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Logic, facts and reason are how you sort them out.

Well you can be just plain stupid. Hello?!?!

I don’t know how you can have a discussion about cultural brainwashing and leave out the most insidious brainwash of all time: Religion.

If P, then Q. Q. Therefore, P. That form is called Affirming the Consequent Fallacy. The three occasions of its use noted in the meme is a deadly combination if prevalent within a community.

“Where one sees these viruses, one can expect unchanging attitudes in support of conspiracies, of cults, of populists and of bigots. Should not be surprising. “In these memes, these viruses, in forms of reasoning, one can see the DNA of today’s politics.” www.pinoytoolbox.org/post/dna-of-...

and it takes a lot of self reflection, a huge break from your community, and/or slow and constant introduction to other perspectives to break away from that.

One side speaks like Borg repeating the EXACT thing verbatim that they hear on Fox or from Trump. There is a difference between political ideology where there is input from party members and the continuous doublespeak of MAGAs to control the narrative through blatant lies. We are not the same.

brainwashing used to have a technical meaning. now it has become an allegory for any abstract understanding of anything acquired by information avaiable to you from the society you live in.

"Brainwashing" = using relentless "us vs them" stereotyping, scapegoating, and dehumanization to define/denigrate a "despicable out-group". Ideology is slapped together from in-group opinion, values & beliefs. Sticking to POLICY & FACTS is the protection against "brainwash". One side does this...

The sheer number of conservatives I know who said due process is only for citizens is really alarming. It’s in the Bill of Rights. They are all using the exact argument styles seen on conservative news. It’s maybe a different term, but deprogramming will be required no matter what we label this.

Relevant book: theauthoritarians.org

It’s funny when they don’t even know their own sources. Well, sometimes, during my maniacal fits it’s funny. Mostly I’m annoyed that we have to start all over at progressing common sense again.

Constant confusion disturbs the minds of many

Everyone is brainwashed to some degree. Very significant numbers are completely brainwashed. There could be some rare exceptions of genuine autonomy. And ideally not being brainwashed is where humanity is developing towards. The system of governance needs to be very different to support that.

What's scarier, evil or stupidity? Stupidity, in my opinion, is more terrifying. Stupidity is unpredictable & unfathomable in its chaos. Evil, at least, has an agenda & a rationale to follow.

One of my favorite memes

Here's the thing... I *know* I've been brainwashed. I grew up on military bases. I was propagandized from before birth. That's why I'm so angry that the US hasn't lived up to its ideals. I believe with my whole heart in the *ideal America* I was sold FOR EVERYONE

“Dark personality traits (narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) in politicians you support—not oppose—drive deeper political polarization … Politicians with traits like emotional stability actually reduce polarization among their supporters” studyfinds.org/political-le...

Discounting the efficacy of propaganda helps the media feel less responsible

When cell phones were invented,.. everyone stopped talking about TV being brainwash. Brainwashing on steroids is the resulting default.

I believe children can be brainwashed. I believe traumatized victims can be coerced to do or say anything. But I don’t believe adult majorities are children or victims in their belief systems. They can elect to remain ignorant to maintain a comfort level in false beliefs.

nope. sorry. one side is sick, and the other side is normal. period

I reserve “brainwashed” for people who aggressively repeat falsehoods without evidence, which is most of the #magacult

I like my dirty mind

It’s easier to hate than to have compassion and empathy.

They are NOT brainwashed. They are bad people. They are racist bigoted misogynistic fascists.

Then we are to accept that Trumpers are nasty, selfish unethical and lacking even a particle of compassion as the result of willful action on their part. I am good with that.