And, social media, these days nearly as important, if not more important.
You (very understandably) a lot about state-sponsored (especially Russian) astroturfing, but very little about billionaire and company sponsored astroturing, which is very much a thing.
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 weeks ago
They also successfully killed public education, so literally the citizens are too stupid to understand they’re being conned.
Yawweee877h444@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
This is the most important part.
And also they push religion hard which is inherently a system of control for the uneducated and exploited.
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 weeks ago
Not just control, but Christianity specifically (as well as a few others) is really good because it promises a paradise after you die.
You can get idiot plebes to spend their whole lives dreaming about it all being better after they die, because they were pious and accepted abuse during life.
Yawweee877h444@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
Exactly. The “love thy enemy” nonsense always got me too:
Think about slavery in history. Christianity was forced upon slaves in US history. Think about current era people working horrible conditions, factories, sweatshops, whatever. What a CONVENIENT verse for the slave owners.
Just be good, do what you’re told, don’t fight back, and love your enemy (exploiter/persecuter). If you do, promise of heaven like you said.
But if you disobey (commit murder, dare I say of the person exploiting you), infinite and eternal torture and suffering in hell.
Also don’t commit suicide, that’s a sin too so straight to hell if you do.
Its just so fucking obvious.
Fandangalo@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
I was an atheist for the last 20 years and recently converted to Unitarian Universalist.
I would say that in the west, this characterization tends to be true. But I do think there are honest faith communities acting with good intent. Unfortunately, there are few.
Kolanaki@yiffit.net 4 weeks ago
I must’ve fallen through the cracks, because I went through the American education system and I’m not completely stupid.
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 weeks ago
It’s more that the system itself just leaves more and more children behind, as passing kids who aren’t actually making the grade has become the norm because parents are abusive and more apt to harass/harangue and schools are pressured with funding to make sure enough kids are graduating. Teachers themselves are left with few options and there’s still bright kids, they’re just waaaaay in the minority compared to the apparently teeming masses of absolute fuckwits.
SendMePhotos@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
I always think of the George Carlin saying…
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
Hey, not ALL millennials are on the hook for this one!
For instance, I never found anyone to love me, and have kids with. So THERE! You can’t blame ME for idiots today!
…but also yes. Kids in the 90s, that I went to school with were fucking idiots. Including me.
bassomitron@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
The bulk of older teenagers/college kids are from Gen X, not so much from millennials.
Dasus@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
“There’s no educating a smart boy.”
— Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time (Discworld, #26)
GNU Sir Terry
bobs_monkey@lemm.ee 4 weeks ago
Probably the exception to the rule. I did as well, and constantly find myself at a loss for how it simply doesn’t occur to most people to stop and think about something for a split second as opposed to just impulsively doing whatever.
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
…well…