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Why does politics make us stupid?


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2018 Apr 2, 4:48pm   16,358 views  74 comments

by Patrick   ➕follow (59)   💰tip   ignore  

A few weeks ago, a TV interview of clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson by journalist Cathy Newman became a minor Internet phenomenon, thanks to the journalist’s extraordinary interviewing style. She handled the conversation so badly that the Atlantic commented on that car-crash of an interview under the title Why Can’t People Hear What Jordan Peterson Is Saying? ...

The reason that interview became an Internet sensation is the bewildering behavior of the interviewer. Like a Theme and variations piece, the conversation between Peterson and Newman follows a simple pattern that is repeated multiple times:

Jordan Peterson makes a point, tries to provide arguments and occasionally appeals to some evidence.
Then Newman interrupts him (often in mid-sentence) with the words “So, you’re saying that…” followed by some fantastically distorted version of what Peterson just said. ...

The special factor about politics is that a) it seems to be about arguments, for or against particular policies, but b) it is of course mostly motivated by coalitional psychology. The point is to build and sustain an alliance with strong cooperation and diminish the recruitment potential of other alliances, in what is clearly construed as a zero-sum competition for social support (Pietraszewski, 2013; Tooby & Cosmides, 2010).

Seen from this angle, Cathy Newman’s majestic displays of stupidity make more sense. Newman is signaling to her friends or allies that she is so strongly opposed to Peterson and his conservative views that she will use absurd distortion and insulting comments, rather than engage with and discuss any of his arguments. Sure, that makes her sound like a bit of a simpleton. But the point is that people now know very clearly where she stands.


http://cognitionandculture.net/blog/pascals-blog/so-youre-saying-we-should-live-like-lobsters-or-why-does-politics-make-us-stupid

This link from the original is also excellent: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/01/putting-monsterpaint-onjordan-peterson/550859/





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60   CBOEtrader   2018 Apr 3, 7:36pm  

marcus says
IT looks like fear of non-white folks to me.


thats the brainwashing speaking.
61   marcus   2018 Apr 3, 7:39pm  

CBOEtrader says
and hollywood are all righteously expressing an oppressive nazi-like agenda. fact.


The very fact that you think this speaks volumes about how warped your perception is.
62   CBOEtrader   2018 Apr 3, 7:44pm  

marcus says
My guess is that way more than 70% of the population is opposed to that BS. While at the same time not being totally opposed to social justice as a concept. Such as seeing police competence as e real issue.


OK, now we're getting somewhere.

Try this. Without agreeing or disagreeing, ask a classroom of your students to consider the fault of the black community in the police brutality debate. You could make zero points for or against, and express no opinions in any direction. You'd still be fired by the end of the week.
63   CBOEtrader   2018 Apr 3, 7:45pm  

marcus says
I know this becasue Los Angeles teens are a pretty damn good indicator, and a high majority don't buy in to the BS.


I must admit, this is nice to hear!
64   marcus   2018 Apr 3, 7:50pm  

CBOEtrader says
the police brutality debate


I'm not aware of a police brutality debate. Are you referring to people that have been unnecessarily shot and killed, not as part of a riot or crazy situation, but mostly becasue of trigger happy mistrained cops or cops that are too pussified to be cops and never should have been cops in the first place ? These incidents aren't only towed black citizens.

Are you talking about those cases ? I'm not aware of a police brutality debate. IF it is about the shootings, could you explain what the other side of that "debate" looks like ? THat is, the side that puts more blame on the african american community for the murder of those civilians.
65   Shaman   2018 Apr 3, 8:40pm  

EBGuy says
Still waiting for the New York Times bestseller list to acknowledge that Peterson's book even exists. That is the state of affairs these days


I bought it the other day on audiobook format. Have yet to give it a listen.
I’ll let you all know what I think!
66   marcus   2018 Apr 3, 9:09pm  

Patrick says
Why does politics make us stupid?
our politics reflect our stupidity back at us.

That and the bribes.
67   MisdemeanorRebel   2018 Apr 3, 9:23pm  

CBOEtrader says
all democrats dont matter. what matters are those in power of societal institutions. universities, corporate america, our entire education system, social media firms, the msm, and hollywood are all righteously expressing an oppressive nazi-like agenda. fact.


And the Alt-Right controls NO institution, except maybe a table or two at the Springfield Prison Cafeteria.
68   MrMagic   2018 Apr 3, 9:56pm  

marcus says
Patrick says
Why does politics make us stupid?
our politics reflect our stupidity back at us.


So that's it, I knew there was a reason.
69   CBOEtrader   2018 Apr 4, 2:52am  

marcus says
CBOEtrader says
the police brutality debate


I'm not aware of a police brutality debate.


Ah ok. You werent aware of BLM. Sounds reasonable considering you also weren't aware of the societal oppression of wrongthinkers.
www.youtube.com/embed/cfQj8f7WmME

Remember Lindsay Shepard? The young liberal professor who was oppressed for daring to play a Jordan Peterson video in her class as an opposing viewpoint?
70   CBOEtrader   2018 Apr 4, 2:55am  

As long as stuff like this is happening, the extreme left is a huge threat. The extreme right by comparison, is nonexistent yet the left is fixated on white supremacy. It's proof that propaganda works. The reasonable masses on the left are absolutely ignorant to the risks of the oppressive extreme left, because the oppression isn't aimed at their group...yet. wake up before this gets much much worse.
71   rootvg   2018 Apr 4, 9:06am  

CBOEtrader says
As long as stuff like this is happening, the extreme left is a huge threat. The extreme right by comparison, is nonexistent yet the left is fixated on white supremacy. It's proof that propaganda works. The reasonable masses on the left are absolutely ignorant to the risks of the oppressive extreme left, because the oppression isn't aimed at their group...yet. wake up before this gets much much worse.

I don't think so. Go to the Rust Belt and they basically do not exist. Same for places like Atlanta. They aren't around. Trust me. I've been there.

My wife recorded Levin's hosting of Larry Arnn last week and there's way too much there to cover in a few lines but he did say there are big changes coming through which the cause of liberty will be preserved and extended. I can't help but wonder how the statists among us will handle that. Maybe we'll have that limited civil war Pat Buchanan talks so much about. The good guys will win but we'll pay a heavy price for it.
72   MisdemeanorRebel   2018 Apr 4, 9:07am  



Admit your Privilege! Admit it! Admit your Class Sins, Kulak!
73   rootvg   2018 Apr 4, 9:08am  

CBOEtrader says
marcus says
CBOEtrader says
the police brutality debate


I'm not aware of a police brutality debate.


Ah ok. You werent aware of BLM. Sounds reasonable considering you also weren't aware of the societal oppression of wrongthinkers.
www.youtube.com/embed/cfQj8f7WmME

Remember Lindsay Shepard? The young liberal professor who was oppressed for daring to play a Jordan Peterson video in her class as an opposing viewpoint?

What's with the see through blouse?
74   Robber Baron Elite Scum   2018 Apr 4, 9:33am  

Divide and conquer is the goal of politics. It's why assholes like me fund and control the whole circus.

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