Brain Wash
ok, this is the second time i write this post. i wrote it yesterday, it was wierdly enough posted twice, then i tried to delete one, it deleted both. i'll see if i can remember what i said
"I have been reading a few interesting posts at haal's blog. A word that repeatedly came up was "brainwashed". What does the word Brain wash mean anyway?
I guess it can mean being excessively influneced by an outside factor to the extent that you can not think for yourself, you believe other people ideas with out really thinking about them, and even think that they are yours!
The big problem is, if you are brainwashed, how would you know it? that is part of what being "brainwashed" is about. your brain is being washed of all coherent and rational thinking.
I guess what helps is exposing yourself to more than one source of influence, read (or listen to ) more than one side's point of view, and in general address the matter objectively and not defensively, and put the possibiltiy in your mind that you might be wrong. If after this, you still come out believing what you do, then you can feel comfortable feeling that these are indeed your ideas, whether right or wrong, they are yours.
I know it is easier said than done. No body likes to think they are wrong. It is scary and destabilizing, but what other way to move forward? and if approached properly, the position you got to at the end would be even more reassuring and comforting. So who are the mastermind brainwashers in the world? they do have great power:
1. The media
2. The media
3. The media
4. Society and its rules
5. your immediate family sometimes
6. sometimes your significant other
7. Anyone with the power to influence you could be a source
Beware of Ego, it is a serious obstacle in the path of seeing the light and moving forward.
NB. this post has nothing to do with the content of haal's posts
"I have been reading a few interesting posts at haal's blog. A word that repeatedly came up was "brainwashed". What does the word Brain wash mean anyway?
I guess it can mean being excessively influneced by an outside factor to the extent that you can not think for yourself, you believe other people ideas with out really thinking about them, and even think that they are yours!
The big problem is, if you are brainwashed, how would you know it? that is part of what being "brainwashed" is about. your brain is being washed of all coherent and rational thinking.
I guess what helps is exposing yourself to more than one source of influence, read (or listen to ) more than one side's point of view, and in general address the matter objectively and not defensively, and put the possibiltiy in your mind that you might be wrong. If after this, you still come out believing what you do, then you can feel comfortable feeling that these are indeed your ideas, whether right or wrong, they are yours.
I know it is easier said than done. No body likes to think they are wrong. It is scary and destabilizing, but what other way to move forward? and if approached properly, the position you got to at the end would be even more reassuring and comforting. So who are the mastermind brainwashers in the world? they do have great power:
1. The media
2. The media
3. The media
4. Society and its rules
5. your immediate family sometimes
6. sometimes your significant other
7. Anyone with the power to influence you could be a source
Beware of Ego, it is a serious obstacle in the path of seeing the light and moving forward.
NB. this post has nothing to do with the content of haal's posts
posted by doshar @ 8/16/2005 08:44:00 AM
7 Comments:
At 8/16/2005 3:41 PM,
haal said…
'The big problem is, if you are brainwashed, how would you know it?'
Very interesting question! One might not know at all. But I suppose if you hear more than once that you are, it could bring some awareness to you and crack down the shell a little.
I dont know. Very hard this one, Doshar.
But I think the 'helping' tools u propose do help.
At 8/16/2005 4:50 PM,
Anonymous said…
brain washed,this is a big trouble if you get into..i like your blog!
At 8/16/2005 11:34 PM,
Twosret said…
Doshar,
What about Denial?
At 8/17/2005 11:02 AM,
haal said…
Sure denial & Denial are big team players too. The root of most evil I suppose.
At 8/17/2005 4:11 PM,
doshar said…
twosret, first, thanx for the comment
denial:
yes a i big issue i think
but i think denial is at the other end of the spectrum of brainwash
brainwash: excessive INFLUENCE by outside factors/poeple, that overshadows the indivisual to act of their own accord.
denial : excesive IGNORING to outside factors, insisting on one's own ideas or beliefs
anything in excessive is not good. and they both hinder us from seeing things objectively and moving forward. they both constitute types of mental confusion. i am sure there are other types too.
At 8/18/2005 12:07 AM,
Paul said…
Interesting idea about family/sig other as sources. They sure can see you differently than others do, and because they're so close and their opinions matter, it affects you. Sometimes it's hard to say if they really know you better or worse than colleagues and friends do!
At 8/18/2005 5:19 PM,
Me said…
"and put the possibility in your mind that you might be wrong"
I really like this sentence .. I think it sums up a lot...but then again... what you think or how you view things is very relative and depends on your "schemata" (Structured groups of concepts which constitute generic knowledge about events, scenarios, actions, or objects that has been acquired from past experience.) People see the same things and interpret them differently...
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