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@DocWatts I think a better name for "Peripheral Supporters" is "System Supports". Here's an updated graphic.

That'd be awesome - no attribution needed. I'm just glad if it helps others make sense of things. Thank you!

There is some overlap but religion formed over centuries, whereas post-truth forms in real time. Maybe religion was the post-truth of its time. I'm attempting to map out how the mass delusions of our time form and spread. Simply calling it "delusion" doesn't explain anything. You can say "it's just lack of consciousness", but what use is that? I think you should take a closer look at the model - specifically, the conflict-avoidant moderate part. 😝

Yeah, solving the disconnection problem makes a lot of sense. @DocWatts Thanks for sharing. I'd be interested in reading your book when it's finished. Thanks, I'm glad you like it. I thought about turning it into an interactive web page that goes deep into it - maybe even provide real-world examples in the form of a walk-thru to build the case. I think that could be useful. Feel free to take any or all aspects of it and modify it in any way you'd like, if you'd like to share it on your own Substack.

Thanks! 100%. I wish more people would start acknowledging these things rather than just dropping their jaw and resorting to condemnation or refutation of surface-level points every time they're confronted with it. I need to do more to integrate this knowledge myself. I get the sense that even those with the clarity to see the pattern might want to avoid this topic because they might intuit "I do this too, just with different content.". But even if this were to become widely discussed, it would be like understanding drug addiction in a society flooded with dealers. Understanding would mitigate the issue somewhat, but as long as dealers are dealing, the problem isn't gonna go away. These shame-avoidant technologies like Tucker Carlson are on the rise. lol

lol, could be. If so, this is not good, as the right wing talking point that the killer was radicalized by the woke mind virus will be seen as correct and their divisive rhetoric will be seen as justified truth-telling.

Maybe. America is all I really know. I could still see it applying to any other country, given the right circumstances.

Each core pillar is huge, but I think shame-avoidance might be the biggest. Just to demonstrate how shame-avoidance works, using conspiracy theories as an example: "The Shame-to-Conspiracy Pipeline Conspiracy theories medicate shame through several mechanisms: 1. Transformation into special knowledge - The shame of being "ignorant," "left behind," or "unsuccessful" transforms into being one of the few who "sees the truth." You're not a failure; you're awakened. The shame of exclusion becomes the pride of insight. 2. Externalizing the cause - If you lost your job, your status, your sense of cultural relevance - that's shameful. But if a cabal of elites deliberately destroyed your industry to control you? Now you're a victim of evil forces, not a personal failure. The shame dissolves into righteous anger. 3. Retroactive meaning-making - Past humiliations and failures get recontextualized. That bankruptcy wasn't poor decisions; it was "them" keeping you down. That divorce wasn't personal inadequacy; it was "their" attack on traditional values. Shame transforms into evidence of persecution. 4. Community of the knowing - Shame isolates, but conspiracy theories create instant belonging with fellow "truth-seekers." You go from shamefully alone to proudly connected. Example: Someone whose small business failed during economic changes could face crushing shame - "I'm a failure, I couldn't adapt, I'm worthless." But if they believe globalist elites deliberately destroyed small businesses? The shame evaporates. They're not a failed businessperson; they're a warrior against the New World Order. Admitting error would re-activate shame, which is why counter-evidence is blocked. The conspiracy theory doesn't just distract from shame - it performs psychological alchemy, converting shame's poison into the medicine of purpose, belonging, and specialness." You can almost view conspiratorial thinking, Tucker Carlson, and many other right-wing figureheads as "shame-regulation technology".

Hopefully you get the point though. I think this model explains a lot and I haven't found anything better that explains the fucked up reality we find ourselves in. None of the ideas are new, it's just that these ideas are often talked about in isolation, which makes it hard to see how everything is connected.

True, but I feel we need more granularity.

