In Defense Of Fascism

The problem with people with strongly held beliefs and moral values [1] is that their thinking is partisan, dogmatic ... imbalanced and, therefore, unsound [2]

Such people are dangerous [1] and their pronouncements should be regarded with extreme scepticism [2]

Never allow them the power to effect the implementation of their beliefs in any material manner ... for, in implementing them, they will not balk at *imposing* them 'for the Greater Good', no matter how many suffer as a result - Their ends will justify any and all means by which they are reached

Trust me ... this is no delusional, paranoid conspiracy-fantasy 'urban myth'

How do I know?

Because, if I were insane enough to think I had half a chance of getting away with it, I'd BE that urbanely mythical axe-wielding maniac ... and, if I KNEW I could get away with it, I'd make Stalin look like Jesus Christ and all the saints rolled into one

I'd hang people from the lampposts for littering, because I believe ... very strongly ... that that kind of behaviour is as thoughtlessly selfish and as careless of the needs of others as the profit-motive that leads to oil-spills, nuclear accidents, deforestation, the destruction of communities by multinational chain-store businesses ... or the ruthless exploitation, coercion and murder practiced by by organised crime ... the root, in fact, of all that is wrong in this world of ours: "I'm alright, Jack, I, me, my, mine" selfishness

People like me should never be given authority or power: We will, intentionally or otherwise ... whether for good or ill reason ... happily or sorrowfully, it makes no difference ... abuse it

Remember that the next time you're thinking of supporting, following, or even voting for, someone who appears to have integrity and says all the right things

Be careful what you wish for

They may just give it to you whether you like it or not

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[1] That means *me*

[2] That means *mine*

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Comment by LoL on May 12, 2012 at 22:30: I feel to great a sense of a responsibility to all the other lifeforms on this planet not to allow my own species to f*** it up for them

Comment by LoL on May 10, 2012 at 15:33: What would I do with the power invested in me?

I'd be Bob The Angry Flower

Yes, I'd be a highly moral, and make the World a better place [1]

But I would make it a better place - I would use force .. impose my values ... oblige others to live by my standards, even as I flagrantly flouted them myself, as BtaB does

I might do so sorrowfully, but I would deem it ... albeit unfortunate ... a necessity

And benign though my dictatorship might be ... I would be no less a dictator for it

I do not think I could be categorised as either a psychopath nor as suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder, so what am I and is there, really, any difference between my thinking and that of a bona fide example of that which I believe myself not to be? - Does any evil person believe themself evil or do we
all delude ourselves that we are saints in waiting?

I suspect my hypocrisy knows no bounds and that, beneath it all, I am the very thing I abhor most and that is why I take such great issue with others who exhibit similar traits

I may, however, simply be making the Fundamental Attribution Error in an inverse form ... so the jury is still deliberating in my mind, but very aware that it might be falling for a very sophisticated bit of gaslighting

I may be fooling myself or I may not, but, either way around, the amount of introspection and the amount of externalising ... here as well as in other places ... is evidence of an unhealthy degree of narcissism, if you ask me

But, be that all as it may, my interest here is not myself but the parlous state of affairs in which Humanity not only finds itself today but, seemingly, always has ... my use of my own thinking merely illustrative of the concerns I have in that regard ... and the fact that I felt compelled to comment being occasioned by a feeling of unease about the unpleasant obligation to determine which of the abusers I dislike the least [2] coincidental, despite being directly germane to the real issue: namely that Power does not, in fact corrupt, but is only ever sought by the already corrupt

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[1] Note that I did not italicise the words 'better place' or put them in inverted commas - Like every delusional with aspirations to megalomania, I truly believe that I would actually make it so and that there is, therefore, no reason to question their applicability by doing so

[2] So that they may abuse us in their way rather than in that of any of the other candidates

Comment by LoL on May 10, 2012 at 12:37: > The thread was about political participation wasn't it?

Well ... no

But yes

But no

Really it was about power and the abuse of it by a certain kind of mind, the impetus for which was the fact that I felt I was being obliged to choose who will be my abuser for the next four years - So, yes it was about political engagement on one level, but, for me, there was more to the issue than mere engagement [1]

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[1] What kind of individual seeks power, why what do they do with it and why?

Comment by LoL on May 10, 2012 at 2:29: http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=8381.0

Comment by LoL on May 10, 2012 at 2:29: Luis

I> However, do you find coincidences entertaining?

find coincidences paradoxical and ... occasionally ... entertaining - It depends upon the reasons for the coincidence

> Thinking in stereotypes may be a necessity for practical reasons. One doesn't always have time to ponder

Indeed ... flight is a far more useful response to the unexpected appearance of something predator-shaped than pausing for thought to get eaten ;)

...

Although there is more than enough controversy surrounding Vaknin, I thought you might find this thread interesting for a number of reasons [1]

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[1] Not least that someone reminded everyone that the tale of Narcissus was not about Narcissus alone - A delightfully ironic paradox / paradoxical irony that is equally ironically paradoxically / paradoxically ironically ignored/forgotten by many, if not most

Comment by LoL on May 9, 2012 at 18:03: Interesting stuff- This just happens to be the last one I was watching and is no more relevant to this thread than any of his others [1]

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[1] Although, in this one, some of his descriptors are ... usefully, I think ... more direct than in others

Comment by LoL on May 9, 2012 at 17:57: Luis

"I'll drop it now"

But it was interesting, so do continue, if you feel you have more to say : )

" One is left with 'whatever' and may find that one of our favorite body parts is ground up by machine created."

I've no doubt I shall be quoting you on that

"After all a hot steak is better than a cold chop."

That's an OLD one ... :D

"Good thing people vote, eh?"

I'm not sure Kim

I'm not sure to what extent he isn't unfortunately, responsible for having encouraged some of the worst forms of the kind of people and idiocy he satirises

Comment by LoL on May 3, 2012 at 15:38: The impetus for this piece of thinking was a discussion with someone about the fact that I have to vote today and really do not feel that there is any point, even though I will vote, because I feel it my duty to do so

My thinking about is best summarised as follows:

So ... whom did/will you vote for?
The Tories - History's greatest villains

(New) Labour - History's greatest fifth-columnists

The Lib-Dems - History's greatest traitors

The others - History's greatest losers

*sigh*

Can't decide whether I want them to electrocute my left testicle, my right testicle, my anus or just send ineffectually threatening letters to my address in the gulag

Someone suggested that if I ran for Office, I'd have their vote

I was horrified: I'm the last person who should be given that kind of power - I'd be a despot ... self-righteous and intolerant

Hence this blog entry, which is my elaboration of the reasons for my horror

Comment by LoL on May 3, 2012 at 15:27: Interesting idea, Luis

Upon reflection, however, I don't think he should've been given authority and power either: Self-centred is self-centred ... and the self-centred are ill-suited to be the arbiters of what is right and good for others - Whether they be sadist or masochist, their thinking is one-sided .... and, therefore, I think everyone here would agree, not what the World needs most : )