Wednesday, March 27, 2024

The Increasing Normalization of Censorship and Canceling

"Fantasia" -- Collaboration with Dream by Wombo
The title of this blog post comes from an interview with Jordan Peterson titled Jordan Peterson: The radical Left is guilt-tripping the West into oblivion.

The description for this podcast: Dr Jordan Peterson discusses how to win the culture war, with insights from Soviet and Nazi dissidents who stood up against tyranny and compares their struggles with clampdowns on free speech today. He sits down with The Telegraph’s Steven Edginton in a wide-ranging discussion from why Britain was a miracle for the world to whether he is addicted to Twitter.

Best quote so far: "Courageous people are quite rare, much rarer than I thought."

* * * * *

I continue to be fascinated with the ways AI can be used. The above was my intro to a blog post about a Jordan Peterson interview with Steve Edginton. You can read what I began to write initially. I intended to draw attention to some insightful quotes. The first that jumped out at me is cited above.

Then I changed my intent by having ChatGPT rewrite the same introductory comments but in different styles. Here are the results of making this request. 

Formal and Analytical Style:
In this thought-provoking podcast, Dr. Jordan Peterson delves into the strategies for prevailing in the ongoing cultural conflict, drawing upon the experiences of dissidents from the Soviet and Nazi regimes who bravely opposed oppression. By juxtaposing their struggles with contemporary challenges to free speech, Peterson provides insightful commentary on the current state of societal discourse. In an engaging conversation with The Telegraph's Steven Edginton, topics range from the exceptionalism of Britain on the global stage to Peterson's contemplation on his own relationship with social media, including his reflections on the scarcity of genuine courage in today's world. Amidst this exploration, Peterson's observation that "courageous people are quite rare, much rarer than I thought" resonates as a poignant reflection on the complexities of human nature.

Conversational and Reflective Style:
So, picture this: Dr. Jordan Peterson, right? He's diving deep into this podcast, talking all about how we can actually win this whole culture war thing. And get this – he's using stories from these real-life heroes who stood up against some seriously messed-up regimes like the Soviets and Nazis. It's wild, man. Plus, he's chatting it up with The Telegraph's Steven Edginton, shooting the breeze about everything from why Britain's kinda like this miracle for the world to whether Peterson's got, like, a Twitter addiction. And hey, you know what's got me thinking? That line he drops about how "courageous people are quite rare, much rarer than I thought" – it's hitting me right in the feels, you know?

Sensational and Provocative Style:
Brace yourselves for the ultimate showdown in this electrifying podcast as Dr. Jordan Peterson unveils the secrets to victory in the culture war! Prepare to be blown away as Peterson draws inspiration from the harrowing tales of dissidents who dared to defy tyranny under the shadows of Soviet and Nazi rule. But hold onto your hats, folks, because the shock doesn't stop there – Peterson isn't afraid to tackle the hot-button issue of free speech crackdowns head-on! And in a no-holds-barred interview with The Telegraph's Steven Edginton, Peterson spills the tea on everything from Britain's global significance to his own social media habits. And if you thought you'd heard it all, think again – Peterson's revelation that "courageous people are quite rare, much rarer than I thought" will leave you on the edge of your seat, questioning everything you thought you knew!

* * * * *

So, what's the point? My intent was actually to share this observation: it takes courage to speak out and take a stand. Would you agree? 

Related Link: What Good Am I?

What good am I if I know and don’t do If I see and don’t say, if I look right through you --Bob Dylan

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

President Pachyderm and His Pink Electric Elephants

Once upon a time in America, there was a president named President Pachyderm. President Pachyderm became famous for his outlandish ideas and love for all things pink and elephant-related. In addition, he recognized the shackles an uncooperative Congress can put in the way of a president, so he decided to run his nation by means of executive orders, a growing trend in White House governance.

Early in his second term, the President signed into law Executive Order #24315 thereby requiring every citizen to own a pink electric elephant. This decree sent shockwaves through the nation, since nearly all pink electric elephants were now being manufactured in China as a result of Executive Order 23101 which he had signed the previous year in order to balance the budget. (Up till that moment the entire pink electric elephant industry had been subsidized by taxpayer dollars.)


