The Whips of a New Inquisition.

[roc_]

In these times and in this place, perhaps the most significant secular deity worshipped is one or other form of Capitalism.

It wasn't always so.

"We have come a long way from the time when the businessman was content to urge capitalism as a permissive theory, as an assertion of the claim that he had his due and dignified place in society, and that he must not be passed by either the snobbery of the aristocrat, or the snobbery of the intellectual.

However, it seems that his demands for room to live have turned into demands that his way of life be recognised as the basis of life of the entire community and that those who are not in accord with him should be punished with the whips of a new inquisition." - N.Wiener.

I wonder can anyone help me enunciate the form and character of these 'whips' of the new inquisition?

To start, it would seem that 'carrots' are far more depended on than 'sticks'. Still a form of whipping though, is it not?

Then it would seem that what we term 'democracy' today is indeed one of these 'whips', drawing deeply on the 'PR' of Edward Bernays, and serving to reinforce the status quo. Working somewhat along the following lines:



Or, looking closer at our mass media, we see its insidious influence on our real freedom and liberty of thought and feeling - its practical monopoly on our society's communication; the distorted picture of reality it creates in our society's mind's eye, and how it turns our society's communication into a standardized, ineffectual, insignificant product... Incapable of making any difference in how this new modern deity reigns over us.


EDIT - Remove reference to how Irish seem to like being whipped!

[statsman]

In these times and in this place, perhaps the most significant secular deity worshipped is one or other form of Capitalism.

It wasn't always so.

"We have come a long way from the time when the businessman was content to urge capitalism as a permissive theory, as an assertion of the claim that he had his due and dignified place in society, and that he must not be passed by either the snobbery of the aristocrat, or the snobbery of the intellectual.

However, it seems that his demands for room to live have turned into demands that his way of life be recognised as the basis of life of the entire community and that those who are not in accord with him should be punished with the whips of a new inquisition." - N.Wiener.

I wonder can anyone help me enunciate the form and character of these 'whips' of the new inquisition?

To start, it would seem that 'carrots' are far more depended on than 'sticks'. Still a form of whipping though, is it not?

Then it would seem that what we term 'democracy' today is indeed one of these 'whips', drawing deeply on the 'PR' of Edward Bernays, and serving to reinforce the status quo. Working somewhat along the following lines:



Or, looking closer at our mass media, we see its insidious influence on our real freedom and liberty of thought and feeling - its practical monopoly on our society's communication; the distorted picture of reality it creates in our society's mind's eye, and how it turns our society's communication into a standardized, ineffectual, insignificant product... Incapable of making any difference in how this new modern deity reigns over us.

As the poster 'The Unwelcome Guest' on the 'pin used to say, "we are a nation of self-flagellating masochists".

I've lately become interested in all mechanisms of this self-flagellation and masochism. We love to be whipped, don't we.

Speak for yourself.

[roc_]

Speak for yourself.

Oh yeah, I forgot the willful blindness. But let's leave that aside for the time being.

[Analyzer]

Did you ever see the documentary "The Century of Self : Manufacturing of Consent".

It captures the essence of the dominant religion that controls the West, in the Modern era.
And how it really, is just to keep Wall Street fat and happy.
The concept of "the sheeple" and "bread & circuses" is glaringly obvious.



You obey the instruction to consume, therefore you are acceptable, and allowed to be happy.

[roc_]

Did you ever see the documentary "The Century of Self : Manufacturing of Consent".

It captures the essence of the dominant religion that controls the West, in the Modern era.
And how it really, is just to keep Wall Street fat and happy... snip...

Wall Street encompasses one caste of 'priests', to be sure. But there are other castes.

For example, most of our politicians, businessmen like Peter Sutherland... and Michael O'Leary would be another caste.

To be honest, it's not the 'priests' that upset me most. It's the pious... If they weren't so bloody pious, we wouldn't have so much of a problem.

... Yes, I've seen Curtis' documentary and read Chomsky. Certainly, they are pointing to very significant phenomena that need to be urgently heeded.

[Mitsui2]

Oh yeah, I forgot the willful blindness. But let's leave that aside for the time being.

So, to summarise your case, you've decided that a certain thing is true and anyone who disagrees with you is wilfully blind (or, I presume, deluded).

Why didn't you just say as much, and save yourself all the folderol with diagrams and such?

[Garland Names the Skies]

In these times and in this place, perhaps the most significant secular deity worshipped is one or other form of Capitalism.

It wasn't always so.

"We have come a long way from the time when the businessman was content to urge capitalism as a permissive theory, as an assertion of the claim that he had his due and dignified place in society, and that he must not be passed by either the snobbery of the aristocrat, or the snobbery of the intellectual.

