The Dark Side of Blogging: Things I have learned about Extremists.
July 28th 2008 23:54
The Dark Side of Blogging: Things I have learned about Extremists.
Fanatics often do not know that they are fanatics and so they are to be pitied more than despised. Often ignorant and manipulated with lies they act in ways that are normally revolting to their upbringing. Given a moment to thing straight the fanatic will realize that they have been duped into acting out the wishes of an extremist.
I don’t get along well with extremists in the ordinary sense. Whether they are left or right, religious or atheist they just don’t seem to like anyone who is not them or at least accepting of their suggestions. To an extremist the worst thing they can find is not an ideological enemy but a person who does not care for the extremes of either side. Yet extremists often do know that the mainstream would reject many of their policies if exposed to the light of scrutiny. So they hide many of these policies in layers of deception and behind flags of convenient victimhood. The Cloak of the Martyr fits well for those who set out to deceive others. Does this remind people of anything? Perhaps the term Oppressive Cults comes to mind. If you really want to understand the mind set of extremists then studying Cults is a fine introduction.
I could spend all day listing all the reasoning and psychological reasons why people become extremists but they usually boil down to a desire for absolute power over others. Often to offset deeper insecurities like feelings of worthlessness they need enemies that can be used as a whipping boy in moments of intense anguish. There is nothing like blaming others to hide your own mistakes and extremists are masters at shifting blame. Yet it is not the psychological problems that we should be concerned about as much as how the extremists project themselves into the world. They find a cause as their ‘Cloak of Nobility’ and ‘Moral High Ground’ to justify their underhanded and deceptive tactics. When the light of scrutiny is shone upon the activities of extremists then instantly the ‘Cloak of Martyrdom’ is wrapped around them as a diversionary tactic. It is the cowardly attack followed by the cowardly retreat that seems to be a common trait of many extremists. Passive aggressive is the new term that it has been given these days.
Tactics of extremists are often manipulative and deceptive with expressed purpose of reducing every issue down to a support base verses and evil straw man. If only they stuck to straw men then there would be few problems but ambitions of rebuilding the world in their own image require actual victims. They will engage in hate mongering; emotional manipulation; validating of peoples prejudices and bigotries for the expressed purpose of stopping any form of critical thinking being applied to their suggestions. It is not the fact that they do not have a point of view but the fact that they wish to crush all other points of view that makes them so extreme. The demonization campaign against a rival point of view is required to make the questionable elements of their proposals seem less extreme and repressive. Yet if the rival point of view has fewer faults than their own and the straw man arguments lose traction the extremist will resort to attacking individual in an unpleasant smear campaign. This is called ‘poisoning the water’ for those that have forgotten their high school education. The tactic is designed to associate anything a person says with evil. ‘Everything that Mr Black says is evil. Mr Black says it is wrong to speed there for speeding is right.’ Though banal and intellectually stupid the tactic often works, for a time. Bigotry is another emotional trigger that preys upon the ignorant and weak minded. It works because when you strip people of the veneer of civilization you will find the same primitive fearful and superstitious person that lived thousands of years ago butchering each other with ease. This is what Bigotry does to people it scratches off their exterior niceties and unleashes the ruthless savagery that lies just below the surface.
To what purpose would people spend almost every waking moment of their lives thinking of tactics to destroy enemies with smear campaigns? To what purpose do people invent diatribes and puff pieces that are filled with emotional and devoid of any substance? To what purpose do such people attempt to emotionally manipulate and trade upon ignorance? To what purpose do people compulsively lie? To what purpose do they wear the ‘Cloak of Martyrdom’? If you think the answer is that they do all this because they care deeply for you or anyone else on the planet then that is you naive choice.
Yet like many of my generation I was taught to be wary of those that speak in emotional terms and try to trade on anger. I was also taught to be aware of when people are trying to manipulate you by pandering to tired old prejudices and deep seated bigotries. I was warned that such people should be avoided because they have ambitions beyond any immediate bursts of popularity. Perhaps these warning are no longer being taught or they have so easily forgotten the lesson.
Editorial Comment:
Popularity is wimps.
Wrong is wrong when everybody is wrong and right is right when nobody is right.
Truth Does Matter.
The delightful results of Bigotry hidden in the Cloak of Martyrdom. By playing victim card you can say anything.
Fanatics often do not know that they are fanatics and so they are to be pitied more than despised. Often ignorant and manipulated with lies they act in ways that are normally revolting to their upbringing. Given a moment to thing straight the fanatic will realize that they have been duped into acting out the wishes of an extremist.
I don’t get along well with extremists in the ordinary sense. Whether they are left or right, religious or atheist they just don’t seem to like anyone who is not them or at least accepting of their suggestions. To an extremist the worst thing they can find is not an ideological enemy but a person who does not care for the extremes of either side. Yet extremists often do know that the mainstream would reject many of their policies if exposed to the light of scrutiny. So they hide many of these policies in layers of deception and behind flags of convenient victimhood. The Cloak of the Martyr fits well for those who set out to deceive others. Does this remind people of anything? Perhaps the term Oppressive Cults comes to mind. If you really want to understand the mind set of extremists then studying Cults is a fine introduction.
I could spend all day listing all the reasoning and psychological reasons why people become extremists but they usually boil down to a desire for absolute power over others. Often to offset deeper insecurities like feelings of worthlessness they need enemies that can be used as a whipping boy in moments of intense anguish. There is nothing like blaming others to hide your own mistakes and extremists are masters at shifting blame. Yet it is not the psychological problems that we should be concerned about as much as how the extremists project themselves into the world. They find a cause as their ‘Cloak of Nobility’ and ‘Moral High Ground’ to justify their underhanded and deceptive tactics. When the light of scrutiny is shone upon the activities of extremists then instantly the ‘Cloak of Martyrdom’ is wrapped around them as a diversionary tactic. It is the cowardly attack followed by the cowardly retreat that seems to be a common trait of many extremists. Passive aggressive is the new term that it has been given these days.
