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The War On Critical Thinking | Paul Short's Blog

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:01:17 -0500

The War On Critical Thinking | Paul Short's Blog:

I’ve been a member of a certain online forum for a few months now. The topic of the forum centers around truth, logic and exposing conspiracies as well as government and media corruption.

The owner, an ex NSA analyst, and core members there are very astute critical thinkers and they have cut through many of the lies rammed down the throats of the unwitting using sheer logic and common sense to investigate the legitimacy of the stories pushed out through the media. They have proven that the Fukushima nuclear reactors were sabotaged in March 2011, the 9.0 earthquake reported on that date didn’t happen, and most recently, that the explosions in Damascus, Syria were nuclear detonations rather than conventional explosives. So as you can imagine, the people and groups who want to keep these facts hidden under a veil of lies have been taking a lot of interest in the community.

After each new revelation the forum gets hit by trolls either working as individuals or with software allowing them to log in to multiple accounts at once and they spam the hell out of the place. We’ve come to expect it over there now, but I took a great interest in the methods they were using. I kept asking myself why they were posting the types of messages and replies and after several months, I’ve formed a theory: It’s not the site, the forum or the topics they are attacking, it’s not even really the people – it’s the minds of the members – specifically: the critical thought process itself.

Here’s why I’ve come to this conclusion:

When a person is thinking critically, they are using and developing the area of their brains that allow for that type of thinking. The more you think this way, the more refined and astute that area of the brain becomes. And in a world where critical thinking is the enemy of the control structure of the elites, they and their minions will do anything to make sure the critical thinking portion of the brain gets as little use as possible.

When a troll injects religion into the forum – and they have expended a great deal of time and energy trying to do so – they bring the reader’s brain out of critical thinking mode and into reflective, belief or creative mode. Now that the brain is in this mode, it’s nearly incapable of the critical thinking part because it’s busy elsewhere.

Slinging personal insults is another one of their tactics. Not only does it cause tension and deter casual readers or new people from joining the discussion, it puts the brain of the person being attacked into defensive emotional mode where critical thought is overpowered by emotion. You’re not thinking critically and using logic when you’re mad. You are reacting, not acting.

Calling things into doubt puts the brain into cognitive dissonance mode where the reader struggles with him/her self. What’s really true and what’s a lie? Are demons controlling everything? Is reality a hologram or program playing out in some galactic super computer? We see topics like this over there all the time and their sole purpose is to distract and give the impression that logic is futile.

It’s fascinating to watch this play out. On the majority of forums online, those topics and tactics have flooded the discussions but on this particular forum, the members are so astute that they recognize the troll tactics instantly and the moderators simply delete the threads. It’s a constant game of whack-a-mole but the trolls are powerless over there. It’s actually hilarious seeing their reactions. But, I digress…

Online trolls will do anything they can on forums, social media, blogs, etc. to pull your mind out of logic and critical thinking mode and into anything but. Your best defense against this is simply knowing what they’re doing and why.

The forum full of smart people and critical thinkers I’ve been talking about is here: Jim Stone’s Forum. The domain name is a bit strange, but it’s that way because his other sites have been targeted so badly he had to abandon them. If you decide to visit the forum, please leave your religious ruminations and existentialism at the door, or you won’t last long

I managed to watch Silver Linings Playbook, This is the End and Man of Steel this week. Great week...

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:32:34 -0500

I managed to watch Silver Linings Playbook, This is the End and Man of Steel this week. Great week of movies. All 3 were fantastic.

We watched this last night and it was great. It was a realistic...

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 14:54:13 -0500

We watched this last night and it was great. It was a realistic (well, for the most part) portrayal of how some people can continue to fuck over others and get ahead, while others become generational victims.

Well worth the view.

Iowa City to ban red-light cameras, drones, and license plate readers, too,

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:57:42 -0500

Iowa City to ban red-light cameras, drones, and license plate readers, too,:

hipsterlibertarian:

letterstomycountry:

hipsterlibertarian:

Nice.