Political pundits and mainstream media were immediately on board with the new EO, declaring it a brilliant idea. Late night comics liked the new EO because it gave them a steady supply of new material to prop up sagging ratings. Bitter disputes broke out on the leading social media platforms as those who supported the president strove to cancel those who criticized it, and vice versa, which generated more buzz than even the ongoing war in Uzbekistan (now in its 8th year). 


Initially people were scrambling to get their hands on pink electric elephants, stores overrun with frantic customers demanding the rare and elusive creatures. Streets were filled with people parading their new companions, each one more absurdly pink and electric than the last. Many of those unable to acquire affordable pink electric elephants joined protesters blocking bridges and highways. 


As demand for pink electric elephants skyrocketed, chaos ensued. Research papers began appearing in scientific journals warning of the stress all these electric elephants were putting on the energy grid. Opponents of these ideas pressured journals to retract these papers and replace them with research extolling the virtue of pink electric elephants.


Both Democrats and Republicans crafted legislation to again fund American pink electric elephant manufacturing plants, laws that failed to pass Congress because 90 percent of this new legislation contained pork favorable to each party's constituencies.  


In the meantime, because of a shortage of resources needed to manufacture them prices soared, and soon only the wealthiest citizens could afford to purchase the coveted symbols of American Greatness. Those unable to comply with the president's decree faced hefty fines and even imprisonment. 


As a result, a countermovement ensued in which Americans began boycotting shopping malls even though they were fully stocked with pink electric elephants.


Much was being written in the media about the delays in getting the elephants from China. There was also speculation that pink electric elephants were being used to spy on Americans. Congressional hearings led to an investigation that rocked the nation. The Chinese, it turns out, were broke but had been forcing the president to pay for their weapons buildout because they had blackmail on him performing raciall yREDACTED th an electric pink elephant with cameras installed in its eyeballs.


Amidst calls for the president's impeachment, the rest of the world looked on in bewilderment. International news outlets dubbed President Pachyderm the "Pink Elephant King" and his followers the "Electric Elephants."


Despite the commotion President Pachyderm remained unfazed, convinced that his pink electric elephants were essential to national prosperity and happiness. He continued to promote his vision with fervor, even going so far as to commission giant pink electric elephant statues to be erected on both ends of the National Mall in front of the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol.


The rest of this story is yet to be written. If we're lucky it will also be soon forgotten.

 

As for President Pachyderm, he remains as colorful and eccentric as ever, blissfully unaware of the chaos he's unleashed upon his nation. 

 

Saturday, March 23, 2024

What Was Warhol's Influence on Dylan?

e-Interpretation May 2012 from the "Screen Test"
Dylan's intersection with Andy Warhol seems to have been inevitable. The emerging icon and established icon were both inhabitants of what was then the cultural center of the world.

The Screen Test  
Bob Dylan's encounter with Andy Warhol's camera, known as the "Screen Test," was a brief but iconic moment in both their careers and in the broader context of 1960s pop culture.

Andy Warhol created hundreds of "Screen Tests" during the 1960s. These were short, silent, black-and-white film portraits of various individuals, usually lasting around three r four minutes each. Warhol used his 16mm Bolex camera to capture his subjects, often celebrities and friends, in a fixed frame with minimal direction.


If you go to the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh you can see the setup and actually  participate in your "Screen Test."


Warhol's Screen Tests were not scripted or directed in the traditional sense. Instead, they captured unguarded moments and subtle nuances of the subjects' personalities. 


In the case of Bob Dylan, he visited Warhol's studio, known as The Factory, in 1965. The encounter resulted in a Screen Test session where Dylan was filmed by Warhol. During the session, Dylan exhibited his characteristic enigmatic persona, staring into the camera with his trademark inscrutable expression. The film captures Dylan's face in close-up, allowing viewers to study his features in detail. Some say Dylan was just being Dylan whereas others suggest that he was very uncomfortable.


One of the features of Warhol's persona was the manner in which his personal life remained shrouded in mystery, unavailable to the public till the day he died. This air of mystery created an allure of sorts, not unlike the private spaces Dylan has maintained over the years.


Warhol's observations about pop culture were pointed, not vapid. Dylan's work in the Sixties was equally pointed, right on target and so direct that it was sensationally influential. 


