Questions to Defrag the Brainium

in #philosophy6 years ago (edited)
And now, to continue down the path of crazy a little bit longer, I will like to present to you my dear reader, more uncomfortable conundrums. I know you love them so much, specially because it makes you hover over the flag button every now and then, and that is always fun.

What's the purpose?

Very good question, yes... we need a purpose for this little journey of ours. Let's call this whole thing self imposed mental defragmentation. I think that is the proper way of looking at it. Just like the hard drive on your computer requires maintenance to make sure its working properly and to make sure the files are not "corrupted", I think asking difficult questions to ourselves might have the same effect on us.

I mean, all of us get set in our ways over time and get too comfortable. In that process we adopt sometimes without conscious effort, ideas that don't really belong inside a healthy mind. I will grant you that some of these ideas are not inherently bad, but they are no doubt dissonant and work very much like mental parasites eroding our capacity for critical thinking.

The word parasite might be a little harsh to some, but then again I'm comfortable with the notion that I may not be harsh enough about this whole phenomena. After all, many of the bad things that happen to humanity are byproducts of terrible, and I do mean terrible ideas. What is a corrupt organized religion with extremist ideologies but the cusp of parasitic ideas celebrating stupidity with loud voices.

Mental Immunity

May not exist, even though we tend to think that intelligent people are logically completely immune to parasitic ideas themselves. After all, logic is their weapon of choice, and most of these toxic ideas lack it completely. I'll admit I used to believe in mental immunity myself, in the ability for someone to shield themselves from adopting notions that do not pass muster through mental fortitude. However, I also remember distinctly being seduced, because that is the correct word, and adopting a few ridiculous ideas into my own world view unknowingly.

The truth is that human brain is within itself a none mono-entity, and what I mean, is easily observed. We tend to have conflicting opinions and desires all the time. It's even common speak to say - "I have two minds about this"- The saying, although illogical is accepted as completely sound, because we experience it ourselves often.

Within that complexity, within those somewhat feeble barriers between logic and emotion, lies the vulnerability for the mind to be hacked, to put it bluntly. This is to say, that a parasitic idea, finds its way into the core of "the self" by attaching its memetic properties onto logical/emotional conflicts.

Painting a Picture


I don't think I can continue this somewhat abstract exploration without giving some more palpable examples. The truth is that to some, I may be speaking in another language all together and I would not blame anyone for such criticisms of my writings. The subject is quite complex, and requires a solid common ground to move forward.

In an effort to help anyone feeling a little lost, let me paint a picture, a plausible scene that should explain exactly how a parasitic ideas grow roots.

Imagine a broken relationship, imagine someone who just got divorced, just left his long time spouse. Attempt to dive into those emotions for a second. Inside this man's mind, life seems to have lost some meaning. Some of the plans, specially the long terms ones have eroded to meaningless dust. Some of the things he achieved mean little to nothing, and all of the sudden the home or the car they bought together is not an asset anymore, but a point of conflict.

Imagine this person algo being really bright, attempting to be pragmatic about everything. Spending all of the emotional currency into the suppression of emotional non logical responses. Imagine this person feeling lonely, feeling weak at times, attempting to regain center, to regain purpose.

Then one day, someone friendly offers a solution. Someone tells this person, that they know how to regain happiness, how to find purpose again. The messenger is charismatic, seems happy himself, so to our character from this made up story, this does not seem suspicious. What does he have to lose anyways? So he takes the pamphlet, he decides to get together with these people and see what happens.

In this new place, engulfed by the positive experience, our lost soul from our little story starts to feel a glimpse of hope again. Everyone is so friendly after all, everyone is so welcoming. They even speak differently, they talk about the beautiful future to come, they talk about self improvement, they have these books, these resources on how to succeed in life, how to take back control. They have examples, members who lost it all and are back at the top.

Once all those connections are made, once our intelligent character has surrendered his mental barriers of doubt, the memetic parasitic messages start to appear, start to gradually take root. You might think I'm making a joke, but this exactly how Scientology recruits its members, and after that long process, this is precisely why highly intelligent people seem ok with accepting XENU, the ancient prophetic alien.