The real question is, why are so many people resisting that which is simply true with all their might? @Leo Gura I know you've done videos on self-deception and all that, and those videos are great, but I think this "political post-truth" phenomenon is such an interesting, deep, and important topic that we'd all benefit from understanding it on a much deeper level. I think I already accurately intuit and understand most of what's going on, but would love to see a much more thorough and deeper mind flesh it out. Your "Self-Bias" video (which is my fav) explains the "what", but I'd like to see modern-day intentions, tactics, and mechanisms fleshed out. More of the "why" and "how" of the most common archetypes that consistently reject that which is true, if that makes sense. I've attempted to work on something similar in my spare time:

Here’s a concise but comprehensive bullet list of the key characteristics most commonly associated with fascism: Ultranationalism – glorification of the nation or race above all, often coupled with xenophobia. Authoritarianism – rejection of democracy and liberal freedoms; demand for unquestioning obedience to a strong leader. Cult of Leadership – veneration of a single charismatic leader portrayed as the embodiment of the nation. Militarism – glorification of military strength, violence, and expansion; preference for war over diplomacy. Mass Mobilization – use of rallies, symbols, propaganda, and youth movements to unify society behind the ideology. Mythic Past & Destiny – emphasis on a golden age to be restored and a vision of national rebirth. Suppression of Dissent – censorship, intimidation, imprisonment, or elimination of political opponents, unions, and critics. Anti-Communism & Anti-Liberalism – hostility toward socialism, Marxism, and liberal democracy. Corporatism – state control or coordination of the economy through alliances with business elites; rejection of free-market pluralism. Collective Over Individual – subordination of individual rights and freedoms to the needs of the nation or state. Scapegoating – targeting minorities, immigrants, or other groups as threats to national purity or strength. Mass Media Control – use of propaganda, strict control of press, and manipulation of information. Masculinist & Hierarchical Values – emphasis on traditional gender roles, discipline, order, and hierarchy. Political Violence – normalization of street violence, paramilitary groups, or intimidation as tools of politics. Totalitarian Ambition – aspiration to control all aspects of public and private life, including culture, education, and morality. When someone calls someone a fascist, what they mean is, the person supports most of the above, usually unconsciously, without serious examination. When someone calls someone a Nazi, what they mean is, the person not only supports most of these list items, but they do so very seriously, consciously, and with pride. A Nazi is a matured, shameless, principled fascist, who can usually argue or espouse ideology/theory/philosophy. The Nazi label is fitting for Fuentes, and the fascist label is fitting for Kirk. It doesn’t actually literally mean you’re a German Nazi, lol. It’s just much more efficient to use the word “fascist” than to lay out this huge list and say “he’s this list”.

Yeah, it seems like this caused the Overton window to shift like a mother fucker. They've successfully smeared leftists out to be heartless and idiotic assholes. And now with the regime garnering support for the targeting of broadcast stations, and with the National Guard going into Chicago looming, I think we're in for one hell of a ride. I see Chicago going very badly.

Good thing there isn't anyone to really follow. They'll need to find someone younger and better than Shapiro. Thing is though, it takes time to build a reputation. You can't really just drop in a replacement on a dime and expect everyone to be into it. It seems like a big challenge to keep TPUSA from collapsing.

Yeah, that's a fucking bummer. For long posts, I got in the habit of highlighting and copying my post to the clipboard before I hit send.

True, I noticed that as well. It helps to have no other option. When I was trying to break into freelancing web dev stuff, I'd put in 12-16 hours a day, because I had to. I wasn't going back to being controlled by a boss. For me, it was either make it work or become a failure, homeless, or sponge off my parents, and my ego wouldn't allow that. There was no other option but to work all day. There was a neurotic element to it tbh. When failure isn’t an option, the brain stops wasting energy on alternatives. All your choices get collapsed into "do the work". This brings a clarity that removes friction, which can make 14-hour days feel relatively effortless. Certain configurations of mind have certain energetic impacts than can make working 14 hours a day feel like nothing or feel like a living hell.

Sound familiar? He basically said the same thing in our 2024 election. Anyone have any good insight as to what in the actual fuck is going on with this guy?

I’m glad we had this exchange. Part of me is happy not everyone will join me in this hell. Lol. Thanks for the chat bro.

