Spirituality
16 Oct 06
16 Oct 06
I saw this word in a different thread and it piqued my interest. Is forced instruction brainwashing only if it runs counter to the dominant culture? Or is the dominant culture a form a brainwashing as well? If the latter is true, is it possible to avoid being brainwashed into believing that some opinion or another is a natural truth? If we have been brainwashed, how can we tell the difference?
16 Oct 06
Originally posted by thesonofsaulWhen your personal observation of the world and your deductions based on that run counter to your beliefs and yet you stick to your beliefs and deny the evidence then you know you have been brainwashed.
I saw this word in a different thread and it piqued my interest. Is forced instruction brainwashing only if it runs counter to the dominant culture? Or is the dominant culture a form a brainwashing as well? If the latter is true, is it possible to avoid being brainwashed into believing that some opinion or another is a natural truth? If we have been brainwashed, how can we tell the difference?
However brainwashing is rarely forced. It is often a choice and occasionally an intentional deception.
Many people believe they are happier in the brainwashed state.
16 Oct 06
Originally posted by twhiteheadWell, with that definition, you can add Einstein to the list of brainwashed folk.
When your personal observation of the world and your deductions based on that run counter to your beliefs and yet you stick to your beliefs and deny the evidence then you know you have been brainwashed.
However brainwashing is rarely forced. It is often a choice and occasionally an intentional deception.
Many people believe they are happier in the brainwashed state.
16 Oct 06
Originally posted by FreakyKBHMy question would be: is there anyone not on that list? How do you really know you aren't? If you are brainwashed, do you know you are running counter to the goals of society, and deliberately run counter to them? I would think that you would believe that you are doing the best for society without any need to explain.
Well, with that definition, you can add Einstein to the list of brainwashed folk.
17 Oct 06
Originally posted by thesonofsaulMy question is, is brainwashing ALWAYS synonymous with untruth? Could one be brainwashed with the truth?
My question would be: is there anyone not on that list? How do you really know you aren't? If you are brainwashed, do you know you are running counter to the goals of society, and deliberately run counter to them? I would think that you would believe that you are doing the best for society without any need to explain.
17 Oct 06
Originally posted by whodeyYet another good question. However, I doubt any of the people here will even try to address this topic. Why? Because they are all brainwashed. Every one of them has something they automatically accept (or reject) without question.
My question is, is brainwashing ALWAYS synonymous with untruth? Could one be brainwashed with the truth?
17 Oct 06
Originally posted by thesonofsaulIt is an illustration of the power of belief.
Yet another good question. However, I doubt any of the people here will even try to address this topic. Why? Because they are all brainwashed. Every one of them has something they automatically accept (or reject) without question.
18 Oct 06
Originally posted by thesonofsaulI've posted this elsewhere:
I saw this word in a different thread and it piqued my interest. Is forced instruction brainwashing only if it runs counter to the dominant culture? Or is the dominant culture a form a brainwashing as well? If the latter is true, is it possible to avoid being brainwashed into believing that some opinion or another is a natural truth? If we have been brainwashed, how can we tell the difference?
brainwashing:
1. a method for systematically changing attitudes or altering beliefs, originated in totalitarian countries, esp. through the use of torture, drugs, or psychological-stress techniques.
2. any method of controlled systematic indoctrination, esp. one based on repetition or confusion: brainwashing by TV commercials.
3. an instance of subjecting or being subjected to such techniques: efforts to halt the brainwashing of captive audiences.
Also, brain-washing, brain washing.
[Origin: 1945–50; brain + washing]
indoctrination:
1. to instruct in a doctrine, principle, ideology, etc., esp. to imbue with a specific partisan or biased belief or point of view.
2. to teach or inculcate.
3. to imbue with learning.
[Origin: 1620–30; in-2 + ML doctrīnātus ptp. of doctrīnāre to teach; see doctrine, -ate1]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Certainly every society tries to brainwash its citizens into accepting its values (e.g. in schools, through the legal system etc.). There's no way to avoid it and, quite frankly, no need to in a good number of cases.
25 Oct 06
Originally posted by thesonofsaulI'm certainly not brainwashed, never have been never will be........ thats all saved for religious folk who dont know they are really alive.
Yet another good question. However, I doubt any of the people here will even try to address this topic. Why? Because they are all brainwashed. Every one of them has something they automatically accept (or reject) without question.
25 Oct 06
Originally posted by thesonofsaulThat's true of everyone of course.
Yet another good question. However, I doubt any of the people here will even try to address this topic. Why? Because they are all brainwashed. Every one of them has something they automatically accept (or reject) without question.
How could it not be.
We can't live our normal mundane lives without accepting some (probably many) things without question.
The trick is to learn what things to question and how to go about doing that.
As for your brainwashing point - I suspect it's all in the connotations we give to the word. Brainwashing is used exclusively as a negative term - so brainwashing someone with the truth (whatever that truth might be) doesn't really make any sense if we take this negative connotation.
27 Oct 06
Put simply, I understand that one is brainwashed when he/she unconsciously resigns his/her will and freedom of thought to others.
To demonstrate, I'll show you a magic trick. Ready?
1. Pick a religion--any religion.
2. Find the most zealous of religious FOLLOWERS (not leaders--they're the smart ones who do the brainwashing).
D'you notice how everything they do is dictacted (to the letter) by their leader? Note how voluntarily they surrender themselves to the wills of their masters. (Islam extremists donate their lives; contemporary Christians donate their wallets)
As to whether or not they are happy, the fact that the meaning of life is laid out for them means that the brainwashed have no reason to make decisions for themselves, ever. Your average thinker, on the other hand, spends most of their time contemplating and searching for their own conclusions on existence.
This thinking is making me thirsty.