It’s easier to understand if all you watch is right wing media and your algorithm is tuned that way. Remember, you’re in a bubble and so are they and things look very different from one to the other.
Not saying that as an excuse for evil, just hope it helps with understanding. Things would probably get better if we’re could pop some bubbles.
I grew up in that kind of environment and I still don’t understand it. My parents were the sort that used their bedroom TV as an alarm clock; it was set to turn on at 05:55 to the Fox News channel so they wouldn’t miss any of Fox & Friends while they got ready in the day. Commute to work? Rush Limbaugh, G. Gordon Liddy, Laura Schlessinger, etc. Back at home, up until dinner was served? More Fox News.
And even with the experience of growing up around that – I still just can’t understand it. Yes, those people are dumb as fuck but still; the inability to recognize that he’s a bad conman is just baffling. The same people that ranted about “coastal elites” decided to elect a pompous asshole from a coastal state with a fucking golden toilet and a scam university.
It’s a terrifying abuse of human brain’s defense wiring.
At a tribal level/time when we are not under stress, we often disagree and bicker. However, when the tribe is threatened, those disagreements take a back seat to survival. If the stress is constant, our brain structure begins to change. Empathy is reduced, to better allow for defence/warfare.
The modern right is designed to hijack these mechanisms. The constant flow of fear puts the brain into a warfare state. Tribe becomes everything, with internal issues being put on a back burner till the threat is over. However, the threat is never over. It shifts and changes, but is never gone. Eventually, out-tribe empathy becomes harder and harder, while internal disagreement becomes almost impossible. In a tribe preparing for war, this is life-saving. For a political party, it’s an unthinking, pliant mob to control.
Breaking out requires breaking that internal cycle. Recognising you are being manipulated, and internally countering the effects. Most people just can’t do that. Deprogramming the damage is a job of generations, and that’s assuming it’s no longer being reinforced.
It’s an identity cult, their identity is tied to his. The can’t reject him because they would be rejecting themselves and their ego can’t take the hit. This is why people need professional help to leave cults.
It’s an identity cult, their identity is tied to his. The can’t reject him because they would be rejecting themselves and their ego can’t take the hit. This is why people need professional help to leave cults.
It’s easier to understand if all you watch is right wing media and your algorithm is tuned that way. Remember, you’re in a bubble and so are they and things look very different from one to the other.
Not saying that as an excuse for evil, just hope it helps with understanding. Things would probably get better if we’re could pop some bubbles.
I grew up in that kind of environment and I still don’t understand it. My parents were the sort that used their bedroom TV as an alarm clock; it was set to turn on at 05:55 to the Fox News channel so they wouldn’t miss any of Fox & Friends while they got ready in the day. Commute to work? Rush Limbaugh, G. Gordon Liddy, Laura Schlessinger, etc. Back at home, up until dinner was served? More Fox News.
And even with the experience of growing up around that – I still just can’t understand it. Yes, those people are dumb as fuck but still; the inability to recognize that he’s a bad conman is just baffling. The same people that ranted about “coastal elites” decided to elect a pompous asshole from a coastal state with a fucking golden toilet and a scam university.
Baffling. Just fucking baffling.
It’s a terrifying abuse of human brain’s defense wiring.
At a tribal level/time when we are not under stress, we often disagree and bicker. However, when the tribe is threatened, those disagreements take a back seat to survival. If the stress is constant, our brain structure begins to change. Empathy is reduced, to better allow for defence/warfare.
The modern right is designed to hijack these mechanisms. The constant flow of fear puts the brain into a warfare state. Tribe becomes everything, with internal issues being put on a back burner till the threat is over. However, the threat is never over. It shifts and changes, but is never gone. Eventually, out-tribe empathy becomes harder and harder, while internal disagreement becomes almost impossible. In a tribe preparing for war, this is life-saving. For a political party, it’s an unthinking, pliant mob to control.
Breaking out requires breaking that internal cycle. Recognising you are being manipulated, and internally countering the effects. Most people just can’t do that. Deprogramming the damage is a job of generations, and that’s assuming it’s no longer being reinforced.
It’s an identity cult, their identity is tied to his. The can’t reject him because they would be rejecting themselves and their ego can’t take the hit. This is why people need professional help to leave cults.
The US haven’t done a great job at being a con country either, though.
It’s an identity cult, their identity is tied to his. The can’t reject him because they would be rejecting themselves and their ego can’t take the hit. This is why people need professional help to leave cults.
Me too. Logic and faith and compassion led me far away. Thankful my parents saw the insanity and bailed. Hoping more people do too.
They are in a cult…