I've realized something that others may well have realized long ago, may reflect my naivety and optimism, but is now made me seriously doubt things can or will improve.
there is an alarming proportion of people who, having caved before authoritarianism ...
1/n
there is an alarming proportion of people who, having caved before authoritarianism ...
1/n
... react to those who have not, not with any of: admiration of courage, sadness at futility, curiosity, apathy, or even well-conceived disagreement or anger given they actually believe in the merits of authoritarianism, but rather pure, sadistic resentment and attack.
2/n
2/n
the desire to attack does not come from a wish to dominate, but to pool suffering; not the will of a potential master, but a fellow slave.
it is as if - or possibly literally *is* the case that - coming to terms with their own voluntary subservience ...
3/n
it is as if - or possibly literally *is* the case that - coming to terms with their own voluntary subservience ...
3/n
... would be so psychologically damaging that it must be avoided at all costs, no matter the immorality or inconsistency of what they demand of others, or the nonsense they use to retroactively justify their own choices.
they need to socialize their emotional sunk costs.
4/n
they need to socialize their emotional sunk costs.
4/n
because at no point were their own choices motivated by reason. they were motivated by fear.
you'll notice this manifest in several telltale ways.
for example, they will insist there is one objection to their view, which happens to be stupid, evil, and believed by nobody.
5/n
you'll notice this manifest in several telltale ways.
for example, they will insist there is one objection to their view, which happens to be stupid, evil, and believed by nobody.
5/n
any attempt at reason would immediately expose how absurd this is, and hence must itself be treated as morally and intellectually suspect so as to be dismissed as quickly as possible, lest sustained reasoning demonstrate that their own view has no basis besides fear.
6/n
6/n
you'll notice they talk with absolute confidence about the motivations of others, occasionally to their faces, despite never having enquired.
they can't admit curiosity or even ignorance. if they say "I don't know" they invite being told. they do know: stupidity and evil.
7/n
they can't admit curiosity or even ignorance. if they say "I don't know" they invite being told. they do know: stupidity and evil.
7/n
you'll notice their "reasons" contradict their previous "reasons" and will contradict their future "reasons." often, they are self-contradictory.
this seems strange until you realize they are not reasons at all: they are coherent linguistic expressions to repeat ...
8/n
this seems strange until you realize they are not reasons at all: they are coherent linguistic expressions to repeat ...
8/n
... when justifying their fear-motivated choices, because that fits the form of standard dialogue. but it doesn't fit the function, and so the experience can be rather cargo culty.
relatedly, you'll notice they will say these things without being asked or it being relevant.
9/n
relatedly, you'll notice they will say these things without being asked or it being relevant.
9/n
it's a form of signalling and intimidation - they are inviting others to emit the same noises to cement the rules for that sphere of discussion and to reinforce that: no, these choices were not based on fear at all.
but no reasoning allowed. only the suspicious reason.
10/n
but no reasoning allowed. only the suspicious reason.
10/n
these are all inadvertent defense mechanisms to remain psychologically stable because the trauma of facing up to their cowardice must be avoided at all costs.
equally distributing suffering is preferable to the shame of admitting they have been successfully manipulated.
11/n
equally distributing suffering is preferable to the shame of admitting they have been successfully manipulated.
11/n
it is also darkly funny how easy it is to predict what the evolving set of "reasons" will be that mysteriously line up to support whatever comes next.
here's how you do it: you pick some incremental authoritarian measure, then you work backwards ...
12/n
here's how you do it: you pick some incremental authoritarian measure, then you work backwards ...
12/n
... to how that would be packaged to somebody highly susceptible to fear yet unwilling to acknowledge this, indifferent to consistency, and desperate to demonize those who are not suffering in the way for which they have volunteered.
it's practically a parlor game.
13/n
it's practically a parlor game.
13/n
it's also terribly sad and honestly quite frightening to think about what is going to happen when it is no longer possible for people to *just be reasonable*.
(spoiler alert: they'll leave)
14/n
(spoiler alert: they'll leave)
14/n
https://twitter.com/allenf32/status/1417086523044941831
the only viable option to my mind is self-(re)organization in communities that value personal responsibility and intellectual honesty above all else, or which at least consciously aim to keep those who don't below some critical mass or just out entirely.
15/n
15/n
if you are likewise scared of the former and excited by (or just resigned to) the latter, then good luck 😊
finally, I'm curious as to where else this has been written about as I'm sure it's not at all novel - ...
16/n
finally, I'm curious as to where else this has been written about as I'm sure it's not at all novel - ...
16/n
... what comes to mind for me is La Boétie, Klemperer, Arendt, and Havel.
if you have any more suggestions please reply so all can see.
17/17
if you have any more suggestions please reply so all can see.
17/17
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