LTMC: This is a good “micro” example of the progressive federalism thesis I mentioned a little while ago. The federal government is not the robust defender of civil liberties that it used to be in times past, and much of the federal Constitution’s protections against unreasonable government intrusion, vis-a-vis the Fourth Amendment, have been whittled away by court cases. People who wish to seek refuge from a creeping surveillance and/or police state need to start using state legislatures and municipal law-making bodies to protect themselves. The federal civil liberties dog simply won’t hunt these days.

Reblogging for comments.

Fuck yeah, Iowa City!

Connecticut lawmakers pass bill to keep Sandy Hook crime scene photos private

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:57:10 -0500

Connecticut lawmakers pass bill to keep Sandy Hook crime scene photos private:

Legislation establishes a task force to review application of law that prevents release of Newtown photos and videos

Of course they did. Always is the case when the government has something to hide.

cumberrage: cumberbatchaddictsanonymous: Oh my god, tag your...

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:49:03 -0500

cumberrage:

cumberbatchaddictsanonymous:

Oh my god, tag your porn there are 12.9 year olds here!

So goddamn beautiful.

mattsbrickgallery: Bluth House.(by Pepa Quin)

Sun, 26 May 2013 21:43:02 -0500

mattsbrickgallery:

Bluth House.(by Pepa Quin)

heirofmedusa: il-tenore-regina: HELP LMFAO Omgggg

Sun, 26 May 2013 21:31:05 -0500

heirofmedusa:

il-tenore-regina:

HELP LMFAO

Omgggg

Life Update #328998278932

Sun, 26 May 2013 19:47:00 -0500

Alright, I finally got what I wanted: I no longer have 2 jobs. The 3rd one kicked in and I’m making 20 an hour so I quit the other 2. Yay money and the free time to enjoy it.

*Technically it’s not 20 an hr, it’s 20 per rebuild but it takes like 45-60 minutes to do one. So…yeah.

If Astrology and Horoscopes are real, once again, why can’t anyone ever guess what I am...

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:23:56 -0500

If Astrology and Horoscopes are real, once again, why can’t anyone ever guess what I am without me telling them?

They’ll ask: “Chris, what’s your sign?” And I’ll tell them. And then all of a sudden a revelation hits and they’re like, “Oh yeah, you’re totally a Sagittarius. That’s spot on. I can totally see that.”

Really? If it’s so spot on and obvious, and if I’m totally a Sag, why couldn’t you guess it? Why was I forced to tell you? Could it be, perhaps, because it’s horseshit and you’re full of crap yourself?

Astrology is one step away from fortune cookies — bullshit generalizations that can apply to anyone in regards to anything. It’s also one step away from a deceased loved one trying to contact you through a conveniently expensive medium with well wishes, but for some reason they don’t remember their name or yours. I think it starts with an “S”….

People buy into bullshit so easily, and then they turn around and try and force their bullshit on you and others; they also push off real life to do so. I have a non-friend who believes in chakras and energy rocks. She spends the money she should spend on her kid on hippie bullshit. It’s neglectful and sad. And that’s how I feel about all of that culture.

Xboxy Goodness.

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:58:43 -0500

Finally going to be able to kill zombies after years.

The positive of buying a new Xbox is that I don’t have cable, so not only do I get to re-murder zombies, but I also get Netflix, HBOGO, and HuluPlus to stay somewhat current on TV and movies. I’ll never be bored again.

I also get the Xbox ridiculously cheap since I know awesome peeps with insane discounts.

Photo

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:52:10 -0500

fyeahdickandbabs: talkaboutspaceships: Couple has really...

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:07:35 -0500

fyeahdickandbabs:

talkaboutspaceships:

Couple has really awesome Batgirl/Nightwing wedding cause they’re awesome.

(source: http://imgur.com/a/XSADm)

This is easily the most adorable thing I’ve seen all day. DC follow this couple’s example!

Photo

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:06:53 -0500

"Leadership is action, not position."

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:04:19 -0500

“Leadership is action, not position.”

