“The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. …We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. …In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons…who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.”
― Edward Bernays, Propaganda
I submit that the only antidote to propaganda which is capable of curing whole societies, is the conscious manipulation of one’s own beliefs and perceptions. We must abandon the desire for objective reality, and instead become masters of our personal unrealities. Great responsibility can only be fulfilled with great power. We must become better than we are. We must take hold of the power of unreality for ourselves.
Exactly right. Neo expressed true freedom when Agent Smith, enraged, asks Neo why he keeps fighting, and Neo says “because I choose to”.
Our world is full of people who have been programmed like robots, that don’t examine their programming. Freedom from the Matrix starts with recognizing our programmable nature, and learning to see clearly how it’s exploited by the system. Only then can we begin to program ourselves.
Grail@multiverse.soulism.net 3 weeks ago
It’s an allegory for the fact that through their control of the media, the rich can construct whatever reality they want in the minds of the masses.
Earthman_Jim@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
Indeed
“The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. …We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. …In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons…who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.”
― Edward Bernays, Propaganda
Grail@multiverse.soulism.net 2 weeks ago
I submit that the only antidote to propaganda which is capable of curing whole societies, is the conscious manipulation of one’s own beliefs and perceptions. We must abandon the desire for objective reality, and instead become masters of our personal unrealities. Great responsibility can only be fulfilled with great power. We must become better than we are. We must take hold of the power of unreality for ourselves.
Earthman_Jim@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
Exactly right. Neo expressed true freedom when Agent Smith, enraged, asks Neo why he keeps fighting, and Neo says “because I choose to”.
Our world is full of people who have been programmed like robots, that don’t examine their programming. Freedom from the Matrix starts with recognizing our programmable nature, and learning to see clearly how it’s exploited by the system. Only then can we begin to program ourselves.