Ignorance is a Virus

[Triana]

One thing America has in abundance: STUPID. A whole lot of STUPID - mostly from the conservative side of it's collective mindset. Climate change deniers. Anti-science, fact-averse zealots. Government-haters. Gun-toting, greedy, ignorant, racist, sexist psychopaths. Our own American Taliban exhibits a form of mental Ebola. It is also - like its biological counterpart - contagious, insidious, and deadly.

Millions hope this assinine conservative insanity will be the death of itself and it probably will. Unfortunately, it will likely take the rest of us with it.

[lpbk2713]

1. If only we could abolish Faux and RW AM Hatemonger Radio.

It would be a major step in the right direction.


But alas, there's that pesky ole Bill of Rights.


:snap:

[woo me with science]

4. If we could defund the propaganda machines, that would be a nice start.

Transparency in our government and political machines would be a very nice start. In addition, restore the ban on propaganda aimed at Americans.

Obama taps "cognitive infiltrator" Cass Sunstein for Committee to create "trust" in NSA:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023512796

Salon: Obama confidant’s spine-chilling proposal: Cass Sunstein wants the government to "cognitively infiltrate" anti-government groups
http://www.salon.com/2010/01/15/sunstein_2/

The US government's online campaigns of disinformation, manipulation, and smear.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024560097

Snowden: ‘Training Guide’ for GCHQ, NSA Agents Infiltrating and Disrupting Alternative Media Online
http://21stcenturywire.com/2014/02/25/snowden-training-guide-for-gchq-nsa-agents-infiltrating-and-disrupting-alternative-media-online/

The influx of corporate propaganda-spouting posters is blatant and unnatural.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3189367

U.S. Repeals Propaganda Ban, Spreads Government-Made News To Americans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023262111

The goal of the propaganda assaults across the internet is not to convince anyone of anything.*
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023359801

The government figured out sockpuppet management but not "persona management."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023358242

The Gentleman's Guide To Forum Spies (spooks, feds, etc.)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4159454

Seventeen techniques for truth suppression.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4249741

Just do some Googling on astroturfing - big organizations have some sophisticated tools.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1208351

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. Neil's a great guy.

But his metaphor doesn't work.

From one of many dictionaries - Ignorance is a state of being uninformed (lack of knowledge).

You don't 'spread' ignorance. It's the ground state - as a human you start out ignorant on every topic, and through your experiences, you gain knowledge. He should have gone with 'misinformation' or some similar word for that quote.

[Triana]

5. I have to agree. He should have used a different word - maybe "willful ignorance"

I usually differentiate between ignorance and stupidity: ignorance is simply not knowing. Stupidity is refusing to learn when good, scientific information and facts are right in front of your nose - aka "willful ignorance"

[blkmusclmachine]

3. GOP = The American Taliban

[AZ Progressive]

6. There NEEDS to be a WAR AGAINST IGNORANCE

It is promoting stupid thinking and is going to usher in a dark ages in America if this war isn't fought.