4:00 "Stupidity is MORE dangerous than malice... because stupidity is unreachable... he did not mean a lack of intelligence. "
It's because so many have decidedthey do not WANT to knowMORE than what their current belief system allows.
Why is this OP not sticky? Did u/mods watch it?
All Anons need to reflect on his words here.
He's saying what I've been saying here for a long time. And what Q said years ago.
People have to decide they want to know.
Knowing is a moral decision.
And NOT knowing is a moral failure!
"Only an act of liberation, not destruction, can overcome stupidity (not knowing)"
Yeah I watched the full link and he doesn't really state how we can give them that moral courage. He is right though for the life of me I don't know how to break through with my family.
I’ve decided to tell my daughter, “Choosing not to see clearly or look at the evidence is a moral failing. You’re not just failing your fellow humans in general, but also the people suffering because of indifference—like trafficked children and the people who can’t put food on the table and who are slowly being poisoned by the medical system and our food.”
Make this about morality—that their own blindness is causing the suffering of others.
Bonhoeffer was clear. These people must be externally liberated. Most can't do it for themselves. Recognize that these people have been subjected to what I call "weapons grade propaganda" for YEARS. (The Big Lie) It's not entirely a moral failing on their part. Many, like my wife, are just trying to get on with their lives. This is why I grow increasingly frustrated that there have been no big arrests. These people will never wake up until their world has been shaken. Yes, I do know we keep winning and all the pieces are being arranged for the final victory, but it doesn't make it any easier.
I also found a meme that really explains why these people can't wake up.
For me personally, I have always sought to understand the world. That's why I couldn't let this go leading me to eventually wake up. It all started with "Why is the media constantly beating up on Trump? He's doing a good job."
I have resigned myself to the idea that there will be an "event" that draws this war out onto the surface so that it (the deception) is undeniable and the masses have an aha moment that culminates in The Great Awakening.
The best way to notify mods is to Deport & do Other>"Sticky Request" ie write Sticky Request in the text option for other.
There are so many posts made daily that mods are unlikely to review every single one in depth, there is enough shillary & glowing to take care of from what I have understood in the past (God bless Tendie, their lessons & I hope they are still here under a different alias).
I did a post on this exact subject two months ago. I'm glad to see it is being picked up elsewhere.
"Bonhoeffer's Theory of Stupidity - 5 minute video that explains why you can't wake people up by using facts on them. Also, stupid people are worse than evil people."
Haha yup solarsavior!
I also did a post on it a year or so ago.
Your username is going to get some sweet, sweet vindication in the future btw.
Who here knew that our sun (long long ago) used to be red?
Anyone know why that would be significant?
Why is that idea referred to as "debunked"? Red (SKY EVENT) October
The more you know…
Here is the main point I got out of it.... we should continue to plant seeds of information, but do not expect the willfully stupid to change. Basically, you cannot reach willfully ignorant people who have eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear. Only an act of God can cause them to have a revelation on an inner soul level, where they can finally decide to use logic and discernment for themselves again. But keep living and speaking the truth, and the tide will turn with each individual who stands up for what is good and righteous. The tide of truth will grow so big, that the willfully ignorant will be swept up in the flood, and this may cause them to drown or to actually see the truth and be saved, as if truth was the only life preserver left in their own irrational sea of folly. Yeshua is the light, the truth, and the way, and only Yeshua can save them at this point. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6 Here is a thought, though; maybe if we can make these people healthy again by detoxing their minds and bodies, removing their parasites, and giving them a cleaner environment free from chemicals, they may be able to develop discernment, logic, truth and righteousness again if they have the will and ability to do so. Then again, maybe the following words of Yeshua may be applicable to some of these willfully ignorant people: "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44. Do not forget that this is a Biblical war, and we must all be spiritually strong and realize that there is true Evil out there, and that Evil will do whatever it can to defeat the Good in each and everyone of us. So, plant your seeds, shine your light, speak the truth, but always defer to God. It is a double-edged sword, dealing with these people. King Solomon said it best in Proverbs: "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit." Proverbs 26:4-5
"The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from
the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During
those 200 years, these nations always progressed through
the following sequence:
From bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
From dependence back into bondage"
Exactly what this post discribes - from spiritual faith to courage. That's why I believe there is a coming revival. The bondage over peoples minds will be broken when they are awoken to spiritual faith in God.
