It is an interesting time we live in. While people have always tried to shape narratives it has become more important to be able to spot that activity. I listened to the congressional testimonies of Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger, and realize just how bad things have gotten. And then the recent news about USAID and how it has been used to influence jorunalism.
So I explored the tactics of shaping the narrative and ended up writing a page on it. You can read it here Recognizing and Combating Psychological Wordcraft
Another reason for writing it is that I listened to friends and family who suffer from TDS or BDS. “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS) is a term coined to describe intense, irrational reactions to former President Donald Trump, often leading to impaired judgment among his critics. This phenomenon has been observed to cause significant emotional distress, with some individuals experiencing symptoms akin to those following major traumatic events.
A parallel concept, informally referred to as “Biden Derangement Syndrome” (BDS), has emerged to characterize disproportionate and irrational responses to President Joe Biden. This term is used to describe individuals who exhibit an obsessive focus on criticizing Biden, often without regard to factual accuracy or context.
In each case I think people need to learn how to dispassionately think critically, both for making informed decisions and for their mental health.
Comments welcomed.