Re: Would you have been a Nazi?

[Sirona]

This was inspired by the thread Would you have been a Nazi? Nazis are generally considered the epitome of evil (which is true), but it comes often with the implication that "this can never happen again". However, when there were "smaller" conflicts like the war in Bosnia, where Serbs and Croatians mutually committed genocides, this didn't draw the same interest, presumably because no global political interests were involved.

I also watched a documentary about a woman who performs the well-known "blue eyes"/"brown eyes" experiment with adults. She reported that per "school class", maybe one person spoke out against the discrimination and tried to convince the others to join in, but practically every time this occurred, the "troublemaker" was reprimanded by the members of their own discriminated eye color not to disrupt the school class because discrimination based on eye color was just the status quo.

In this context, I also find the Milgram obedience experiment worth mentioning.

 

[PureX]

Humans are programmed both culturally and genetically to go along and to get along with the status quo. And for obvious survival reasons. It is yet another instance where we need to rise above our animal natures if we ever hope to evolve into the fully human beings that we have the potential to become.

It's anyone's quess whether or not we can do it. Right now it's not looking likely.

 

[Brickjectivity]

This was inspired by the thread Would you have been a Nazi?

We all have mostly the same DNA. There is one race, one species of human. Anything Hitler does I am capable of doing, just as he is capable of being what I am. Hitler's mistake was to think there were multiple races. This brought out of him terrible qualities latent in all human beings. Madness in the human DNA normally suppressed and buried was awakened, drawing ancient tribal impulses out into public view. He slaughtered all of his enemies and became that which he hated -- a destroyer. He became evil, but once upon a time he might have been normal. He could have been like me or like you. The evil of Hitler was always present in him, just as it is in me.

We all have the same tendency, to think ourselves as a tribe that is better than all others. It is not so much a rational process as a muddy slope that our minds slide down. It blinds us like love does. Then we find ourselves at its bottom.

 

[F1fan]

This was inspired by the thread Would you have been a Nazi? Nazis are generally considered the epitome of evil (which is true), but it comes often with the implication that "this can never happen again". However, when there were "smaller" conflicts like the war in Bosnia, where Serbs and Croatians mutually committed genocides, this didn't draw the same interest, presumably because no global political interests were involved.

I also watched a documentary about a woman who performs the well-known "blue eyes"/"brown eyes" experiment with adults. She reported that per "school class", maybe one person spoke out against the discrimination and tried to convince the others to join in, but practically every time this occurred, the "troublemaker" was reprimanded by the members of their own discriminated eye color not to disrupt the school class because discrimination based on eye color was just the status quo.

In this context, I also find the Milgram obedience experiment worth mentioning.

The Milgram study is very interesting. I'm shocked it hasn't been used to influence how children are taught. Looking at the MAGA movement it's clear this phenomenon is very prevalent in society.

I suspect there is a bankruptcy of meaning for many people and they seek to attach themselves to any movement or personality that appears to be strong. This certainly is the case with those who are attracted to trump and other republicans in that orbit of trump corruption. Tribalism is a very strong temptation and fills the emptiness many folks feel in life. That others are vilified and it is a successful manipulation

 

[F1fan]

We all have mostly the same DNA. There is one race, one species of human. Anything Hitler does I am capable of doing, just as he is capable of being what I am. Hitler's mistake was to think there were multiple races. This brought out of him terrible qualities latent in all human beings. Madness in the human DNA normally suppressed and buried was awakened, drawing ancient tribal impulses out into public view. He slaughtered all of his enemies and became that which he hated -- a destroyer. He became evil, but once upon a time he might have been normal. He could have been like me or like you. The evil of Hitler was always present in him, just as it is in me.

We all have the same tendency, to think ourselves as a tribe that is better than all others. It is not so much a rational process as a muddy slope that our minds slide down. It blinds us like love does. Then we find ourselves at its bottom.

It wasn't all Hitler. Anti-Semitism was very prevalent in Europe and the USA in the 30's, especially after the stock market collapse where bankers were blamed. If Hiitler had less talent in public speaking he might not have been able to attract as many followers. He drew in many ordinary and law-abiding people in an effort to make Germany great again. And they succeeded with a massive conspiracy of willing citizens.