I agree about the coming revival it is sitting just under our feet. Waking up in part is accepting there really is only one genuine choice you can make. That choice is which Kingdoyou want to be in. The kingdom of God or The Kingdom of the Enemy. All other options were eliminated when the serpent snuck in. The illusion that there is a kingdom of man is a fallacy. The Kingdom of the enemy won’t allow such to exist even if God would ( as he demonstrated with the garden). We are either being formed by the forces that have hijacked Gods intentions for us or transformed by him. The bad guys have pushed so hard and so deep into every pocket that IMHO that not many can hide from the truth anymore although they are trying REALLY hard. That’s in part what all this is for. Giving as many people the chance to make a genuine choice for the first time in a VERY long time. You can run you can hide but nothing can stop what is coming. A truth too big to hide from
The Anatomy of Moral Stupidity: A Contemporary Meditation on the Disintegration of Critical Thought
This radiophonic confession, woven around the tutelary figure of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, reveals with troubling acuity the contemporary mechanisms of what one might call voluntary intellectual abdication. The speaker, employing a deliberately familiar style that contrasts with the depth of his discourse, invites us to explore those obscure territories where critical thought crumbles in favor of an institutionalized moral stupidity.
The Dialectic of Martyr and Resistance
The evocation of Bonhoeffer is hardly fortuitous: this Lutheran theologian embodies the radical transformation of consciousness confronted with the unacceptable. The tragic irony of his destiny—pacifist turned conspirator, executed through administrative error fifteen days before the Reich's fall—perfectly illustrates this tension between moral ideal and pragmatic necessity. His cell becomes a microcosm of humanity: the saint, the executioner-scientist, the spy-prostitute, a striking triptych revealing how spiritual beauty can emerge from the vilest proximity.
This juxtaposition is not anecdotal: it suggests that true wisdom is born not from contemplative isolation, but from direct confrontation with the world's moral ambiguity. Bonhoeffer writes his most beautiful pages on marriage without having known union; he meditates on divine love surrounded by the most abject human corruption. This creative tension between ideal and reality constitutes the fertile ground of all authentic thought.
The Epistemology of Democratic Fatigue
The speaker diagnoses with remarkable perspicacity what one might call the epistemological fatigue of our societies. The Epstein affair becomes symptomatic: even the most discerning minds struggle to follow the frenzied rhythm of revelations, creating a permanent cognitive dissonance. This informational saturation paradoxically generates a form of defensive skepticism—"I've seen this movie before"—that immunizes against any new discovery.
The metaphor of Charlie Brown and the football reveals the profound psychology of this weariness: we are caught in a repetitive cycle of disappointed hope that ultimately erodes our very capacity to believe in the possibility of change. This democratic melancholy constitutes the ideal breeding ground for the emergence of what Bonhoeffer calls stupidity.
The Phenomenology of Moral Stupidity
Here lies the heart of the analysis: the fundamental distinction between ignorance and moral stupidity. The latter stems not from cognitive deficit but from a deliberate choice to abandon intellectual responsibility. The speaker justly emphasizes that the protagonists of this stupidity can be highly educated—university professors, recognized intellectuals—which renders the phenomenon all the more troubling.
Moral stupidity is characterized by several distinctive traits: it replaces argumentation with slogans, the search for truth with ideological adherence, and above all, it becomes impermeable to any questioning. Unlike evil, which can be exposed, debated, fought, stupidity presents this terrifying characteristic of being hermetic to all rational dialogue.
The Universality of the Phenomenon: A Necessary Self-Criticism
The speaker demonstrates remarkable intellectual honesty by emphasizing that this phenomenon spares no political camp. This recognition of the universality of moral stupidity avoids the pitfall of polarization and reveals the properly anthropological dimension of the problem. Stupidity is not the preserve of any particular social class, educational level, or political orientation: it constitutes a permanent temptation of the human spirit faced with the complexity of reality.
