What a brilliant Substack. But where are all the commenters?
Just a suggestion, this Substack post could have been in several instalments. I, for instance have forgotten what I was thinking when reading the early parts.
I did however note to ask if you are familiar with W.Bruce Lincoln's book "The Conquest of a Continent. Siberia and the Russians"?
There's a part in it where a shopkeeper has to put a propaganda slogan amongst his display of meat or whatever in the window. He pays the sign no heed. His customers pay the sign no heed. But all know that if that sign is not in the centre of the window, well, then the butcher would be dead meat.
During our March 2020 Lockdown here in NZ most everyone in this neighborhood had a teddy bear or similar soft toy looking out of their window. Cindy said that it would be nice to do it. People posted photos of the bears.
I wondered if I was going to be ostracized for not playing along.
Then there was the 6pm standing at the gate clapping for the essential workers ritual.
That felt like totalitarianism, and the bliss that people expressed over doing it.
Thanks for the kind words. I've only just started writing on Substack so hopefully, the readership will grow. You're absolutely right, the piece was long. I'm going to try and keep essays under 2000 words in the future.
I'm not familiar with that book and will definitely add it to my reading list. These rituals that you mentioned are an integral part of mass formation and strengthen the bonds of solidarity. I always saw it as cultish virtue signaling. People were clapping for a health service that refused to see people which resulted in excess mortality. The rise in cancer that all countries are seeing is a direct result of people missing screenings due to the focus on covid. It's a tragedy still unfolding.
I am writing from NZ, where we have famously had low levels of government corruption and thus high levels of trust in government institutions. Generally we can trust all manner of people to do what they are paid to do.
This trust has been taken advantage of, unfortunately showing NZers as naive.
What a brilliant Substack. But where are all the commenters?
Just a suggestion, this Substack post could have been in several instalments. I, for instance have forgotten what I was thinking when reading the early parts.
I did however note to ask if you are familiar with W.Bruce Lincoln's book "The Conquest of a Continent. Siberia and the Russians"?
There's a part in it where a shopkeeper has to put a propaganda slogan amongst his display of meat or whatever in the window. He pays the sign no heed. His customers pay the sign no heed. But all know that if that sign is not in the centre of the window, well, then the butcher would be dead meat.
During our March 2020 Lockdown here in NZ most everyone in this neighborhood had a teddy bear or similar soft toy looking out of their window. Cindy said that it would be nice to do it. People posted photos of the bears.
I wondered if I was going to be ostracized for not playing along.
Then there was the 6pm standing at the gate clapping for the essential workers ritual.
That felt like totalitarianism, and the bliss that people expressed over doing it.
Thanks for the kind words. I've only just started writing on Substack so hopefully, the readership will grow. You're absolutely right, the piece was long. I'm going to try and keep essays under 2000 words in the future.
I'm not familiar with that book and will definitely add it to my reading list. These rituals that you mentioned are an integral part of mass formation and strengthen the bonds of solidarity. I always saw it as cultish virtue signaling. People were clapping for a health service that refused to see people which resulted in excess mortality. The rise in cancer that all countries are seeing is a direct result of people missing screenings due to the focus on covid. It's a tragedy still unfolding.
Ah, the humanised mice.
I am writing from NZ, where we have famously had low levels of government corruption and thus high levels of trust in government institutions. Generally we can trust all manner of people to do what they are paid to do.
This trust has been taken advantage of, unfortunately showing NZers as naive.
Naivete is a part of it. But NZers are also victims of psychological warfare. I guess when you combine the two, NZ never had a chance.
Brilliant piece, thank you!
Thank you!