> Every day, our minds are assaulted with the vitriolic, dogmatic words of the media.
Most peoples' experience of life, I am coming to discover, is profoundly different from mine. Not only do I have no cell phone, but I don't often the news, and I very seldom watch shows. The media is utterly wretched; no need to feed your mind to it!
> This is not a positive sign. Rather than realizing that we've been fed lies, we begin overlooking the propaganda, not even realizing it’s there.
I'm reminded of accounts of Soviet Russia, where the locals seemeed outwardly to ignore the propaganda that surrounded them - but they went around with their thumbs clenched in their fists, concealing their defiance by thrusting their fists in their pockets. This is the way I respond to propaganda when I encounter it at work.
I remember being young. It was hard - much harder without a close family. It's taken almost two decades working basically from scratch, but now mine gives plenty of stimulation, which provides a definite buffer.
In case you might find it useful, one thing I will say is that the news is almost never a wise use of time or sanity. Usually you can get your news from other people inside (or outside of) your social network. They'll tell you if anything interesting happens.
> Every day, our minds are assaulted with the vitriolic, dogmatic words of the media.
Most peoples' experience of life, I am coming to discover, is profoundly different from mine. Not only do I have no cell phone, but I don't often the news, and I very seldom watch shows. The media is utterly wretched; no need to feed your mind to it!
> This is not a positive sign. Rather than realizing that we've been fed lies, we begin overlooking the propaganda, not even realizing it’s there.
I'm reminded of accounts of Soviet Russia, where the locals seemeed outwardly to ignore the propaganda that surrounded them - but they went around with their thumbs clenched in their fists, concealing their defiance by thrusting their fists in their pockets. This is the way I respond to propaganda when I encounter it at work.
(If you don't know what this is, see #2, "the fig" https://www.shermanstravel.com/advice/18-gestures-that-can-cause-offense-around-the-world/ )
The news is the most toxic one for me. I've gone a full two weeks just skimming headlines because I'm sick of humans humaning.
And interestingly, Ellul (one of the authors I referenced) was actually referring to Soviet Russia in the quotes I pulled. The more we resist, the further we push society towards change, such as in the Velvet Revolution (https://academyofideas.com/2023/09/why-are-people-so-obedient-compliance-and-tyranny/).
I remember being young. It was hard - much harder without a close family. It's taken almost two decades working basically from scratch, but now mine gives plenty of stimulation, which provides a definite buffer.
In case you might find it useful, one thing I will say is that the news is almost never a wise use of time or sanity. Usually you can get your news from other people inside (or outside of) your social network. They'll tell you if anything interesting happens.
Is that why you keep at it? You’re delusional.