The examples provided—from climate change to questions of gender—illustrate how complex subjects are reduced to incantatory formulas that dispense with any profound reflection. The expression "love is love" thus becomes the archetype of the substitutive slogan that carefully avoids any interrogation of the concrete implications of what it purports to defend.
The Psychosocial Dynamics of Abdication
The analysis reveals the psychological mechanisms that govern this abdication: the need to feel part of a cause that surpasses us ("this is our World War II"), the fear of being on the "wrong side of history," the moral comfort provided by collective certainty. These powerful emotional springs short-circuit the mechanisms of critical thought and transform the individual into a passive relay of predigested ideology.
Bonhoeffer's formula—"the power of one needs the stupidity of the other"—reveals the properly political dimension of the phenomenon. Stupidity is not an accident but a necessary condition for the exercise of certain forms of power. It creates that mass of non-thinking subjects indispensable to any form of ideological domination.
The Exhaustion of Rational Dialectic
The speaker touches here on a crucial point: the structural ineffectiveness of rational argumentation when confronted with moral stupidity. All efforts deployed to "convince" collide with this "emotional barricade" that systematically filters any contradictory information. This impermeability stems not from a methodological flaw but from an ontological incompatibility: one cannot reason with those who have renounced reasoning.
This discovery generates that feeling of existential exhaustion the speaker describes: not the physical fatigue of debate, but the metaphysical wearing down of one who continually confronts the impossibility of dialogue. It is the particular frustration of discovering that good faith is no longer a shared presupposition.
The Path of Moral Liberation
The solution proposed by Bonhoeffer—"an act of liberation, not instruction"—opens fascinating perspectives. It is no longer a matter of convincing but of awakening, no longer of informing but of revealing. This approach recognizes that moral stupidity is not a cognitive problem but a spiritual one, in the deepest sense of the term.
The idea of "speaking to conscience rather than to mind" suggests an alternative strategy that bypasses rational defense mechanisms to address directly that part of the human being that retains, even when buried, a capacity for moral discernment. This approach sometimes requires the "shock" of crisis, the suffering that strips away masks, or simply the presence of a "light in darkness" that reveals the extent of blindness.
Toward a Renaissance of Critical Spirit
The speaker concludes on a note of measured hope: the possible emergence of a generation capable of "saying yes to truth even when it is unpopular." This hope stems not from naive optimism but from an anthropological faith in the capacity of the human spirit to recover itself when confronted with extremity.
The final reference to "courage" as an antidote to stupidity reveals the properly ethical dimension of intellectual resistance. It is not enough to be right; one must still have the courage to maintain this position in the face of group hostility, general incomprehension, and the resulting social isolation.
This analysis, in its very form—a blend of discursive familiarity and conceptual depth—perfectly illustrates this necessity to "hold a light in darkness": not to preach to the converted in esoteric language, but to make accessible the most demanding truths without betraying them. Perhaps therein lies the act of liberation of which Bonhoeffer speaks: in this capacity to illuminate rather than demonstrate, to awaken rather than convince.
COVID showed me that stupidity is the greatest danger. Exactly the sort of moral failure that allowed the, greatest evil I had ever seen. I now recognise that 95% of all humans have surrendered thought.
I think, if we're honest with ourselves, each of us will still find traces of this moral failure in ourselves. It's hard, continuous work to overcome our own cognitive biases.
100%! No one is immune. This is why humility is so important. Humble ignorance can be remedied by simple instruction. Arrogant ignorance (stupidity) requires a change of heart.
Actually, that is a really interesting observation. If we were in a world that sought knowledge rather than burying it, the study of those who awoke and specifIcally what caused the awakening would be fascinating.
The Milgran experiment showed that it was about 2/3 of people who go along with evil in order to get along. But 81% of Americans got at least one Covid shot and 70% are "fully vaccinated". https://usafacts.org/visualizations/covid-vaccine-tracker-states/ I think that the majority just trust authority and believe their lies. It's like the old saying, What is a Democrat? It's a Republican who hasn't been mugged yet.