Do I have a mental Virus? Can I remove it?


I happen to think that we can, but it must start with the recognition of our own flaws. Meaning, that we must be frank with ourselves to the point that we know we are not, cannot be immune to parasitic ideas. In that false notion, when we think ourselves too smart to ever allow one in, we might end up justifying them with our own ego. Thoughts like "That could never happen to me, I'm too smart" are part of the reason why these things exist and propagate so efficiently.

Maybe the answer to questions regarding the health of our beliefs are more connected to the reasons why we believe them, than the beliefs themselves. Meaning, that If the reason why I believe in something is because it makes me feel good, that might not be a logical reason to believe in it, and maybe that belief should be revised. Is it bad thing? Is it toxic? those are questions best answered by the results of one's life.

Have I extirpated happiness from my existence? Have I reduced my connections with other humans? Have I walked away from love because of my beliefs? Do I deny my nature? Do I feel anxiety? Do I feel guilt? Do I constantly have to work in justifying my actions, or my lack of them? Why do I need a leader to keep me in check?

We need Questions... The hard ones, the difficult ones, the painful ones, the ones you hate sometimes.

I strongly believe that's the only way to be sure...


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The case for the red pill is strong.

I am very cynical. I am so certain of banksters being evil I don't have a bank account, and haven't for nearly a decade. Consider how that would impact your life, and let that sink in.

Here's a good example of how I was still fooled. As a child in Alaska, we often were roused at ungodly hours of the night to prepare to battle the elements and procure sustenance for the year, hunting and fishing. A signature of such bleary eyed mornings was a hearty breakfast, bacon, eggs, toast, jam, oatmeal, whatever you wanted.

I was convinced that for centuries, even millenia, similar feasts prepared our ancestors for their own daily battles to secure the sustenance of their families. Bacon and eggs were surely a time tested fuel for such battles!

Newp. Edward Bernays, the infamous propagandist, invented the concept of bacon and eggs in the 1920s to sell more bacon for a bacon canning client.

Now, in view of that startling information, think about all the bacon memes that you've seen lately. Are those just organic examples of people expressing their love of salty, smoked breakfast items, or are they insidious attempts to control your thoughts, and produce profits for sellers of sow bellies?

Who cares? Bacon is life!

Err... Well, I still like bacon, but have to acknowledge that my like for it has been deliberately manufactured. I am, though aware of the meme, still subject to it.

Now, think about all your personal biases and preferences. When you find yourself curled up in a foetal position in the corner questioning whether or not you even exist outside of some computer simulation, remember: no one cares. You have only your experiences to base your thoughts and beliefs on, so it doesn't matter one bit if they're simulated or actual.

They are. You are.

It is what it is, and if it matters, you're the judge of whether it does, and why.

Thanks!

Even thought its become a bit of a meme itself, being aware to these things is basically what the whole thing about being WOKE is supposed to be all about.

Of course today, its a bit of a joke, but to be honest and I find a glimpse of hope in the fact that more and more people are trying out the red pill.

I've recently learn, and this is very recent(a year or two ago) how the whole shampoo thing took off. Interesting to say the least.

Shampoo? O, God, not another cherished assumption destroyed!

Will they stop at nothing?

I...I use shampoo. Now I feel dirty, and I don't even know why. [note: I actually like that, so thanks!]

B..b..but, tell me of the shampoo conspiracy, please.

check this out... basically the dependency on the product was created too...

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/01/16/ditching-shampoo.aspx

Thanks! I work construction, and yesterday I washed rock dust and chips outta my hair. I can't not wash it, after work. I've tried not using conditioner, but that makes brushing my golden locks similar to trying to brush wire rope.

There's a hidden message in there somewhere - I just know it! :-) Good one, @meno - and thought-provoking as usual!

crazy ramblingses from the braniums of the craniums! ;)

Ha-ha… lol… not quite as crazy as it may otherwise seem – that is - if one cares to dig in just a bit beyond the obvious… ;-)

Questioning others and ourselves is best way to find the truth. I am agree with you, we have questions ourselves. Some of them, we may hate the most.