Afghanistan and Iraq. Sure was fun being a teenager online saying these were a bad idea while grown adults believed there was a chance Saddam actually had WMDs :yea:
I totally remember being a little kid at that time, not knowing exactly what was wrong and being like "I don't have anything to compare this to, but this social zeitgeist seems stupid and ham-flavored. Thanks a lot, adults in my life, now I have to spend decades trying to figure out what I mean by that."
But yeah seeing all the "grownups" turn into baying war pigs and cheer on a genocidal bombing campaign at a young age was like a vaccine against ever buying into US War propaganda again.
I grew up in the shadow of those horrific decisions, and it’s been the predominate thing that led me to my political views
Which is why it was so shocking to see people fall for that shit again completely with Ukraine. Or even worse, China. I was telling so many people “You would’ve believed Saddam had WMDs” and at least once I got a response of “Yeah, and?”
Like, holy shit have you been paying no attention your entire life? You’re my age and grew up in the US. How have you come to any conclusion about information from the US State Dept that isn’t “They’re almost certainly lying”
I mean yeah definitely, but this doesn’t really require seeking out any information. This just requires having developed your bullshit detector even the tiniest amount in your whole life living here
Afghanistan and Iraq. Sure was fun being a teenager online saying these were a bad idea while grown adults believed there was a chance Saddam actually had WMDs :yea:
I totally remember being a little kid at that time, not knowing exactly what was wrong and being like "I don't have anything to compare this to, but this social zeitgeist seems stupid and ham-flavored. Thanks a lot, adults in my life, now I have to spend decades trying to figure out what I mean by that."
But yeah seeing all the "grownups" turn into baying war pigs and cheer on a genocidal bombing campaign at a young age was like a vaccine against ever buying into US War propaganda again.
That and the racism and Islamophobia (:same-picture:) which rapidly overtook the West.
I remember people sharing shit like this and actually believing it :yea: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/la-confidential/
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I grew up in the shadow of those horrific decisions, and it’s been the predominate thing that led me to my political views
Which is why it was so shocking to see people fall for that shit again completely with Ukraine. Or even worse, China. I was telling so many people “You would’ve believed Saddam had WMDs” and at least once I got a response of “Yeah, and?”
Like, holy shit have you been paying no attention your entire life? You’re my age and grew up in the US. How have you come to any conclusion about information from the US State Dept that isn’t “They’re almost certainly lying”
People seek out the information they want to hear, not the information which is most correct. We… do not teach critical thinking skills here.
I mean yeah definitely, but this doesn’t really require seeking out any information. This just requires having developed your bullshit detector even the tiniest amount in your whole life living here