Culture Warriors category archive
Maskless Marauders 0
In related news, Susan A. Nolan and Michael Kimball, writing at Psychology Today Blogs, try to understand the maskless.
“Yes, But” Always Means No 0
Many years ago, in another incarnation, I was a management trainer in the corporate training department of a national corporation (one of the benefits was that I got to travel all over the country, mostly by rail; there is no better way to see the country than through the windows of a passenger train).
One of the classes that we taught was “Interpersonal Communications Skills” (among ourselves, we referred to it as “How To Talk Good,” but, really, it was much more about how to listen good). The title of this post is one of the catch phrases we used to use to drive a point home to the trainees.
Because it’s true.
Human Beings: Simultaneously the Salt and the Scum of the Earth 0
Scientific Blogging carries psychologist Simon McCarthy-Jones’s exploration how and why some persons find cruelty gratifying.
It’s fascinating and timely read; here’s a bit:
Humans typically do things to get pleasure or avoid pain. For most of us, hurting others causes us to feel their pain. And we don’t like this feeling. This suggests two reasons people may harm the harmless – either they don’t feel the others’ pain or they enjoy feeling the others’ pain.
Another reason people harm the harmless is because they nonetheless see a threat. Someone who doesn’t imperil your body or wallet can still threaten your social status. This helps explain otherwise puzzling actions, such as when people harm others who help them financially.
Maskless Marauders 0
At the link, George Danby, the cartoonist, points out that
In the span of six months, the country has gone from the mantra of “We’re all in this together” to cries of “You can’t make me wear a mask.”
Aside:
I don’t remember a “we’re all in this together” period, nope, not at all.
And speaking of masks, I am again reminded of Professor Bill Shade’s mantra that history is irony.
The Disinformation Superhighway, It Might As Well Be True Dept. 0
Shannon Gillies documents a deception.
Complicit 0
A recurring phenomenon during the Black Lives Matter protests has been the appearance of white supremacists and other far-right agitators at otherwise generally peaceful protests in order to foment violence.
At Psychology Today Blogs, Rosemary Sword and Philip Zimbardo explore the minds and motivations of white supremacists. They start by citing an interview with former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official Elizabeth Neumann, then go on to delve what motivates the embrace white supremacy and that embrace affects the behavior of the embracers.
It ain’t pretty.
Here’s a bit about the Neumann interview; follow the link for the rest of the discussion.
Neumann states further, “White supremacy groups are emboldened by the refusal (of the president and vice-president) to condemn them. The extreme fringe on the right believes the country should be white and controlled by white men…As recruitment occurs, there’s more violence; which we’ve seen the last three years.”
Maskless Marauders 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Sara Gorman and Jack M. Gorman explore the reasons why persons choose to refuse to wear masks in these viral times. Here’s one of the possible reasons they explore; follow the link for the others.
Base Desires 0
Werner Herzog’s Bear takes a close look at Donald Trump’s base and suggests the economic anxiety is secondary to his cultural factors in his appeal thereunto. A nugget (emphasis added); follow the link for the rest.
The fundamental issue beneath this cultural anxiety is that the country is changing in ways that Trump’s people don’t like. It’s becoming less white, less rural, less Christian. Trump voters are concerned that they will no longer be the unquestioned norm in American life. This is why “cancel culture” is such a potent meme for them. This is why my trip to an Italian deli in mid-June included an old white guy yelling a profanity-laced tirade at the owner about statues being toppled.
Tithes and Offerings 0
Warning: Farron gets a bit heated.
Hoist on the Elmer Gantry 0
How the mighty have Falwelled.
In related news, psychologist David Ley is an optimist. Here’s a bit of his article:
Perhaps. Maybe. Not likely.
Hypocrisy is the stock in trade of publicly pious poseurs.
Florida Man Goes Viril Venal
0
Real. Big. Man.
(snip)
During the parking lot confrontation, the suspect accused the victim of holding up the grocery line and threatened, “One word and I’ll kill you” before walking away, the station reported.