Yup, one thing that I worry about is how emboldened the black hats would have been by how easy it was to do a Pied Piper routine on all of humanity, and even more emboldening is that for 95% if humanity the spell is still holding!
As anon82059 said above, if we are honest all of us find traces of this moral failure.
However, I treasure the anons on GAW as for the most part, they have the ability to debate and explain their views, while being able to cognitively entertain different opinions. Not always, but more often than not.
I see our current situation a bit differently than civilizations past. Back then society was just morally bankrupt, barring faith in Christ. They had to be physically prevented by the authorities from becoming too wicked. But we were well on our way to becoming a most moral people in America. This current situation was orchestrated from the top down to de-moralize society on purpose because we were becoming TOO moral, and thus, impossible to control. This present state of immorality is not organic!
Christ's Kingdom shall spread throughout the whole world like leaven spreads through a loaf of bred 🥖🐸 no devil in hell can stop it from coming 🐸🐸
This, perfectly, explains all of my extended family. My husbands family as well. Thank God our children are clear thinking conservatives. Sometimes I feel like we are on an island.
Ah, so this is interesting. Can we be certain that conservatism holds ALL the answers? Look back on your life and recall the things you were wrong about back when those things were the mainstream conservative view. I'd respectfully suggest that we all need to constantly police ourselves for this form of stupidity - it's rampant even in places like this. The only advantage we have is some of us are willing to confront it.
Actually I was a liberal DFLer for many years. It was the f___kery of the government that I could not ignore. Also, a look back at the Democratic/liberal party proved I was wrong about so many things. Prime example: The Democratic party was always the one standing in the way of most of our civil rights while they shined us on about being the champions. I'm typically skeptical of both parties who go to DC. The uni-party is alive and well. The real Conservative Republicans I see today are doing the best job they can to try and save this country. I won't be surprised if I am wrong about some of them; but I'm very hopeful right now especially with some of the new-bloods.
we have all had that friend who constantly solicites sympathy and attention for a physical ailment, in the case I am thinking of, colitis. Her friends, and I among them, will offer what we know that works. She will not take any of the advice given, runs to the doctor for steroids, been doing this for years, to the point her skin tears, she is skin and bones, has worn the muscle down in her legs, continues to eat wheat, drink wine, work out relentlessly, has flare ups, gets infections, takes more of what her doctor will subscribe. Is it stupidity, or an addiction to being sick? I see the same mindset in people who will not consider the possibility that their world view has been manipulated to react to things that have been staged, right down to who is the enemy and who is the real enemy, Addiction to staying the victim, addiction to hearing only what they want to hear, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It is not stupidity, it is chosen ignorance, because the reality means they would have to change too much, Our brains get into grooves, so thought patterns return to those grooves, like a rutted road in mud season, it is easier to drive the ruts, until driving in those ruts will sink your tires good, and you cant get out, because everyone drove those ruts, nobody thought to move the wheels to smooth out the entire road instead. It gets so, that even the tow truck won't come. I think once they sink, it may be too late for some. Now they have blocked the road and there is no way out. Other peoples chosen stupidity does have consequences for others, it is a moral decision.
It's so easy to label these people as stupid, but I'm not so sure stupid is the right word. There seems to be a large sector of the population that is in some sort of a trance or hypnosis. I don't know what causes it, but it's there. Glenn Beck is right about one thing, when you try to talk sense into these people, they will turn away or change the subject.
4:00 "Stupidity is MORE dangerous than malice... because stupidity is unreachable... he did not mean a lack of intelligence. "
It's because so many have decided they do not WANT to know MORE than what their current belief system allows.
Why is this OP not sticky? Did u/mods watch it?
All Anons need to reflect on his words here.
He's saying what I've been saying here for a long time. And what Q said years ago.
People have to decide they want to know.
Knowing is a moral decision.
And NOT knowing is a moral failure!
"Only an act of liberation, not destruction, can overcome stupidity (not knowing)"
Yeah I watched the full link and he doesn't really state how we can give them that moral courage. He is right though for the life of me I don't know how to break through with my family.
I’ve decided to tell my daughter, “Choosing not to see clearly or look at the evidence is a moral failing. You’re not just failing your fellow humans in general, but also the people suffering because of indifference—like trafficked children and the people who can’t put food on the table and who are slowly being poisoned by the medical system and our food.”
