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Journal smittyoneeach's Journal: Might explain some of the behavior here 23

I have quoted before my old friend Theodore Dalrymple on the purposes of lies in totalitarian societies:

In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, nor to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assent to obvious lies is to co-operate with evil, and in some small way to become evil oneself. One's standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control.

This has a ring of truth to it with respect to Slashdot. I've been on the receiving end of repeated accusations used like bludgeons to the point there are some people on here to whom I just ain't got jack to say beyond: "Lord bless your heart".
Which is not to whine about it. This is Slashdot; let the incontinent go elsewhere.
Rather, I'm yawning.

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Might explain some of the behavior here

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  • See? Now there you made sense, very clearly.

    • Communism seeks to put people on the path of ultimate truth and offers life past death? The More You Know. . .
      • That stuff is just show to produce compliance. Religion is all about suffering and serving the high priests. They're just trying to convince you there's a higher 'purpose' so you won't rebel. It's all classic stuff. And it's just like the commies that you describe.

  • You are describing someone who was themselves lying about studying a communist society. A vastly more correct term for what your buddy is describing would be totalitarian, which is not compatible with the ideals of communism. It is no more fair to look at the USSR as an example of communism than it is to look at the US or Somalia as examples of free-market libertarianism.
  • "Dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal"
    "Beacon of freedom and promoter of democracy"
    "Greatest nation on earth"
    "Home of Free"
    "Highest standard of living in the world"
    "Best health care system ever"
    "Dedicated to rule of law as determined by the will of the people with regard for the defense of the minority"
    "Capital is the best expression of democracy at work"

    The hits keep coming for the Homeland.

  • First off, I think you've got reversed those accusor(s) who are trying to set you straight with those who would only be trying to further confound and knock you down (since you're not one of them, on the solid Left). For me it's the latter that I've removed from my sight here, because I want to be more right/correct, not less.

    But you seem to think the way to wisdom is via the wicked. And it partly is, as one half of one's studies towards that. But they're like the Medusa, where direct interaction, like you

    • For the edification of the viewing audience, I shall point out that your belief system is so weak (and wrong) that it cannot support any challenge at all. Better to poke your eyes out than to be tempted. Have a good day, sir. And Peace!

The only way to learn a new programming language is by writing programs in it. - Brian Kernighan

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