Phylum of Alexandria

That was almost certainly Stephen Miller. I don't know if I'd say he puppets Trump, but he sure knows how to get on his good side and put ideas into his head. And yeah, beyond any one personality, the MAGA movement is a fairly well oiled machine now, with detailed plans in place to advance a blatantly fascist agenda.

Somewhat. Bonobo females select males who are less aggressive, while chimps are male-dominated hierarchical hell holes. Bonobos have aggressive flare-ups too, but better mediation, and plenty of make-up sex.

Yes, if it wasn't already thunderingly obvious, I suck at typing.

Yeah, no prob! Just had to get it out. There is a somewhat more serious conjecture I entertain about right wing politics leaning more toward our potential for chimp-like social dynamics, while left wing politics leans more toward our Bonobo-like dynamics, but not only is it nothing but conjecture, the topic would be better suited for its own thread.

She's not my type, thank God. But the human brain is a funny thing. The male brain, funny and sad.

I really like to think that I can override my overgrown chimpanzee brain. And usually I can. But...Alina Habba! I hate myself.

It wasn't a blind, confident belief. It was one step, and a qualified hope. Let's not jump to conclusions. Plus, there's no one way that fascism works. Especially our clown car of chaos brand of fascism.

My wife got US citizenship during Trump's term, not out of real desire but out of fear. She at least had the satisfaction of voting against him in 2020, and she'll join me working the polls this year.

I would venture that most of the cynicism and apathy on the left--and also the revolutionary cosplaying that bubbles up from time to time--stems from a failure to think about how much worse things can get should our admittedly highly flawed institutions crumble or fall.

It makes sense to me as nihilism. Or like a 90% honest version of that. There's a little bit of dancing around the issue, but he's more transparent than most about the destructive and vindictive urges that animate him.

I dunno, some voters can be motivated to engage in such a tactic, but plenty of people don't. It's a win for Trump, but he himself seems unhappy with the result. He seems more threatened by Haley, and is therefore attacking her even more.

Notice that I put "supplement" in italics in that comment. I agree, replacing proven treatments is where things get problematic. But pro-evidence people should themselves think about pragmatism rather than a staunchly puritanical approach. I mean, the evidence from psychology suggests that in dyadic interactions, empathic approaches are far more effective in persuasion than talking at someone or mocking them. A big reason why there's a tick box of beliefs they tend to glom onto is because there's a network of people and businesses out there who have created their own makeshift countercultural community. Nothing wrong with the community, but there is risk of retreating away from mainstream society into some sectarian dream world. As I said before, the roots of this problem lie in distrust in institutions (and loneliness) more than it does spiritual or religious belief per se. But I also think that if doctors spent more time building up their patients' sense of innate dignity and humanity, you would do away with at least some of that distrust toward modern medicine.

Agreed. And even if it does contradict the evidence, there may be other benefits, as I previously mentioned to Conflicted Thought. Not just a placebo effect, but a real emotional benefit from someone acting compassionate, treating them with dignity, friendly touch, etc. This might be something that people outside of the US don't appreciate, because (I'm guessing) no one rivals the extent to which family practitioners have been replaced by sleek "McMedicine" centers offering speedy but cold and impersonal service here. A few years ago, I had a huge cyst in one of my armpits, and never have I felt more like a walking slab of meat than that experience, thanks to the medical staff I dealt with. No, it didn't make me seek out a Reiki healer or whatever. But if someone wants to supplement their "No Frills" medical care with something more humane and supportive, woo or not, they can go right ahead. They will probably benefit from it. Just not in the way that they think.

Amanda's got it right, as usual. Polls on Biden are harsh in part because a solid chunk of Democrats and independents haven't yet faced the reality of a Trump nomination. They are still in "referendum" mode and need to get the fuck into "choice" mode. https://www.salon.com/2024/01/24/the-time-for-denial-is-over-really-will-pick-donald-as-their-nominee/

I think the core problem for that stuff, and also for conspiracy theories, is a lack of trust in established institutions, including medicine and scientific knowledge. Atheists can go down weirdo rabbit holes too, if they feel detached from and distrustful of the experts telling them what's what. In any event, what does one do about it? I'm all for improved education, or any effort to improve trust (including reforming the institutions and their communication arms). But badgering someone for their weird belief will probably just make them worse, more defiant, kvetching and licking their wounds among people who think like them.

Don't ask me. It's not my wheelhouse. As long as someone keeps their beliefs and practices to themselves, I have no qualms with a little weirdness.

I have an interest in esoteric traditions, so reading up on Hermeticism, Mithraism, and all of the syncretic variations out there is very interesting to me. But admittedly it's pretty much just an amateur academic interest. I do read Tarot cards sometimes, but it's solely to stimulate thought and introspection. I did quite enjoy Alan Moore's tour of magic in Promethea...

Some interpretations sound cool to me. Like, when Mercury is in retrograde, using that time for rest and quiet contemplation. Doesn't have to be about fate or magical rites if you don't want it to be.

Yes, true. Sometimes you gotta sacrifice detail for punchiness, though.

All true, but that's the rationale for a referendum vote. 2020 will be a choice election. A choice between (at worst) "not great" and "fucking insane and terrible." That's the case that has to be made, at least. But I think that's a reasonable feat to achieve.

It's good that faculty are finally starting to mobilize on this issue. Fuck the administration execs. Put them in their place. On a related note, especially relevant for this thread, has anyone read Will Bunch's book After the Ivory Tower Falls? It's a recent history of how higher education has become one of the defining dimensions of our current culture war. Additionally, it goes into the manifold problems that universities face, particularly what privatization and neoliberal business models have done to them. Not a fun read, but very interesting.

I love this track from late 2020, from experimental black metal artist A Rose Dying in the Rain. Simply gorgeous. Best at full volume:

It's more about understanding where the superstitious belief or mistrustful stance might come from, in order to have any hope of properly addressing it. And yes, awe and humility.

Ah thanks!

All I see is "431"