Make this about morality—that their own blindness is causing the suffering of others.
Bonhoeffer was clear. These people must be externally liberated. Most can't do it for themselves. Recognize that these people have been subjected to what I call "weapons grade propaganda" for YEARS. (The Big Lie) It's not entirely a moral failing on their part. Many, like my wife, are just trying to get on with their lives. This is why I grow increasingly frustrated that there have been no big arrests. These people will never wake up until their world has been shaken. Yes, I do know we keep winning and all the pieces are being arranged for the final victory, but it doesn't make it any easier.
I also found a meme that really explains why these people can't wake up.
https://files.catbox.moe/zhorgd.jpg
For me personally, I have always sought to understand the world. That's why I couldn't let this go leading me to eventually wake up. It all started with "Why is the media constantly beating up on Trump? He's doing a good job."
https://files.catbox.moe/zhorgd.jpg is a great meme. Thank you for sharing!
You can led a Jackass to truth but you can't make it think.
I have resigned myself to the idea that there will be an "event" that draws this war out onto the surface so that it (the deception) is undeniable and the masses have an aha moment that culminates in The Great Awakening.
The best way to notify mods is to Deport & do Other>"Sticky Request" ie write Sticky Request in the text option for other.
There are so many posts made daily that mods are unlikely to review every single one in depth, there is enough shillary & glowing to take care of from what I have understood in the past (God bless Tendie, their lessons & I hope they are still here under a different alias).
Correct, unfortunately all in my family decided that.
I did a post on this exact subject two months ago. I'm glad to see it is being picked up elsewhere.
"Bonhoeffer's Theory of Stupidity - 5 minute video that explains why you can't wake people up by using facts on them. Also, stupid people are worse than evil people."
https://greatawakening.win/p/19AxUoUSln/bonhoeffers-theory-of-stupidity-/c/
Haha yup solarsavior!
I also did a post on it a year or so ago.
Your username is going to get some sweet, sweet vindication in the future btw.
Who here knew that our sun (long long ago) used to be red?
Anyone know why that would be significant?
Why is that idea referred to as "debunked"?
Red (SKY EVENT) October
The more you know…
When I was a kid, the sun was yellow. Now it's white.
Oh definitely. There is a word that they apply for all the excuses not to listen, I get stressed I don’t want to get sick.
Here is the main point I got out of it.... we should continue to plant seeds of information, but do not expect the willfully stupid to change. Basically, you cannot reach willfully ignorant people who have eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear. Only an act of God can cause them to have a revelation on an inner soul level, where they can finally decide to use logic and discernment for themselves again. But keep living and speaking the truth, and the tide will turn with each individual who stands up for what is good and righteous. The tide of truth will grow so big, that the willfully ignorant will be swept up in the flood, and this may cause them to drown or to actually see the truth and be saved, as if truth was the only life preserver left in their own irrational sea of folly. Yeshua is the light, the truth, and the way, and only Yeshua can save them at this point. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6 Here is a thought, though; maybe if we can make these people healthy again by detoxing their minds and bodies, removing their parasites, and giving them a cleaner environment free from chemicals, they may be able to develop discernment, logic, truth and righteousness again if they have the will and ability to do so. Then again, maybe the following words of Yeshua may be applicable to some of these willfully ignorant people: "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44. Do not forget that this is a Biblical war, and we must all be spiritually strong and realize that there is true Evil out there, and that Evil will do whatever it can to defeat the Good in each and everyone of us. So, plant your seeds, shine your light, speak the truth, but always defer to God. It is a double-edged sword, dealing with these people. King Solomon said it best in Proverbs: "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit." Proverbs 26:4-5
This piece ties in exactly to:
"The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:
Exactly what this post discribes - from spiritual faith to courage. That's why I believe there is a coming revival. The bondage over peoples minds will be broken when they are awoken to spiritual faith in God.
