"Menticide is an organized system for psychological submission. It involves...weakening the victim’s ego through isolation, before... a loss of conscious control & rationalization of a new ideology"
Demoralization is definitely in play as a strategy. Knowing that, that is ‘their’ organized intent makes it easier to deploy organized defense. I think of candy bars near the cash register in the grocery store, ‘I see you…it’s not going to work.’ Nice post Jennifer.
I live in an area where the mask mandates were strict for a long time, and people were very compliant. I live alone, and my company sent us all home to work remotely. I definitely noticed, over time, the effect this had on me. Now that the masks have been "gone" for awhile, there are still a significant number of people wearing them -- about 10%. This is so weird, and I hate seeing it. Also, passing people on the sidewalk... some people have recovered from the trauma and will not walk out in the street to give you a wide berth as you pass. Many still will look away though, not meet your eyes to say "good morning" as you walk past each other, as used to happen. The teenagers are the worst; it never used to be this way. The compliance and conformity drive is still very strong in my community, and that worries me.
I was thinking about my own subtle changes. I used to go for a mile walk or so most days and I did stop with Covid lockdown -- and never started back up again. I am more homebound than I used to be, but I need to not leave much for my mother's sake. I could go for walks though and should try to get the habit going again.
They wanted to destroy all the extreme right wing beliefs they mistakenly thought I had. I leaned a lot in the process. But when they tried to shove their insane leftist shit down my throat I learned absolutely nothing. They are insane.
Demoralization is definitely in play as a strategy. Knowing that, that is ‘their’ organized intent makes it easier to deploy organized defense. I think of candy bars near the cash register in the grocery store, ‘I see you…it’s not going to work.’ Nice post Jennifer.
Great way to look at it. Thanks Stay Sane Substack!
I live in an area where the mask mandates were strict for a long time, and people were very compliant. I live alone, and my company sent us all home to work remotely. I definitely noticed, over time, the effect this had on me. Now that the masks have been "gone" for awhile, there are still a significant number of people wearing them -- about 10%. This is so weird, and I hate seeing it. Also, passing people on the sidewalk... some people have recovered from the trauma and will not walk out in the street to give you a wide berth as you pass. Many still will look away though, not meet your eyes to say "good morning" as you walk past each other, as used to happen. The teenagers are the worst; it never used to be this way. The compliance and conformity drive is still very strong in my community, and that worries me.
I was thinking about my own subtle changes. I used to go for a mile walk or so most days and I did stop with Covid lockdown -- and never started back up again. I am more homebound than I used to be, but I need to not leave much for my mother's sake. I could go for walks though and should try to get the habit going again.
JD - excellent missive, don't forget to lockdown with Cortana, Alexa and Siri who want what's best for you and will always listen.
Comforting. Not as comfortable as flannel jammies though NN.
Some of us were talking about this chart in 2020: https://www.strath.ac.uk/media/1newwebsite/departmentsubject/socialwork/documents/eshe/Bidermanschartofcoercion.pdf
"The Rape of the Mind" was the shock title by Joost Meerloo.
Others thought his second choice was less triggering -
" Have you got a Dick in your Ear?"
They wanted to destroy all the extreme right wing beliefs they mistakenly thought I had. I leaned a lot in the process. But when they tried to shove their insane leftist shit down my throat I learned absolutely nothing. They are insane.