For those leftists who always feel superior to the proletariat

“As for those anti-imperialists who don’t participate in this festival of xenophobia — and here I include myself — we have our own elitist consolation: we accept the tragedy of masses of gullible sheeple falling for cunning propaganda because having overcome it flatters our own intelligence. The more we condemn society’s stupidity, the smarter we feel in comparison.”
- Masses, Elites, and Rebels: The Theory of “Brainwashing” (2022)
Roderic Day, 2022-05-23

https://redsails.org/masses-elites-and-rebels/

22 points · 7 comments · view on lemmy.world

7 Comments

manuallybreathing@lemmy.ml · 8 pts · 267d

The western masses aren't fools, they're stubborn and comfortable. In my experience a lot of people arent interested in making things better if their situation is inconvenienced even a little

Everything on redsails is great obviously

Cowbee@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 267d

Absolutely critical reading, and really helps with any kind of outreach you may do. You aren't going to convince your interlocutor most of the time, but others seeing it happen in front of them may be convinced over time. We aren't immune to the issues we see in others, it's just that our material conditions have aligned us against the status quo, and that perspective helps us see through its lies.

WhiteOakBayou@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 267d

Once more for those in the back!

RiverRock@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 267d (1 reply)

This entire essay should be tattooed inside everybody's eyelids

davel@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 267d

I found the other “brainwashing” articles to also be worthwhile, if not tattoo-worthy: https://redsails.org/@brainwashing/

apt_install_coffee@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 266d (1 reply)

I regularly think about two phases I've heard:

  • "The smarter you are, the better you get at rationalising bad decisions"
  • "advertising/propaganda works best when you are certain it doesn't work on you."

I feel like they remind me that when it comes to making choices & being duped, intelligence is mostly irrelevant.

My belief is that on an individual level, the counter to propaganda is both free time to ruminate on what we believe, and a strong network of people we trust who are willing to challenge us on the things we say and do. Two things which an atomized and overworked society looses at all levels.

Confidant6198@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 266d

Interesting perspectives to think about 🤔