Sorry, I don’t see any contradiction. On one hand, from a higher perspective, we can’t really blame Kirk for his evil, because “forgive them father, for they know not what they do”. In this sense, Kirk is like an unconscious child who was totally blind to what he was doing, so therefore, we can grant him forgiveness of any wrongdoing, just like we would a child. But from another valid perspective, his deeds have massive negative impact on humanity and we can acknowledge those. It’s obviously this perspective from which I’m speaking.

Thanks man! If what I’ve said about him is true, would it fit under your definition of “demon”? If I elucidate the ways of a demon, is it correct to call that “demonizing”? Or am I just stating what is true about the demon? It seems to come down to what is actually true about Kirk. In your view, you think he’s some well-meaning guy who really wasn’t harmful or toxic at all. In my view, that’s utter horseshit. Like most other perpetrators of evil, Kirk was deeply unconscious of his, and he thought he was doing the work of righteousness. I don’t care how deeply deluded he was on this - it will not make me erase the truth of his actual toxicity and harm. And I know he was fine with erasing people from existence who refused to abide by the laws he found in his religion. This is a fact, even though I cannot prove it to you. If Kirk was just some random Christian extremist with no influence, he wouldn’t be special, as there are many like him. What makes him special is his reach and influence on millions of others. If one demon has 10 people he’s working on radicalizing, oh well. But if he has millions, you can see the problem, right?

Yes, you can find that, but it's not even close to comparable to Kirk. Kirk actually wanted entire demographics to either convert to his way or be removed from existence. But I'm not going to change your mind about who this guy was, the same as people can't make you see what Trump really is.

Of course he had justification for wanting Biden executed. That's how evil works. Did you think he'd say that without some justification? If we go by your logic we can whitewash anything. I already know what's going on, but feel free to explore the sick and twisted reasoning that Biden should be executed.

It's easy to find. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/fact-check-charlie-kirk-actually-232000071.html "I know what you're thinking, we've got to get Joe Biden out of the way so we can run up against Kammy. Oh my goodness, is she beatable. It's like Black Hillary on steroids. Is she Black? I guess she says she's Caribbean or whatever. Doesn't matter. She gives these speeches, and it just has this aura of totalitarianism. My team says she is Indian and Caribbean. I'll tell you what, she would be a lot easier to beat than Joe Biden. Joe Biden is a bumbling, dementia-filled Alzheimer's, corrupt, tyrant who should honestly be put in prison and/or given the death penalty for his crimes against America." If you'll execute someone for vague "crimes against America," then what happens to people you've already declared "abominations"? If being a political opponent warrants death, what about those who commit what he sees as biblical capital offenses? But we don't even need logic to discern this. All we need is experience with conservatives of the same ilk and for Charlie to prove he's of that ilk, which he has. Either disavow and convert to his Christian law or get removed, one way or another. This is a very common position amongst conservatives, including Charlie.

Kirk preached abomination and normalized the noose. Why are we looking for his good traits? You could literally find something good in everyone. Never really understood this behavior of trying hard to see the good in that which mostly isn't. The progression Kirk championed: Label them abominations Declare their existence a crime against America/God Make their execution public entertainment Have children watch to learn the lesson Create a generation that sees this as justice This is part of who Kirk was and it should be included in your overall view of him.

The dude called for Biden's execution simply because he was his political opponent, but yeah, take the image that he was a saint, which is an image he intentionally crafted for obvious reasons, and let that be your view of him. That doesn't make you gullible as hell at all. "Joe Biden is a bumbling dementia filled Alzheimer's corrupt tyrant who should honestly be put in prison and/or given the death penalty for his crimes against America." - Kirk Kirk literally called for public executions that 12-year-olds could watch. And if it were up to him, gays, trans, and leftist would be forced to either reject their ways or be publicly executed for kids to watch, so they never got the idea that those things were acceptable. This is the man you're honoring. It's pathetic. We shouldn't pretend Kirk was anything other than someone advocating for theocratic mass murder. He just wrapped it all in enough layers of "just asking questions" and "biblical values" to maintain plausible deniability, which was clearly effective.