For example, when you see anti-semitism online, so much of is steeped in this insane belief that jews secretly run the world. Or that they are wealthy, privileged, etc.
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Likewise, so much racism is built on a false beliefs that black people get unfair sympathy or go to college for free or get jobs purely through quotas. They think they are getting something for nothing while THEY are stuck with disadvantage.
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And so much sexism is rooted in the power that men feel women have OVER them because of attraction, which results in an endless cacophony of mixed messages and rage from men who have no freakin idea what to do with their feelings.
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Forget what's real. Because often what we're talking about is a deeply emotional truth from inside them. They know what they FEEL. They know what they FEAR. They are undeniably felt. And so these are the things that have power over them.
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Even guys like Ricky Gervais become so obsessed with offense / censorship because they feel like that's what they feel has power OVER them. The point of this is all views of "power" tend to be pretty damn myopic and limited.
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So the problem isn't punching up or down. The problem is so many people literally think down IS up. Which unfortunately means there's no handy little thing to say that's going to get them to realize they're punching down.
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There's no quick and easy way to deprogram people from toxic viewpoints. Altering someone's worldview is one of the most difficult things we can pursue. But it's the only way forward. So all I am left with is a couple of scary things I keep having to remember...
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1) Never underestimate what any human being (including white billionaires) will do to see themselves as the scrappy underdog. 2) Never underestimate the cognitive dissonance one will invoke to call themselves oppressed as they step on your neck. /end.
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Hadn't thought of it like that but...I guess a punch is still a punch.
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I often see people punching down very consciously and with full maliciousness, but you’re right, that’s not always the case and other times they don’t even understand that’s what they’re doing.
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