Am I being brainwashed?

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   ptosisposted 7 years ago

   Am I being brainwashed?
   
   I used to hate Trump to the very core of my body. Now it seems - meh - maybe not so bad. Why? Because lawmakers' surprise vote to strip the Office of Congressional Ethics of its independence prompted a dressing down from Donald Trump. "Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance!" the president-elect said.
   The secretive move, which overshadowed the first day of the 115th Congress, was reversed in an emergency meeting.   In all my life I have never witnessed this- ever. Congress does this every Xmas with sneaky crap. First time reversed!
   
   

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2. 85

   tamarawilhiteposted 7 years ago

   Scott Adams, the comic, said that there was heavy brainwashing by the liberal media to make Trump seem like Hitler/Anti-Christ, and he's undoing that by doing very un-Hitler things.
   The fact that every major Republican figure has been called crazy, stupid or just plain evil also undermines Democrats using the insults - it is like crying wolf / Hitler for the 50000th time.

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      gregasposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Ask Alternative Prime, he can explain it to you.

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   Dean Traylorposted 7 years ago

   I may evoke the Godwin's Law on this, but what has happened has parallels with Hitler's first days in office. Lately, I've been reading a lot about the rise and fall of the Third Reich. And, what I've read has been disturbing; especially when you compare it to Trump.
   Contrary to popular belief, Hitler never won the popular vote; Heavily populated Berlin almost unanimously voted against him; The leading newspapers referred to him as a clown and moron; and there was some shady dealings that brought him to power...Also, the Nazi party barely won seats in the government of the time. In those days, Nazi party members were harassing Jews, but Hitler essentially told them to "Knock it off." As a result, the German people started to see him in a different light...as if he was just a moderate who was just saying a lot things to get elected (and really wasn't like that persona he created). It wasn't until the 5th and 6th year that Hitler and the Nazis showed their true intents.
   This thing with Trump is smoke and mirrors as far as I'm concerned. There's a lot to still be wary of him.  BTW, I've stopped referring to this as a liberal/conservative thing, this is starting become a democracy vs. fascism ordeal.

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4. 84

   tsmogposted 7 years ago

   I read this question yesterday and it struck a curious nerve. It led me on a journey of wandering and pondering learning of brainwashing. That led to revisiting studies on belief(s) and emotions. Perhaps there will be a Hub or two one day. So, thanks . . .
   
   Trying to be brief sticking to the OP with brainwashing we must have some understanding for that. Brainwashing is changing one’s belief(s) against their will by an external force. If an internal force then presumed it is of Free Will. At task IMHO is there was a moment of a formed belief, which may be synonymous with changing a belief (?), that Trump is president. That which may also be questioned is if outside influences (External force) led to the belief. I don’t think so because it merely was news reported.
   
   (Footnote regard hate that infers another belief perhaps Trump’s character, but is moot since now it is ‘meh . . . maybe not so bad’.)
   
   Let’s look at belief. William James wrote a treatise ‘The Will to Believe’. He said paraphrased to believe a belief there must be a ‘Will to Believe’ first. Further that must be met by three criteria:
   
   ** A live choice contrast a dead choice. A live choice has an emotive appeal. That is internal and subjective. (Consider here what brainwashing is.) A dead choice has no appeal.
   ** Be a forced choice contrast avoidable. Forced is either A or B. Avoidable is not choose at all or choose C.
   ** Be a momentous choice contrast trivial. Momentous is a matter of some import; life or death, or an important once in a life time situation. Trivial doesn’t really make much difference in the world or have the option all over again in the near future.
   
   So, with some thought it appears there was a ‘Will to Believe’ the belief Trump is President. There was an emotion – surprise or amazement, which resulted from feelings of a pleasant experience. Thus, we see a live choice with emotive appeal (Internal and subjective). At that juncture there was a forced choice; either Trump is president evidenced by acting presidential or is not. It could have been avoided like with hate (?) – “Meh . . .” It was momentous or did matter at that moment in time. Thus, it was not brainwashing.
   
   With my journey there were discoveries with undefined belief where there is no acknowledgment of the object for a belief, how belief changes toward disbelief or a stronger belief, and brainwashing. Keys are acknowledgement and change in faith and/or trust.
   
   Thank you for this opportunity ptosis  . . .

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   1. 66

      ptosisposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for you answer. Yes I was pleasantly surprised on the one thing.

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