Attribution would be appropriate : Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouselee
I agree about the coming revival it is sitting just under our feet. Waking up in part is accepting there really is only one genuine choice you can make. That choice is which Kingdoyou want to be in. The kingdom of God or The Kingdom of the Enemy. All other options were eliminated when the serpent snuck in. The illusion that there is a kingdom of man is a fallacy. The Kingdom of the enemy won’t allow such to exist even if God would ( as he demonstrated with the garden). We are either being formed by the forces that have hijacked Gods intentions for us or transformed by him. The bad guys have pushed so hard and so deep into every pocket that IMHO that not many can hide from the truth anymore although they are trying REALLY hard. That’s in part what all this is for. Giving as many people the chance to make a genuine choice for the first time in a VERY long time. You can run you can hide but nothing can stop what is coming. A truth too big to hide from
The Anatomy of Moral Stupidity: A Contemporary Meditation on the Disintegration of Critical Thought
This radiophonic confession, woven around the tutelary figure of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, reveals with troubling acuity the contemporary mechanisms of what one might call voluntary intellectual abdication. The speaker, employing a deliberately familiar style that contrasts with the depth of his discourse, invites us to explore those obscure territories where critical thought crumbles in favor of an institutionalized moral stupidity.
The Dialectic of Martyr and Resistance
The evocation of Bonhoeffer is hardly fortuitous: this Lutheran theologian embodies the radical transformation of consciousness confronted with the unacceptable. The tragic irony of his destiny—pacifist turned conspirator, executed through administrative error fifteen days before the Reich's fall—perfectly illustrates this tension between moral ideal and pragmatic necessity. His cell becomes a microcosm of humanity: the saint, the executioner-scientist, the spy-prostitute, a striking triptych revealing how spiritual beauty can emerge from the vilest proximity.
This juxtaposition is not anecdotal: it suggests that true wisdom is born not from contemplative isolation, but from direct confrontation with the world's moral ambiguity. Bonhoeffer writes his most beautiful pages on marriage without having known union; he meditates on divine love surrounded by the most abject human corruption. This creative tension between ideal and reality constitutes the fertile ground of all authentic thought.
The Epistemology of Democratic Fatigue
The speaker diagnoses with remarkable perspicacity what one might call the epistemological fatigue of our societies. The Epstein affair becomes symptomatic: even the most discerning minds struggle to follow the frenzied rhythm of revelations, creating a permanent cognitive dissonance. This informational saturation paradoxically generates a form of defensive skepticism—"I've seen this movie before"—that immunizes against any new discovery.
The metaphor of Charlie Brown and the football reveals the profound psychology of this weariness: we are caught in a repetitive cycle of disappointed hope that ultimately erodes our very capacity to believe in the possibility of change. This democratic melancholy constitutes the ideal breeding ground for the emergence of what Bonhoeffer calls stupidity.
The Phenomenology of Moral Stupidity
Here lies the heart of the analysis: the fundamental distinction between ignorance and moral stupidity. The latter stems not from cognitive deficit but from a deliberate choice to abandon intellectual responsibility. The speaker justly emphasizes that the protagonists of this stupidity can be highly educated—university professors, recognized intellectuals—which renders the phenomenon all the more troubling.
Moral stupidity is characterized by several distinctive traits: it replaces argumentation with slogans, the search for truth with ideological adherence, and above all, it becomes impermeable to any questioning. Unlike evil, which can be exposed, debated, fought, stupidity presents this terrifying characteristic of being hermetic to all rational dialogue.
The Universality of the Phenomenon: A Necessary Self-Criticism
The speaker demonstrates remarkable intellectual honesty by emphasizing that this phenomenon spares no political camp. This recognition of the universality of moral stupidity avoids the pitfall of polarization and reveals the properly anthropological dimension of the problem. Stupidity is not the preserve of any particular social class, educational level, or political orientation: it constitutes a permanent temptation of the human spirit faced with the complexity of reality.
The examples provided—from climate change to questions of gender—illustrate how complex subjects are reduced to incantatory formulas that dispense with any profound reflection. The expression "love is love" thus becomes the archetype of the substitutive slogan that carefully avoids any interrogation of the concrete implications of what it purports to defend.