- [unknown] (via timlebsack)

Back to the grind :/

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:57:00 -0500

I get to do inventory today, yay (sarcasm). But, on the bright side, I get to go to the gym after (woohoo)… and talk specifics about the 3rd job with my new boss (which is meh). I actually get to decide my pay — which sounds good, except for the fact that I may fuck myself over. The thing is that counters don’t take especially long to repair; neither do impact tools. But, if I set my pay per unit, then I could potentially set myself up for failure if we get slow (as the oilfield has a knack for doing). On the other hand, if I go with the $20 an hr figure, I could set myself up to be fucked if I’m doing multiple units an hour. Either option has its potential and also its downside. And as it is, I’m too tired and burnt out to make important monetary decisions. It’s enough I have to remember all the drink mixes and prices at the bar and server logins and fixes at the banks.

I actually expect my brain to explode any day now. Pretty sure it’s going to happen and that brain explosions are a real thing that people have to worry about.

First day off this week and I don’t want to do anything :/ So.damn.exhausted.Just did cardio,...

Sun, 12 May 2013 11:32:40 -0500

First day off this week and I don’t want to do anything :/ So.damn.exhausted.

Just did cardio, now I have to drive to Indian Bayou to visit everyone and do some clothes and pick up random things I need. Long day Sunday :(

hannahthib: the-girl-silhouette: vegandthelike: Please read...

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:38:14 -0500

hannahthib:

the-girl-silhouette:

vegandthelike:

Please read this****

If a thief forces you to take money from an ATM, do not argue or resist. What you should do is punch your pin in reverse. EX: if your pin is 1234 you punch 4321. The moment you punch in the reverse, the money will come out but will be stuck in the machine and the machine will immediately alert the police without the theif’s knowledge. Every ATM has this feature.

Reblog this so everyone knows, this happens all the time especially in the city

tumblr teaches me so much more than anyone else does about life situations

Well.

Yeah and what if your pin is a palindrome? Then what? The fucker gets your money and you get to go home sad.

With this scenario, the money gets stuck in the machine. And we’re supposed to assume the robber won’t be upset? He won’t be alarmed? He won’t be nervous? You think he is really going to let you walk away as he fights with the machine for the money? Come the fuck on.

How about you arm yourself and shoot the motherfucker when he tries to rob you? Then if he gets to go home at all, he’ll be thankful. You, on the other hand, go home with your money and your dignity.

Get to work in River Ranch today, woohoo (sarcasm). On the bright side, I can bring a few things to...

Thu, 09 May 2013 08:16:21 -0500

Get to work in River Ranch today, woohoo (sarcasm). On the bright side, I can bring a few things to the house downtown.

“Chris, if you would have had your shit together back then, I’d have married...

Tue, 07 May 2013 22:38:00 -0500

“Chris, if you would have had your shit together back then, I’d have married you”.

Well, in hindsight, I’m ecstatic I didn’t. Because I would have gone for someone like you back then — hell, I tried. But knowing how you turned out? I’m thankful my shit wasn’t together; I’m glad I was broken. A few years of wandering around trying to find my self worth saved me a lifetime of being stuck with you or others who were/are just like you.

I’m glad you noticed the recent changes in me enough to offer a backhanded cut-down, obviously meant as a compliment. But no, I don’t want you. I no longer need women to tell me I’m worth it or that I’m appreciated or that I’m needed. Because I no longer need the approval. I no longer need other people to be happy.

I always thought: I don’t need a lot of stupid shit. I don’t need to work all the time or 40+ hours a week to have a new tv, or a car, or “x”. But as I lived my life, I realized how much I worked to give other people things and got nothing in return. Turns out I was working for stupid shit: other people.

You’re right, though, my shit wasn’t together. But whose is? I can’t name a single person I know who has it all figured out. Surely you can’t think you do? After all, you ended up with a kid whose dad’s life you ruined. I forget where you told me you left that poor idiot. Now you pawn your kid off onto your parents as you follow your boyfriend around to bars most nights of the week.

So yeah, I’m glad I didn’t have a 401k to attract you. I’m glad I didn’t have some awesome insurance plan to keep you around. I’m glad I didn’t get suckered into a mortgage to appease you. I’m glad I didn’t meet yours and others’ standards of success. Because I see what you and your kind do to those that do. I would have been the poor bastard giving you child support for a kid I’d never see, just for you to use the money to pay for your new guy’s bar tab.