Related Link

The Warhol Museum

Warhol -- A Poem


Thursday, March 21, 2024

Are We Making Progress or No? 21 Quotes About Progress

The Beatles wrote a song about progress in relationships called "It's Getting Better All the Time." As for society on a grander scale, a case can be made that whereas progress is being made in some areas it's open to debate whether things are really better. It depends on what you measure.


What follows are 21 ponderables for your consideration.


QUOTES ABOUT PROGRESS

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
--George Bernard Shaw


Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long. 
--Ogden Nash


The Difficult is that which can be done immediately; the Impossible that which takes a little longer. 

--George Santayana 


The difficult is what takes a little time; the impossible is what takes a little longer.

--Fridtjof Nansen


We stand today at a crossroads: One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other leads to total extinction. Let us hope we have the wisdom to make the right choice.
--Woody Allen


Without deviation, progress is not possible.
--Frank Zappa 


What we call progress is the exchange of one nuisance for another nuisance.
--Henry Havelock Ellis


Change is one thing, progress is another. Change is scientific, progress is ethical. Change is indubitable, whereas progress is a matter of controversy.
--Bertrand Russell


Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress.
--Thomas Edison


Measuring programming progress by lines of code is like measuring aircraft building progress by weight.
--Bill Gates


All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
--Arthur Schopenhauer


The technology life cycle has three stages: Hype, disillusionment, and application.

--Bob Lewis


The science of today is the technology of tomorrow. 

--Edward Teller


All progress is based upon a universal, innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income.
--Samuel Butler


Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
--George Santayana


The most damaging phrase in the language is, "It's always been done that way."
--Rear Admiral Grace Hopper


Quality has to be caused, not controlled. 

--Philip Crosby


Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment.
--Fred Brooks

 

Life was simple before World War II. After that, we had systems.
--Rear Admiral Grace Hopper


Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward; they may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What we anticipate seldom occurs, what we least expected generally happens.
--Benjamin Disraeli

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Living Life Without a Script: The Pros and Con

This past weekend someone made a comment about living life without a script and it generated some thoughts which I can try to capture here. 

At first blush, not having a plan or script seems liberating. Upon deeper reflection, however, such a life can also be quite daunting. Here are a few of the pros and cons that come to mind regarding living life without a predetermined plan.

On the positive side, there's something to be said for the spontaneity and freedom it offers. Without the constraints of a predetermined path, you have the flexibility to explore new opportunities, embrace unexpected challenges, and pursue passions without being bound by societal expectations or norms. This freedom can potentially lead to a more fulfilling and authentic life, where you can discover your true self and express your creativity without inhibition.


In theory, living without a script encourages adaptability and resilience. When faced with unforeseen circumstances or obstacles, some people may become better equipped to adapt to whatever life throws at them. This flexibility enables them to navigate life's ups and downs with greater ease and confidence, fostering personal growth and development in the process.


Many people may be drawn to this kind of free-flow lifestyle becaue it fosters a sense of adventure and discovery. Embracing uncertainty and stepping into the unknown can lead to exhilarating experiences and meaningful connections with others. By embracing spontaneity and the unexpected, you can open yourself up to a world of possibilities and enriching experiences that you may not have otherwise encountered.


On the other hand, there are drawbacks. For example, without structure and direction how do you set goals, make decisions or prepare for the future? I'm reminded of Aesop's fable about the grasshopper and the ants. The industrious ants spent the summer and fall preparing for winter. The grasshopper fiddled around, laughed, skipped, hopped from here to there. Some of the ants may have even grumbled about their lot, but when winter came the grasshopper was hardly prepared. 


I once asked a Native American friend about how the Ojibwa survived such a hostile environment here in the Northland. How did they prepare for these brutal winters?


He said, "As soon as winter is over they would begin preparing for the following winter to come." Their survival involved planning and, like the ants, industriousness.


While living in the now, it can be a challenge to stay focused on priorities. After a while this lack of direction can lead to feelings of aimlessness and uncertainty, making it difficult to find purpose and meaning in life.


Living without a script can also be risky and unpredictable. Without a safety net or fallback plan, individuals may find themselves unprepared for setbacks or emergencies. Financial stability generally requires a plan and a commitment. Long-term stability doesn't just happen magically. 


