I’m still on Meerloo. Some psychological concepts are obviously dated. Some observations are timeless…
If one can isolate the mass, allow no free thinking, no free exchange, no outside corrective, and can hypnotize the group daily with noises, with press and radio and television, with fear and pseudo-enthusiasms, any delusion can be instilled. People will begin to accept the most primitive and inappropriate acts… Delusions, carefully implanted, are difficult to correct. Reasoning no longer has value… If one reasons with a totalitarian who has been impregnated with official clichés, he will sooner or later withdraw into his fortress of collective totalitarian thinking. The mass delusion that gives him his feelings of belonging, of greatness, of omnipotence, is dearer to him than his personal awareness and understanding. (Joost A. M. Meerloo, The Rape of the Mind, 1956)
I dare say - no commentary needed to apply this to the current state of affairs.
So no, you can't be more convincing, you don't need more data, and no you are not the crazy one - they are under a great delusion and walled up in a fortress of collective totalitarian thinking.
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"...will sooner or later withdraw into his fortress of collective totalitarian thinking." I think we have to push him in.
Spot on!
So no, you can't be more convincing, you don't need more data, and no you are not the crazy one - they are under a great delusion and walled up in a fortress of collective totalitarian thinking.