The Psychosocial Dynamics of Abdication
The analysis reveals the psychological mechanisms that govern this abdication: the need to feel part of a cause that surpasses us ("this is our World War II"), the fear of being on the "wrong side of history," the moral comfort provided by collective certainty. These powerful emotional springs short-circuit the mechanisms of critical thought and transform the individual into a passive relay of predigested ideology.
Bonhoeffer's formula—"the power of one needs the stupidity of the other"—reveals the properly political dimension of the phenomenon. Stupidity is not an accident but a necessary condition for the exercise of certain forms of power. It creates that mass of non-thinking subjects indispensable to any form of ideological domination.
The Exhaustion of Rational Dialectic
The speaker touches here on a crucial point: the structural ineffectiveness of rational argumentation when confronted with moral stupidity. All efforts deployed to "convince" collide with this "emotional barricade" that systematically filters any contradictory information. This impermeability stems not from a methodological flaw but from an ontological incompatibility: one cannot reason with those who have renounced reasoning.
This discovery generates that feeling of existential exhaustion the speaker describes: not the physical fatigue of debate, but the metaphysical wearing down of one who continually confronts the impossibility of dialogue. It is the particular frustration of discovering that good faith is no longer a shared presupposition.
The Path of Moral Liberation
The solution proposed by Bonhoeffer—"an act of liberation, not instruction"—opens fascinating perspectives. It is no longer a matter of convincing but of awakening, no longer of informing but of revealing. This approach recognizes that moral stupidity is not a cognitive problem but a spiritual one, in the deepest sense of the term.
The idea of "speaking to conscience rather than to mind" suggests an alternative strategy that bypasses rational defense mechanisms to address directly that part of the human being that retains, even when buried, a capacity for moral discernment. This approach sometimes requires the "shock" of crisis, the suffering that strips away masks, or simply the presence of a "light in darkness" that reveals the extent of blindness.
Toward a Renaissance of Critical Spirit
The speaker concludes on a note of measured hope: the possible emergence of a generation capable of "saying yes to truth even when it is unpopular." This hope stems not from naive optimism but from an anthropological faith in the capacity of the human spirit to recover itself when confronted with extremity.
The final reference to "courage" as an antidote to stupidity reveals the properly ethical dimension of intellectual resistance. It is not enough to be right; one must still have the courage to maintain this position in the face of group hostility, general incomprehension, and the resulting social isolation.
This analysis, in its very form—a blend of discursive familiarity and conceptual depth—perfectly illustrates this necessity to "hold a light in darkness": not to preach to the converted in esoteric language, but to make accessible the most demanding truths without betraying them. Perhaps therein lies the act of liberation of which Bonhoeffer speaks: in this capacity to illuminate rather than demonstrate, to awaken rather than convince.
Can this be stickied somewhere? I feel I will need to refer to it.
You can use the save feature! It's in the set of links below each post.
Save it.
Thank you. Time for coffee.
COVID showed me that stupidity is the greatest danger. Exactly the sort of moral failure that allowed the, greatest evil I had ever seen. I now recognise that 95% of all humans have surrendered thought.
I view the majority of people as unreachable.
I think, if we're honest with ourselves, each of us will still find traces of this moral failure in ourselves. It's hard, continuous work to overcome our own cognitive biases.
Yes. I do agree. I have some shame about how blind I used to be and how many obvious lies I used to believe.
100%! No one is immune. This is why humility is so important. Humble ignorance can be remedied by simple instruction. Arrogant ignorance (stupidity) requires a change of heart.
Close. 95% never were allowed or developed the ability . "Thought" is uncommon indeed.
Actually, that is a really interesting observation. If we were in a world that sought knowledge rather than burying it, the study of those who awoke and specifIcally what caused the awakening would be fascinating.
"Hard times make hard men."
This clue should lead you to the cause you seek
The Milgran experiment showed that it was about 2/3 of people who go along with evil in order to get along. But 81% of Americans got at least one Covid shot and 70% are "fully vaccinated". https://usafacts.org/visualizations/covid-vaccine-tracker-states/ I think that the majority just trust authority and believe their lies. It's like the old saying, What is a Democrat? It's a Republican who hasn't been mugged yet.