Tactics of extremists are often manipulative and deceptive with expressed purpose of reducing every issue down to a support base verses and evil straw man. If only they stuck to straw men then there would be few problems but ambitions of rebuilding the world in their own image require actual victims. They will engage in hate mongering; emotional manipulation; validating of peoples prejudices and bigotries for the expressed purpose of stopping any form of critical thinking being applied to their suggestions. It is not the fact that they do not have a point of view but the fact that they wish to crush all other points of view that makes them so extreme. The demonization campaign against a rival point of view is required to make the questionable elements of their proposals seem less extreme and repressive. Yet if the rival point of view has fewer faults than their own and the straw man arguments lose traction the extremist will resort to attacking individual in an unpleasant smear campaign. This is called ‘poisoning the water’ for those that have forgotten their high school education. The tactic is designed to associate anything a person says with evil. ‘Everything that Mr Black says is evil. Mr Black says it is wrong to speed there for speeding is right.’ Though banal and intellectually stupid the tactic often works, for a time. Bigotry is another emotional trigger that preys upon the ignorant and weak minded. It works because when you strip people of the veneer of civilization you will find the same primitive fearful and superstitious person that lived thousands of years ago butchering each other with ease. This is what Bigotry does to people it scratches off their exterior niceties and unleashes the ruthless savagery that lies just below the surface.
To what purpose would people spend almost every waking moment of their lives thinking of tactics to destroy enemies with smear campaigns? To what purpose do people invent diatribes and puff pieces that are filled with emotional and devoid of any substance? To what purpose do such people attempt to emotionally manipulate and trade upon ignorance? To what purpose do people compulsively lie? To what purpose do they wear the ‘Cloak of Martyrdom’? If you think the answer is that they do all this because they care deeply for you or anyone else on the planet then that is you naive choice.
Yet like many of my generation I was taught to be wary of those that speak in emotional terms and try to trade on anger. I was also taught to be aware of when people are trying to manipulate you by pandering to tired old prejudices and deep seated bigotries. I was warned that such people should be avoided because they have ambitions beyond any immediate bursts of popularity. Perhaps these warning are no longer being taught or they have so easily forgotten the lesson.
Editorial Comment:
Popularity is wimps.
Wrong is wrong when everybody is wrong and right is right when nobody is right.
Truth Does Matter.
| 116 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Nicely done.
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
I will try to be brief because I have to go soon.
Whenever I have disagreed with you it has been on principles that we cannot find agreement. Not on you as a human being.
I leave the judgement of people to others who enjoy sanctimony like a drug. Everybody has a litany of blogs that tell the story of their attitudes, beliefs and errors.
I have had very good exposure to both Left wing and Right wing extremists who act out their dreams through violence. I am in no position to pass judgement on them as human beings any more than they are in a position to pass judgement on me. Yet I can judge whether their action and tactics are honest.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
I think you would agree that Bullies live on through other method. The direct approach often fails then they go for the scatter gun approach to garner support by appealing to human weaknesses like anger, hate, prejudice and bigotry. All the same triggers that Hitler explained in Mien Kampf.
The hardest part I find with extremists is letting 90% of what they say go through to the keeper. Yet I have found that in the long term it is the best course of action. Deny the oxygen of attention until it is required. Like those people who come to your door with religious books extremists are all fired up for an argument. Yet it is an argument on their terms only, not on equal terms, because on equal term their extremism gets exposed for what it is.
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
SL, a brave person suffers a single death, a coward suffers many. The peace I am referring to comes about as the result of conflict: when it is clearly understood that I am more than willing to die for my beliefs, the price of peace with me seems reasonable and acceptable by most
Comment by Louie
Climate Forum
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
I am just sitting back for now.
Louie
Thanks for your comments.
It is just one of many viewpoints.
I hope that you noticed that I provided no evidence to support my assertions.
Comment by ChrisC
The Dissector
and as an aside, i love the fact that you used a cricketing turn of phrase in one of your responses - you are clearly a wise man!
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Now THAT'S entertainment.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
I am not so wise.
It all just smoke and mirrors.
DA
Thanks for your comments.
I can watch from afar and see the fireworks.
Unless people try to drag me in.
I am happiest when people think I am stupid.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
Australian social culture tends to avoid discussions on Sex, Politics or Religion because each of those are endless and can end up in fights. As a rule people tend to want to get along more than enter a slinging match that only creates life long enemies.
Yet given a mask and a long distance people can strike without fear of retaliation. Given a group then the electronic lynch mob is born.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
As long as I am ideologically incorrect I will be an idiot in the eyes of some. So my cover is perpetually safe.
Comment by Carolyn Cordon
Light Within
How do You Express Your Creativity?
Food Leaf
Online though you're in a global community and the gloves can come off. It is impossible not to be ideologically incorrect because there are so many conflicting ideologies. As you say, you'll be and idiot in the eyes of some.
Of course, idiots are the ones who are unafraid of saying what everyone else is thinking, but aren't game enough to say anything about.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
Just one little question:
"idiots are the ones who are unafraid of saying what everyone else is thinking, but aren't game enough to say anything about."
How do we know what everyone is thinking?
I certainly don't.
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
This is a wonderful and thought-provoking post. Thanks for challenging the idiocracy!
Mis
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your kind comments.
However whenever someone challenges the Idiocracy the idiocracy creates a new challenge.
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy