Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Mind control. Is it possible?

(This is another very broad topic that covers how a child's mind develops and learns to think and operate. I don't have the knowledge to completely illustrate my point. So there will probably be holes, but the basic ideal is correct. This post will probably be hard to follow. I plan to develop this topic in far greater detail for a thesis. I am sure others have done this with this topic.) This topic reminds me of the Mule out of the "Foundation" novels who can control people's minds or "1984". A device to control the minds of men is still in the future but there exists today a way to control the thoughts and functioning of the human mind that is a permanent part of our society/culture and political dialogue. This topic deals with the process by which the human mind operates on a basic level and how the, to most people, scary thought of being called racist or prejudice is an attempt to prevent the human mind from functioning or thinking. This goes into the realm of political correctness which has the same chilling and paralyzing effect on the mind as the above mentioned words. As can be shown by studying the development of the human mind and how it operates, it would be no exaggeration to label these dreaded and destructive labels as mind control. To be labeled with one of these words can mean the end of a person's career and physical harm done to them by the angry zombie mob who can not stand the harsh rebuke of one who dares to think and point out reality to them. This process of preventing thinking is prevalent through the education system and helps to cripple the development of children's minds. Why would there be a need to control people's minds? Because in order for politicians to push through their agenda that most people don't support requires that people suspended thinking. What better way to do this than by making people to think that the normal functioning of the human mind is racist, prejudices or in general a bad thing. This "mind control runs deep throughout our culture.

This is a quote from the beginning of "The Second Foundation". The Mule, who can control men's minds, is having a conversation with Pritcher, a man that was once an enemy of the Mule but is now converted into a loyal follower of the Mule by the Mule's mind control powers. The mule is trying to find the Second Foundation and is sending out an unconverted person to scour space for this Foundation. The Mule needs Pritcher to go along and watch this unconverted man to prevent him from going against the Mule.
"'No, I imagine not. But he's got an agile mind[the unconverted man], he's ambitious-and he's not Converted.'"
Pritcher's long jaw trembled for a bare instant, "I fail to see the advantage in that.'"
"'There is one, Pritcher. You're a resourceful and experienced man. You have given me good service,. But you are Converted. Your motivation is simply an enforced and helpless loyalty to myself. When you lost you native motivations, you lost something, some subtle drive, that I cannot possibly replace.'"
"'I don't feel that, sir, '" said Pritcher, grimly. "'I recall myself quite well as I was in the days when I was an enemy of yours. I feel none the inferior.'"
"'Naturally not,'" and the Mule's mouth twitched into a smile. "'Your judgment in this mater is scarcely objective.'" [The Mule goes on to state that the unconverted man has full use of his mind and has initiative.] "'Then'", said Pritcher, still insistent, "'why not remove my own Conversion, if you think that will improve me. I can scarcely be mistrusted, now.'" "'That never, Pritcher. While you are within arm's reach, or blaster reach, of myself, you will remain firmly held in Conversion. If I were to release you this minute, I would be dead the next'"
The general's nostrils flared. "'I am hurt that you should think so.'"
"'I don't mean to hurt you, but it is impossible for you to realize what your feelings would be if free to form themselves along the lines of your natural motivation. The human mind resents control. The ordinary human hypnotist cannot hypnotize a person against his will for that reason. I can, because I'm not a hypnotist, and, believe me, Pritcher, the resentment that you cannot show and do not even know you possess is something I wouldn't want to face.'"
Pritcher's head bowed. Futility wrenched him and left him gray and haggard inside.'"


This very real mind control has the very same effect that this fictitious Mule has Pritcher.

This is a observation that I made while having a discussion where I ended up being, somewhat, jokingly called a racist. (Having a racial preference for a future wife is also racist.) In the conversation, I referred to Koreans and Japanese people as all Chinese. This is racist to group these people together and refer to them as the same thing. Historically, Japanese and Koreans developed from the Chinese culture. To group these people together in our minds based on similar characteristics: from the perspective of an outsider to these cultures these people all look very similar; have similar writing systems; similar religions; hear one of these people speaking in their native tongue, see famous landmarks or their countries and look at their books, one would not be able to distinguish these cultures apart unless one were educated about these cultures. It would also be racist to be walking down the street at night and become more alert when one sees a black male walking with a hoody on. This would be prejudice--or to pre judge a situation or something. The fact is that people do put people's into groups. This becomes a problem for the person doing the stereotyping when their previous beliefs interfere with their ability to judge the person as a individual when they actually come into contact with that person. Although this is the process by which the human mind develops and functions, grouping things based on their similarities in our minds is racist and not to be done: in other words, don't think.

Grouping, or putting things into groups based on their similarities is fundamental to how the human mind develops and works, "When a child observes that two objects (which he will later learn to designate a 'tables') resemble each other, but are different from four other objects ('chairs'), his mind is focusing on a particular attribute of the objects (their shape), then isolating them according to their differences, and integrating them as units into separate groups according to their similarities. [...] The ability to regard entities as units is man's distinctive method of cognition..." This is the same process that a person, maybe uneducated about the different people's of the world, uses to distinguish these various peoples: one groups these people together based on their similar characteristics. When one sees a person or object, their mind groups them into categories based on the characteristics of that person. The normal functioning of your mind is racist.

"Fox News host Greta Van Susteren is apologizing for 'a doozy of a mistake' made on her show Monday when a picture of Shirley Sherrod was used to illustrate a segment on Rep. Maxine Waters, the Huffington Post reports." This somewhat illustrates this topic. I bet Greta and Fox News will be labeled racist before long. The fact is that all people of a different race than the one you belong to do all look very similar. Well why is this racist? Why is the normal functioning of the human mind racist?

This thought control has the effect of stupefying a people, preventing them from thinking, and suppressing thought and action.
After having thus successively taken each member of the community in its powerful grasp and fashioned him at will, the supreme power then extends its arm over the whole community. It covers the surface of society with a network of small complicated rules, minute and uniform, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate, to rise above the crowd. The will of man is not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided; men are seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting. Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence; it does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd.


This post does not go into great detail into how the human mind functions, so the point that political correctness and the labels racist and prejudice is a form of mind control will seem a hyperbole to most; but if one reads about the functioning of the human mind and how it develops, this will not seem such an exaggeration. A good book for this topic is Ayn Rand's "Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology" or any other book on the topic. If humans lived in the ocean like a fish, would they realize that they are wet? Or in a simpler form, does a fish know that it is wet? Do people realize that their thoughts and minds are being controlled in a subtle way? How many times have you had to not voice what you were really thinking for fear of being labeled something? Do people realize the fact that most are enslaved to the system of credit? Do we realize that our economic system is not capitalist? Taking early America as a base by which to judge the level of freedoms we have, how free are we? Thinking is becoming a dangerous thing to do. Who ever invented this method of mind control deserves a lot of respect for their genius, although maybe in a bad way.

5 comments:

  1. You are a danger...You must be eliminated...

    Joking! Thought controlling...I mean provoking post! As always, lots to agree and maybe take issue with. I'll get around to it soon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Before getting too paranoid, one thing people have to keep in mind is that children always have and always will be socialized into their culture. I'm certain that parents generally do more socialization of their children than schools do, but schools are very important at that, churches too. And that's overall a good thing. It's what schools and churches and parents are supposed to do, teach a kid how to act, and hopefully, how to succeed, in the culture into which he is born. People rave about Pink Floyd's The Wall. I think it's their worst album, both musically and lyrically. And lyrically, because all it is is Roger Waters whining about how his mommy and the schools and the government are telling him what to think. Well, dude, that's never going to change. Suck it up. Learn how to think for yourselves. It think RTP&GG types are good at thinking for themselves.

    The question that Jeff rightly raises is "who is doing the socialization of our children and do I agree with what they are trying to do to my kids?". Humans impart their points of view on the people they interact with. It's human nature for a teacher's point of view to at least somewhat be mixed into what he/she is teaching. Teachers are generally decent, good people. They probably generally have a liberal point of view, being modern university grads and members of public employees unions. Some will where their politics on their sleeves more than others. They should strive to be as neutral as possible but can't possibly be neutral. Parents don't have that duty. Our children are ours to raise as we see fit and impart the goods and bads, rights and wrongs that we believe in in our children. That's the parents' right and perogative. One humorous thing I know my mom imparted on me was a dislike of John Wayne. She couldn't stand him and I can't stand him. I'm sure that's 100% because of her. I don't begrudge her that.

    Regarding racial stereotypes, I agree Jeff, stereotyping of ALL things is NATURAL and NORMAL for humans, and possibly many higher animals. However, our country is partially based on the idea of a melting pot, where everyone from everywhere is welcome, so long as they enculturate into our society. That means that the government has a strong need to make part of our socialization being able to look past racial differences. That is a strong disconnect with anybody's nature. And counterproductive in a great many ways, as people go through life and learn, hey, many stereotypes tend to be true.

    This is a dilemma we have in the US in particular. In hasn't been a dilemma in most countries throughout history or in the world today, where most countries are largely created and for one particular racial group. So, outsiders who are criticized and feared are a) not your neighbor, so not a problem day to day and b) is a member of a tribe that yes really is a threat to your country.

    A rambling answer. Non-conclusive. Interesting topic.

    I just say: don't blanket condemn the process of Socialization. Condemn the possible evil uses that Socialization could be put to.

    And great bonus points for using The Mule and Foundation series, which I loved.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is ToeJamm.

    I think that the rules and regulations that amass will definitely stupefy people. I am in Army training and I see it everywhere. I have to lead physical training in a strict format along with other leadership procedures. I dont think that we'll ever come to a point of 1984 or Anthem however. We are too smart to get there and believe it or not, people are starting to be aware of what is happening with our mass government.

    BTW
    Government computers blocked RTP's. A big warning came on the screen when I tried to access the website. I'm on someones personal computer now...they're on to us...

    ReplyDelete
  4. The post was meant to get one thinking. Take a few steps back and try to get a much broader view of the situation.

    I think socialization is different from trying to label the normal human functioning of the brain as a negative thing. You are not going deep enough into the topic, Bud-D. I did not go into great length on how the human brain develops or function. Glance over that and you will see how political correctness is not simply socialization of the past type. It is not simply imparting values or one's point of view on other people: it is much deeper than that. It attacks the very way our brains develops and functions.

    You should look into the current education system and its very foundations. You will see what it is designed to do.

    The education system and our culture through stereotyping does not make people look past racial differences. It does the exact opposite for the purpose of dividing people into groups that have "wronged" each other. This is the only way to conquer a free society. A people united in freedom can not fall so they must be divided. Kids are taught about the 1st black person or woman to do this or that. This makes kids think that there are diffeneces between the races. I personally remember that from my youth.

    I said sterotyping is a problem for the one doing it when they enter into one-on-one interaction with other people. Who are the ones trying to socialize/brainwash the children?

    ReplyDelete
  5. What is up with China's new carrier killing missile the Dong Feng-2?

    ReplyDelete