Pinned
Interesting discussion of how mind viruses are created and amplified
Benjamin Carlson
11.5K posts
Benjamin Carlson
@bfcarlson
- In 1977, media prophet Marshall McLuhan discussed CIA and FBI surveillance, and then turned it into one of the most mind-bending riffs on identity in the digital age I've ever heard.
00:00 - Think about what’s being done to your dopamine levels on a daily basis and then watch this. In 1958, Aldous Huxley predicted a form of dictatorship that would rely not on force, but propaganda—and addiction.
00:00 - How do you incubate a mind virus? How do you cause a culture to self-destruct? In 1984, this KGB defector exposed the 4-stages identified by Soviet intelligence as the necessary steps to cause the psychological implosion of American society. Stage 1: Demoralization (15–20 yrs)
00:00 - In 1977, Jorge Luis Borges, one of the most influential 20th c. Spanish-language writers, told William F. Buckley (whose first language was Spanish) his reasons for feeling, age 78, that English was 'far finer' than his native tongue. Right or wrong, I love his savor for language
00:00 - Did you know this? 3 minutes before the second plane hit World Trade Center 2, an announcement went out to everyone in the building: "WTC is secure/safe, please return to your offices." Many who called 911 were told: shelter in place. Wait to be rescued. Some people
- In 1974, author Ray Bradbury was asked, “What is space travel going to do for man?” In response, he gave the most mystical, mind-blowing, and strangely moving answer I could have imagined.
00:00 - Love or hate her, Ayn Rand was a piercing voice on moral questions that continue to haunt the 21st century. Watch this 1959 clip with Mike Wallace and ask yourself: was she wrong?
00:00 - We’ve had to repair our old American-made Maytag dryer a couple times. Both times I’ve asked whether it’s worth getting it replaced, and the repair guy said don’t bother. He was about to retire and had a full book of business, no need for us. He said the new machines are
- In the last interview of his life (1996), astronomer Carl Sagan gave an uncannily prescient warning of the dangers that arise when you cannot ask skeptical scientific questions of those in authority. Watch and ask yourself: was he right?
00:00 - TIL every time you say “he is toast,” you are paying homage to that great linguistic innovator, Bill Murray.
- How do you incubate a mind virus? How do you cause a culture to self-destruct? In 1984, this KGB defector exposed the secret 4-stage plan used by Soviet intelligence to wage psychological war on American society. Stage 1: Demoralization. (15-20 years)
00:00 - In 1977, Jorge Luis Borges, one of the most influential 20th c. Spanish-language writers, told William F. Buckley (whose first language was Spanish) his reasons for feeling, age 78, that English was 'far finer' than his native tongue. Right or wrong, I love his savor for language
00:00
