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BLM is a hate group

epronovost

Well-Known Member
So now you define violence as how citizens vote, rather than actual violence committed by citizens themselves. o_O

No the violence isn't done by the citizen per say. It's supported and desired by the citizen (or a group of citizen) through votes and political support. The violence itself is ennacted by agents of the government, most often the police and intelligence angencies. That's what "political violence" means. It's violent action perpetrated by the government, often with the support of a sizeable chunk of its citizens against a sub-set of it. Centrist politicians and voters reclaim it, and police officers (or other agents of the government depending on each case) ennact it on their behalf.
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
Then why don't you also dislike the center due to the violence it generates?
No the violence isn't done by the citizen per say. It's supported and desired by the citizen (or a group of citizen) though votes and political support. The violence itself is ennacted by agents, most often the police and intelligence angencies, of the government. That's what "political violence" means. It's violent action perpetrated by the government, often with the support of a sizeable chunk of its citizens against a sub-set of it. Centrist politicians and voters reclaim it, and police officers (or other agents of the government depending on each case) ennact it on their behalf.

But we haven't been discussing "political violence"... We've been discussing "individual", and "fringe group" acts of violence.

...Let's stop shifting the goalposts. o_O

Besides, political violence is not exclusively centrist. It can be anywhere in the spectrum.
 
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epronovost

Well-Known Member
But we haven't been discussing "political violence"... We've been discussing "individual", and "fringe group" acts of violence.

...Let's stop shifting the goalposts. o_O

Well if you want to just discuss fringe groups you are correct. Of course centrist can't be part of it since, by definition they are the majority of people. Of course centrist individual commit individual acts of violence, but these aren't motivated by a desire fo political changes.

How about Qanon and conspiracy theory motivated violence though? They are definitely political in nature, but they are difficult to place on the right-center-left spectrum. Where would you place them?
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
Well if you want to just discuss fringe groups you are correct. Of course centrist can't be part of it since, by definition they are the majority of people. Of course centrist individual commit individual acts of violence, but these aren't motivated by a desire fo political changes.

How about Qanon and conspiracy theory motivated violence though? They are definitely political in nature, but they are difficult to place on the right-center-left spectrum. Where would you place them?

Qanon are far-right extremists here in America. Generally most conspiracy theorists are just unstable people with health issues.
 

epronovost

Well-Known Member
Qanon are far-right extremists here in America. Generally most conspiracy theorists are just unstable people with health issues.

About 25% of people believe in some form of conspiracy theory. That's a lot of people to simply brush it aside as "crazy people" (though it's true that some conspiracy theories are crazier than others).
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
About 25% of people believe in some form of conspiracy theory. That's a lot of people to simply brush it aside as "crazy people" (though it's true that some conspiracy theories are crazier than others).

What causes alot of conspiracy theories too, is the human inclination to create abstract thoughts for problem solving... For example, a person will see a famous child molesting celebrity in the news, and then a month later a child molesting priest on the news, and then a month later, he will see random politicians in photographs with both priests and said celebrity.

...It would be human nature to attempt to draw a personal conclusion, by combining the three isolated incidents as a collective thought (call it Qanon)... This is what "abstract thinking" is -- When in reality, the three incidents are exactly three separate, unrelated incidents. This is how all conspiracy theories are created.

So I suppose you might be correct when you say it can't all be mental illness. In fact, it would be more correct to call it average human behavior.

However, if one could educate himself on what abstract thinking is, and how it's a natural human instinct, he might then be more inclined to test his abstractions for potential fault, and not allow himself to become radicalized out of mere instinctive nature.

Understanding Abstract Thinking: Development, Benefits & More
 
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Cooky

Veteran Member
I believe abstract thinking can play a major role in religion too, where our minds play tricks on us.

For instance 3 out of 16 chapters repeat a common theme, under different pretexts. This in turn activates the abstract thinking neurons in the brain to begin linking this theme from it's 3 different sources, and through the natural instinct of abstract thinking, a personal theory is born.. Or "belief" if you will.

And like conspiracies cause radicalism, so too does religious belief. Because they are linked neurologically, using the same system. And are both stamped deep within the longterm memory.
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
You don't say that. Are white ppl facing systemic racism? Come up with your own slogan that doesn't mock and belittle black lives.

imitation is the sincerest form of flattery... No..?

Okay, then how about: "It's okay to be white", could that be the white motto?
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
I wonder if perceived "racism" is also the culprit of abstract thinking...?

The media plays instances over and over, of different cases of police harming black people over many years, while not airing white on white shootings. Naturally, using the abstract thought process, it would be normal human behavior to conclude that racism is a very big problem.

...But the bigger problem is that, like religion, it's stamped in the long-term memory part of the brain, and creates *radicalized* behaviors, like some religions and conspiracies can, and can even progress into the burning down of buildings!
 
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epronovost

Well-Known Member
I wonder if perceived "racism" is also the culprit of abstract thinking...?

The media plays instances over and over, of different cases of police harming black people over many years, while not airing white on white shootings. Naturally, using the abstract thought process, it would be normal human behavior to conclude that racism is a very big problem.

...But the bigger problem is that, like religion, it's stamped in the long-term memory part of the brain, and creates *radicalized* behaviors, like some religions and conspiracies can, and can even progress into the burning down of buildings!

Unfortunately (or fortunately it depends on your perspective), racial prejudices against black people in the US by law enforcement has been studied by academics for decades and has been quantified on several points. There is an entire field in sociology, law and history dedicated to it. Disproportionate use of force against black suspect, bias and unfair treatment by the law towards them and even political participation repression efforts have all been observed, studied, quantified and analysed. In fact there is so much data on it in the US that denial of racism toward black people by the police and the justice system could be considered conspirational thinking.
 
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