 

[Brickjectivity]

It wasn't all Hitler. Anti-Semitism was very prevalent in Europe and the USA in the 30's, especially after the stock market collapse where bankers were blamed. If Hiitler had less talent in public speaking he might not have been able to attract as many followers. He drew in many ordinary and law-abiding people in an effort to make Germany great again. And they succeeded with a massive conspiracy of willing citizens.

The tribal instinct is to distrust the other. Jews everywhere tend to encounter this distrust, because they don't always conform to the manners and customs. They also are very strict about certain rules and tend to speak out against things they consider wrong. Because the backlash is very strong (and for other reasons, too) Jewish groups occasionally reconsider conforming to local customs and some groups will assimilate partially or entirely. The most well known recent group to do this is called 'Reform Judaism'. Reform went to great lengths to assimilate, as antisemitism was very strong and very dangerous here in USA. It still is.

When we talk about antisemitism we're talking about distrust arising from tribal instinct combined with the political advantage it brings to haters who'll start rumors and generally make use of Jews as a scarecrow. An example of this are propaganda which slander them as the source of social and political evil. Antisemitism can bring wealth to individuals through pillaging of various kinds or by slighting Jews through legal means such as by limiting what vocations they may take up, where they may live and other limitations and slights such as legal seizure of property. In general antisemitism is strong because it is profitable to take advantage of vulnerable people.

The way a country treats its Jews tends to be a thermometer on how it treats vulnerable groups generally. Antisemitism comes and goes. Its a phenomenon which follows the civility of a society, but it is enabled by the tribal instinct of "We are good, and outsiders we distrust."

 

[Twilight Hue]

It's prevalent with the vax/anti vax movement and 'woke' culture where the milgram experiment applies.

 

[F1fan]

It's prevalent with the vax/anti vax movement and 'woke' culture where the milgram experiment applies.

Give examples, and explain what you mean.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Give examples, and explain what you mean.

I'm not doing the homework for you.

 

[F1fan]

I'm not doing the homework for you.

Your wording is vague. I have no idea what you mean. How can I do research on not understating what you mean?

 

[Twilight Hue]

Your wording is vague. I have no idea what you mean. How can I do research on not understating what you mean?

It's not vague. You are just too addle minded to look.

 

[F1fan]

It's not vague. You are just too addled to notice.

You made a vague claim without any evidence, examples, or explanation.

Perhaps you are not sure what you mean and need to look into it.

 

[Twilight Hue]

You made a vague claim without any evidence, examples, or explanation.

Perhaps you are not sure what you mean and need to look into it.

Pa. lawmaker compares treatment of anti-maskers to transphobic bigotry - Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Look at how easy it is. Stop being dumb. There's tons of examples on the web.

 

[Kooky]

I'm not doing the homework for you.

I'm going out on a limb that you don't have much in the way of "homework" to show for yourself, either.

Pa. lawmaker compares treatment of anti-maskers to transphobic bigotry - Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Look at how easy it is. Stop being dumb. There's tons of examples on the web.

I can't find the video any more, but there was also the German idiot who compared herself to a Holocaust victim. All respectable and authoritative sources that definitely lend legitimacy to your argument that people who disagree with you are mindless sheeple marching in lockstep with a dictatorship.

 

[metis]

This was inspired by the thread Would you have been a Nazi?

Hell no, and I am as stubborn as a mule and my wife says I look like one. Is that a compliment?

 

[Estro Felino]

Humans are programmed both culturally and genetically to go along and to get along with the status quo. And for obvious survival reasons. It is yet another instance where we need to rise above our animal natures if we ever hope to evolve into the fully human beings that we have the potential to become.

It's anyone's quess whether or not we can do it. Right now it's not looking likely.

It depends on the nature of people.

There are people who like to go with the flow.
And thet accept whatever others tell them.

There are people who are rebellious by nature.
And they contest anything.

 

[Estro Felino]

Fear is what blocks people.

Fear of death is already a big obstacle.
Heidegger would have said that this is against the existence itself.

Since I don't fear death, I wouldnt have minded being executed by Nazis.
Because I would have never obeyed them.

 

[F1fan]

Pa. lawmaker compares treatment of anti-maskers to transphobic bigotry - Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Look at how easy it is. Stop being dumb. There's tons of examples on the web.

All your article points out is how a libertarian poses a threat to others by not wearing a mask. This is a bad example and poor influence, and one reason why so many Americans have been hospitalized and died.

So what is your point? Anti-mask and anti-vax people pose a threat to public safety and health, and can be selfish, hostile, and uncivil?