Yup, one thing that I worry about is how emboldened the black hats would have been by how easy it was to do a Pied Piper routine on all of humanity, and even more emboldening is that for 95% if humanity the spell is still holding!
Some of the smartest people I know are also stupid when it comes to questioning the main stream narrative
That includes people on here. I think it can be subject specific at times. Like covid we all can agree on but crime or Israel?
I’m curious as to what you think people on here should all agree on about Israel?
As anon82059 said above, if we are honest all of us find traces of this moral failure.
However, I treasure the anons on GAW as for the most part, they have the ability to debate and explain their views, while being able to cognitively entertain different opinions. Not always, but more often than not.
Mark Twain — 'Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.'
I see our current situation a bit differently than civilizations past. Back then society was just morally bankrupt, barring faith in Christ. They had to be physically prevented by the authorities from becoming too wicked. But we were well on our way to becoming a most moral people in America. This current situation was orchestrated from the top down to de-moralize society on purpose because we were becoming TOO moral, and thus, impossible to control. This present state of immorality is not organic!
Christ's Kingdom shall spread throughout the whole world like leaven spreads through a loaf of bred 🥖🐸 no devil in hell can stop it from coming 🐸🐸
This, perfectly, explains all of my extended family. My husbands family as well. Thank God our children are clear thinking conservatives. Sometimes I feel like we are on an island.
Ah, so this is interesting. Can we be certain that conservatism holds ALL the answers? Look back on your life and recall the things you were wrong about back when those things were the mainstream conservative view. I'd respectfully suggest that we all need to constantly police ourselves for this form of stupidity - it's rampant even in places like this. The only advantage we have is some of us are willing to confront it.
Actually I was a liberal DFLer for many years. It was the f___kery of the government that I could not ignore. Also, a look back at the Democratic/liberal party proved I was wrong about so many things. Prime example: The Democratic party was always the one standing in the way of most of our civil rights while they shined us on about being the champions. I'm typically skeptical of both parties who go to DC. The uni-party is alive and well. The real Conservative Republicans I see today are doing the best job they can to try and save this country. I won't be surprised if I am wrong about some of them; but I'm very hopeful right now especially with some of the new-bloods.
The common refrain is ; 'No man is an island' They leave off the rest. 'He is lost at sea on a one man raft'
When you find yourself going through hell keep going...or is it rowing ?
You don't win a stupid argument. Ever. The best way to "win" is to not feed into the stupid person's madness. Just walk away.
we have all had that friend who constantly solicites sympathy and attention for a physical ailment, in the case I am thinking of, colitis. Her friends, and I among them, will offer what we know that works. She will not take any of the advice given, runs to the doctor for steroids, been doing this for years, to the point her skin tears, she is skin and bones, has worn the muscle down in her legs, continues to eat wheat, drink wine, work out relentlessly, has flare ups, gets infections, takes more of what her doctor will subscribe. Is it stupidity, or an addiction to being sick? I see the same mindset in people who will not consider the possibility that their world view has been manipulated to react to things that have been staged, right down to who is the enemy and who is the real enemy, Addiction to staying the victim, addiction to hearing only what they want to hear, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It is not stupidity, it is chosen ignorance, because the reality means they would have to change too much, Our brains get into grooves, so thought patterns return to those grooves, like a rutted road in mud season, it is easier to drive the ruts, until driving in those ruts will sink your tires good, and you cant get out, because everyone drove those ruts, nobody thought to move the wheels to smooth out the entire road instead. It gets so, that even the tow truck won't come. I think once they sink, it may be too late for some. Now they have blocked the road and there is no way out. Other peoples chosen stupidity does have consequences for others, it is a moral decision.
It's so easy to label these people as stupid, but I'm not so sure stupid is the right word. There seems to be a large sector of the population that is in some sort of a trance or hypnosis. I don't know what causes it, but it's there. Glenn Beck is right about one thing, when you try to talk sense into these people, they will turn away or change the subject.
Brandolini's Law.
The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is a few orders of magnitude greater than the energy needed to produce it.
One of the most important segments I’ve ever watched since waking up in 1997.
At least of Glen's