However, it seems that his demands for room to live have turned into demands that his way of life be recognised as the basis of life of the entire community and that those who are not in accord with him should be punished with the whips of a new inquisition." - N.Wiener.

I wonder can anyone help me enunciate the form and character of these 'whips' of the new inquisition?

To start, it would seem that 'carrots' are far more depended on than 'sticks'. Still a form of whipping though, is it not?

Then it would seem that what we term 'democracy' today is indeed one of these 'whips', drawing deeply on the 'PR' of Edward Bernays, and serving to reinforce the status quo. Working somewhat along the following lines:



Or, looking closer at our mass media, we see its insidious influence on our real freedom and liberty of thought and feeling - its practical monopoly on our society's communication; the distorted picture of reality it creates in our society's mind's eye, and how it turns our society's communication into a standardized, ineffectual, insignificant product... Incapable of making any difference in how this new modern deity reigns over us.

As the poster 'The Unwelcome Guest' on the 'pin used to say, "we are a nation of self-flagellating masochists".

I've lately become interested in all mechanisms of this self-flagellation and masochism. We love to be whipped, don't we.

In truth if folks are as servile as this hypothesis supposes then it doesn't matter what diagram you draw around it or who the names of the players are who move the masses around are the net result would be the same. If it's true then it's pointless to moan about it and if it's false then it's just pointless misery w*nking which seems to be the preferred sport around these parts of late

[roc_]

In truth if folks are as servile as this hypothesis supposes then it doesn't matter what diagram you draw around it or who the names of the players are who move the masses around are the net result would be the same. If it's true then it's pointless to moan about it and if it's false then it's just pointless misery w*nking which seems to be the preferred sport around these parts of late

Why do you suppose I'm bothered?

When one looks out towards our social, political, and economic life and sees how it is, do you not suppose that some people would want to have a try to make it better, more meaningful, more nourishing to the body, mind and soul of our people? Those who are accepting, fine. But what is wrong with there being some not so accepting?

Yeah, I've heard all my life how we currently have a system that is capable of changing things. For helping our people to make meaningful contributions to the conversation and discourse that meaningfully directs the way we live in society. You know what? I don't believe it one whit.

The above is my best diagnosis of the problem I see that I am currently capable of. It is my belief that the self-stabilising system I drew above needs to be disrupted in some way if there is any possibility of change. Also, the religious aspects of the system need to be made more generally conscious in the mass of people.

I'm not moaning, I'm just trying to initiate a conversation on a topic, framed in a way that I believe might shed a certain light that might be useful to some. No more. Turn off by all means if it is not a conversation that interests you.

EDIT By all means people are free to frame the problem differently. Just because I frame it as above does not preclude other framing.

[Mitsui2]

...pointless misery w*nking which seems to be the preferred sport around these parts of late

I'd noticed quite a bit of it about all right.

Strange the way these things go in waves - lots of threads of type X or Y or Z just suddenly "crop up".

Do you think there might be a Hidden Hand at work?

[the_Observer]

In these times and in this place, perhaps the most significant secular deity worshipped is one or other form of Capitalism.

It wasn't always so.

"We have come a long way from the time when the businessman was content to urge capitalism as a permissive theory, as an assertion of the claim that he had his due and dignified place in society, and that he must not be passed by either the snobbery of the aristocrat, or the snobbery of the intellectual.

However, it seems that his demands for room to live have turned into demands that his way of life be recognised as the basis of life of the entire community and that those who are not in accord with him should be punished with the whips of a new inquisition." - N.Wiener.

I wonder can anyone help me enunciate the form and character of these 'whips' of the new inquisition?

To start, it would seem that 'carrots' are far more depended on than 'sticks'. Still a form of whipping though, is it not?

Then it would seem that what we term 'democracy' today is indeed one of these 'whips', drawing deeply on the 'PR' of Edward Bernays, and serving to reinforce the status quo. Working somewhat along the following lines:



Or, looking closer at our mass media, we see its insidious influence on our real freedom and liberty of thought and feeling - its practical monopoly on our society's communication; the distorted picture of reality it creates in our society's mind's eye, and how it turns our society's communication into a standardized, ineffectual, insignificant product... Incapable of making any difference in how this new modern deity reigns over us.

As the poster 'The Unwelcome Guest' on the 'pin used to say, "we are a nation of self-flagellating masochists".

I've lately become interested in all mechanisms of this self-flagellation and masochism. We love to be whipped, don't we.

Your condescending attitude is unnecessary.

Out of curiosity, do you believe yourself outside that little diagram you posted ?