Yes, living responsibly can feel like a burden at times, but there are rewards as well. Assuming responsibility for a family, or a community, develops character. How many hippie communes failed right at that point as people shirked their responsibilities?


Not everyone is cut out for a life of floating aimless and free. Anxiety about the future can produce emotional distress. 


If your life is one of flitting about, outsiders may envy your freedom, but if you're here today and gone tomorrow, who will be your support group through the tougher times and curveballs life throws at most of us in one way or another. 


This is why people come together in groups with shared values. Whether it be a church, a bowling league, curling club or community action group, there's something healthy about being associated with others in one way or another. This is why healthy families are so meaningful. Blood is thicker than water.


* * * 


I'm not sure who coined the name "Peter Pan Syndrome" but it's pretty apt. And actually, I understand the appeal when Peter Pan sings his creed:


If growing up means it would be
Beneath my dignity to climb a tree,
I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up
Not me!


Behaviors associated with Peter Pan Syndrome include avoiding commitments, seeking instant gratification, shirking responsibilities and maintaining a childlike dependence on others.


Yes, I'll concede that it's fun when you're young to go with the flow... but there are many unseen rewards for pursuing an ambitious goal. Your attempts to achieve audacious goals may fall short, but you'll be a better person for it. You may even leave a legacy far beyond anything you ever imagined.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

How Immigration Contributed to the Fall of the Roman Empire

They say that those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it. When I learned several years back about the factors that contributed to the decline and fall of Rome, I was not surprised at the role immigration played. What did-and still does--surprise me is how the immigration issue is never brought up as something that has historical precedents. 

Immigration was not the sole factor in the fall of Rome, but it was definitely one of the factors that contributed to the fall of this once-great empire. And when one looks back at this period of history, it all makes sense. (Common sense is no longer common, unfortunately.)

During the later years of the Roman Empire, particularly in the 4th and 5th centuries AD, the empire faced significant challenges from both external invasions and internal unrest. Here are a couple of the ways immigration played a role in these challenges. Look at the parallels to what's been happening in Europe and the U.S. today. 


Economic Strain 
The influx of immigrants placed strain on the Roman economy, particularly as the empire struggled to provide resources and employment for its growing population. Immigrants often settled in urban areas, leading to overcrowding, unemployment, and social unrest. This economic strain further weakened the empire's ability to defend itself against external threats. (Sound familiar?)


Cultural and Social Change
Immigration also brought about cultural and social changes within the Roman Empire. As immigrants settled in Roman territory, they brought with them their own languages, customs, and beliefs, leading to increased cultural diversity and, in some cases, tensions between different ethnic and religious groups. These divisions weakened the sense of unity and cohesion that had been essential to the stability of the empire.


We constantly hear people extol the virtues of diversity, but how is that working out in real life over in the EU which has embraced diversity to almost a radical degree? According to Douglas Murray: 


But the argument for mass migration on the grounds of 'diversity' as being a good in itself ignores one huge and until recently unspeakable issue. Just as most cultures have good and things to say for themselves, all have some bad and disagreeable things about them too. And while the positives can be stressed and exaggerated from the outset, any negatives take years to admit, if they are admitted at all.


It strikes me as strange that our culture has become so polarized that we cannot discuss anything with resorting to name-calling. If one argues against mass immigration, they are labelled a xenophobe.


In the last decades of the Roman Empire, there were all kinds of groups fleeing into Roman territory seeking a better opportunity. Visigoths, Vandals and Huns came because they were fleeing the conflicts in their own lands. According to historians the pressure from these migrations contributed to the weakening and eventual collapse of central authority.  


* * * * 

Immigration wasn't the only thing that undermined the Roman Empire. There were other causes as well, including some quite familiar to us today like overexpansion, military overspending and government corruption. Nevertheless, immigration played a part.


I'm just sowing seeds here. There are reasons to be concerned about the direction things are going. Those speaking frankly may have useful contributions on this matter and ought not be dismissed out of hand. My gut tells me things will be getting worse before they get better unless honest discussions are allowed to take place in our communities, cities and highest levels of government. I'm less than optimistic.


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