Puritan manipulation

Do you hate Orban, Trump or Johnson for their macho sexism, homophobia or racism without really knowing what specific acts that emotion is based on?

But you feel only a detached disdain, from moral superiority, towards Maduro, the Castro or Hamas leaders?

Are you worried with great emotional intensity about global warming, sexism, homophobia, corruption or racism in the US, Israel, Colombia or Spain but do not feel it with the same intensity when those same evils refer to Central Europe, Iran, Venezuela , Cuba or China?

If so, you are suffering from manipulation based on the following cognitive distortions:

• Ethical Puritanism (extreme emotion associated with some specific ethical issues and not others)
• Double evaluation (magnification and minimization) supported by an almost monopolistic control of the media. A double valuation that is applied in two ways:
  • In the choice of topics. For example, extolling the rejection of homophobia while silencing the rejection of indoctrination. Obviously, it could be done the other way around, as some of those who oppose them actually try. Promoting a similar but opposite Puritanism, magnifying the defense against indoctrination and minimizing the need to defend against homophobia.
  • In the application of the moral requirement. He disgusts the corruption or machismo of the opponents, but tiptoes past that of the allies. This double bar is easy to assess. For example, it is enough to compare the minutes on television for cases of corruption for similar crimes when they are from the right or from the left, from Americans or from Europeans …
• Organizations with a double game, ethical and partisan. BLM, antifa…
• Claim of moral superiority (supremacism)
• Generation of correct hatreds (demonization, supported by the spontaneous confirmatory bias once the prejudice is installed)

The mechanism is actually simple, but it is nonetheless difficult to escape the trap, since it relies on a crushing media propaganda. And the emotional brain, based on automatic thoughts prior to rational analysis, is very sensitive to emotional propaganda.

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These would be the steps:

Puritanism and double measure

First, a value that is already largely shared is praised for use in a partisan way, using a double measure. Thus, values such as the rejection of machismo, racism, homophobia or fascism have become fashionable when that rejection was already largely shared for decades.

Taking advantage of the control of the media, the value that is considered convenient is praised, no matter the specific value that is used. The objective is that in society it resonates with these values with more emotional intensity than with others equally unquestioned, such as individual freedom, the rejection of tyrannies, the possibility of achieving prosperity, ideological neutrality in the public space or the rejection of the indoctrination of minors … Society is expected to react with intransigence to this defect.

Once society resonates with intensity in the face of these values (first double yardstick), the opponent is criticized for any mistakes he may make in this regard and the ally is praised (second double yardstick). You can always find some blemish in the opponent, real or apparent, nobody is perfect and faultless, and you can always find something to praise in the ally and silence his faults.

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Organizaciones de doble juego, ético y partidista

With the shadow of suspicion already sown on the opponent, he is required to make constant demonstrations that he is not guilty. Including among these demonstrations the support for organizations with evident double intentions. At the same time that they pretend to defend a moral value, they attack the opponent and incorporate radical and confrontational ideas.

Thus, the Republicans’ failure to support the BLM is presented as confirmation of its racist nature. And the BLM, in turn, will devote much of its activity to reviling the Republican Party and promoting mantras of the left. Can you see the trap? Either you feed an opponent who discredits you or you are a racist.

The same with radical feminism, anti-fascist, LGBT organizations … Either you allow them access to the whole of society, including children, you finance them and you are permissive in the face of indoctrination and even illegal acts or you are sexist, fascist and homophobic.

Once the puritanical demand is installed, it is not enough to not sin. You have to demonstrate purity every time it is required. Suspicion is enough to blame (remember Woody Allen, Plácido Domingo …)

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Moral supremacism and demonization. Angels and Demons.

After a while, once the social trend is established, the passions are extreme to the point of intolerance and veneration. The saints are mounted. Calling for hatred against the opponent for that facet and rejecting criticism of their own as unacceptable. The hatred of Trump or Orbán is only comparable to the rejection of any criticism of Merkel or Von der Leyen.

It is difficult to criticize that Germany should not use LGBT during sporting events to attack an opponent in the EU, Hungary. Arguing that it goes against ideological neutrality in sport, the reason why it is prohibited by UEFA regulations, is unacceptable to someone who participates in Puritan intransigence. As it is also unacceptable to highlight that an obvious ideological double standard is also used, since Orbán does not defend homophobia but only prioritizes the protection of children against indoctrination, the assumption that he will use the law with homophobic intent is no more than a suspicion. A double standard also in the application, German politicians never criticize other issues with the same intensity, even if they are as serious as giving a coup d’etat or maintaining a nationalist terrorist group.

But … who notices those details if the mayor of Munich is presented a noble white knight who is defending a supreme value against an evil acquaintance like Orbán?

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P.S.1 (June 27, 2021) What does the law, approved almost unanimously by the Hungarian Parliament, actually contain? A limitation on what can be promoted to minors under 18 in matters related to sex education, which will now have to be authorized by the state.

Only the prior consideration that Orbán is homophobic allows us to assume that the law will be applied to support homophobia. In other words, the EU relies on the confirmation bias to presuppose homophobia, on suspicions, not on concrete facts.

From now on, sex education courses will have to be taught by organizations authorized by the State, the text specifies.

The law also denounces the existence of structures «with a questionable professional credibility» that attempt «to influence the sexual development of children» and can «cause serious damage to their physical, mental and moral development».