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bill wolfe's avatar

Of course, you are correct - I used the wrong word. It's a revolting scene at the end. No need for that here. (and I was active when the tactic was deployed in Vietnam).

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Starry Gordon's avatar

Whereas your video -- at least the part that I watched -- does not really explain what causes the transition to totalitarianism from some other presumably less vicious state. Instead, it characterizes certain individuals as unique, diabolic villains. This kind of thinking is widespread, and it's unfortunate because it does not tell us how to avoid what it calls psychosis.

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bill wolfe's avatar

I guess you didn't watch the whole thing - at the end, they cite the work of Vaclev Havel and "parallel structures".

I totally disagree that the film targeted individuals or unique individuals was diabolical. It talked about social forces and mass psychology - you missed the entire point of the work.

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Starry Gordon's avatar

Yeah, when they trot out the usual suspects I get bored pretty fast. They ought to give Chairman Mao and the others royalties.

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