Tag Archives: Mass Hysteria

You Have Been Deceived

Posted on August 16, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

You have been deceived. There’s no shame in that. You might even take it as an indirect compliment. Fake psychics love to have scientists “test” their powers because scientists are easy to fool. Scientists work with observable facts, so they … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Political Science, Psychology, Science, Society | Tagged COVID-19, Fear, Mass Hysteria, Panic, Propaganda, SARS-CoV-2 | Leave a comment

Intimidation Is Not Argument

Posted on July 3, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

One aspect of civilized behavior is that we try to settle disputes by rational argument, not by violence and coercion. Sadly, many people don’t know how to make a rational argument. Their first choice is to use the “argumentum ad … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology | Tagged Argumentum ad baculum, George Floyd, Insurrection, Logical fallacies, Logical fallacy, Mass Hysteria, Race relations, Race riots, Social Conflict | 3 Comments

Why Beliefs Divide Us

Posted on June 25, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Why do beliefs divide us? This will sound like a joke, but it’s the truth: Beliefs divide us because it’s part of their job. We usually think of beliefs simply as being about facts: Two plus two equals four. Flowers … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Society | Tagged Belief, Civil conflict, Civil religion, Dogma, Group beliefs, Group identity, Group membership, In-Group, Mass Hysteria, Mass movements, Out-Group, Race riots, Religion, Woke | 2 Comments

Coping with Clickbait

Posted on January 24, 2019 by N.S. Palmer

Call me naïve (“You’re naïve!” “Thank you.”), but I believe that most people want to be good. That doesn’t mean that all people want to be good, or that most people are good all the time. Obviously, they’re not. But … Continue reading →