest exit when you hear so-called leaders being certain of any particular policy. Only in the absence of certainty can we have open-mindedness, mental flexibility and willingness to contemplate alternative ideas."
--------------------------------------------
Indeed, the oh so admired quality of certainty bespeaks of a rather less cherished one: ignorance. Just as those dependent on chemicals derive pleasure from a source both dangerous and rarely sustainable; those who are slaves to self-righteousness wallow in a destructive and debilitating bliss.
The mental warping from the intoxicating effects of unwavering dogmatism prevent the lucid evaluation of any position; indeed, the requirements of feeding such an obsession demand a reckless disregard for reality, even at the cost of integrity and happiness.
When leaders crow about their ability to "stay the course", they boast of an inability to think objectively, or reason coherently. Such esteemed madness may be acceptable for the zealots of the faith; but for the rest of the population, it is simply a fanaticism unworthy of public office.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
