Unchained Preppers

General Category => News & Politics => Topic started by: rah45 on May 23, 2012, 07:47:55 PM

Title: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: rah45 on May 23, 2012, 07:47:55 PM
I was on FB for a few minutes, just browsing through the usual non-life-changing banter, when I had an inspiration to write. I just started typing, and kept on for a while, eventually revising my "rough draft" and submitting for review by the public, not just friends (which is my default setting). I haven't received one comment on it by anyone, though it has been a couple of hours, and I have a good number of friends on FB. I post this for your review, but am also curious...what strategies have you used on social networking sites to forward the ideas of liberty and prepping? I'm not talking subtle hints...I mean the communication of hardcore explanations, feeding the information to the masses in a manner in which they can understand. Below is my post on FB.

Quote
Quote of the moment: "Resistance to tyranny, is obedience to God."

Regardless of your religious beliefs, and supernatural entities aside, I believe that resistance to tyranny is the obligation of any freedom-loving society. Its members, regardless of their differences, should be not only willing, but able (i.e., have the tools AND the skills necessary) to intervene against "any form of tyranny over the mind of man." The Founding Fathers' generation didn't embrace the notion of fighting for African Americans' liberties, and there were other things they either couldn't agree on or didn't address - we've come a long way. However, as a nation and culture, we've mellowed. If you ask someone today if he/she loves freedom (what little is left in this nation today), he will most likely say yes. If you ask if he would risk his life to stand against tyranny, he might say yes. If you ask him if he would willingly kill another human being to preserve the natural liberties of himself or another, he will probably remain silent.

This is because resistance to tyranny and self-sacrifice for a noble cause are ingrained into the American national persona via the media and basic American history (some would call its method of presentation by government-related entities, "propaganda"), but being determined enough, "savage" enough, to destroy someone who knowingly and willingly threatens the freedoms of you and/or those you care for, is an action not propagated by these mediums, and is something that many Americans do not seem to consider as a valid option. The recognition of the fact that in order to seize (yes, I used the correct term, "seize: to possess or take by force") liberty you must be willing to kill those who wish to keep it from you, seems to be a new, and frightening, concept for many people. People like the idea of liberty, but in my experience they do not pay attention to what liberty truly is. Today, it is a buzzword used in the media, in history books, and in movies. It's a feel-good term we've inherited, not a reality, a way of life, that the generation of 1776 fought to retain. We've not known such a desperate struggle for generations - the Civil War was the closest we've come since the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War veterans did not fight a "nice" war (if there could be such a thing). They were ruthless when they had to be. They fought dirty for liberty. Trenton is a perfect example - Washington and his troops violated the "rules," for freedom. They attacked the enemy on Christmas Day, killing the enemy in his sleep and not giving him a chance to fight back. Examine the successful struggles for independence throughout history, and you will see that the "underdog" fighting against the commanding authority fights ferociously , without mercy when necessary. They are conflicts that involve soldiers and noncombatants alike.

Once a republic begins a decline, history shows that stopping the process is improbable. I believe that a decline begins two or three generations after the generation that fought to achieve liberty. People forget what was necessary to achieve it, and over time it becomes less of a national heartbeat, if you will, and more like a textbook national legacy that future generations take for granted. These generations do not really consider the fact that the actions by the first generation can be undone. They cannot truly understand the circumstances that led to the actions and sacrifices of that first generation. That feeling of desperation, that comes with the feeling of having your back against the wall, of it being the moment of "do or die" in the struggle to have a freedom of choice and freedom of action, has passed. The third or fourth generations begin to slip, teaching their children and grandchildren fewer and fewer lessons and skills necessary to maintain true liberty. After the slide to ruin begins, it increases in intensity until it is a vehicle rushing to its ruin. The only way to interrupt the cycle is to make the populace educated, make them understand why an undying struggle against tyrannical behavior is necessary for each generation to pursue. Make them understand not only the logic, but the feeling, that desperation to RESIST, to DEFEND, to KILL for liberty, not just the buzzword, but the actual thing. The freedom to effectively and peacefully voice your grievances against your government without fear of reprisal. The freedom to live your life as you see fit, as long as you do not infringe on the freedom of others.

I do not know how the majority of the populace, seemingly ignorant of the true source of the dire state of this nation (the loss of much personal liberty and initiative, replaced by increasing government intervention), can be made to understand the importance of reclaiming those freedoms gained by America's founding generations, even if it means joining together with those with whom you normally would not associate. Possibly the greatest impediment to the restoration of liberty are the divisions among Americans, whether they be racial, cultural, religious, etc. The only thing that EVER made any of us American in the traditional sense of that term, was a willingness to join with others to fight not only for our own liberties, but those of our fellow Americans. Everyone seems to place importance on the top of the pyramid of priorities (our own wants and desires catered to our personal life experiences), rather than the base on which the whole rests: liberty by the people, and for the people. Ultimately, all you and I have is one another. Without the strength of numbers, without the willingness to petition for your fellow Americans' freedoms, without the determination to risk your life to defend those freedoms and if necessary kill those who would try to take them, we are not a nation. We are too different, from "sea to shining sea." Some are more independent than others, some believe opposing religions, and some have social and cultural norms that are just too different to pleasantly coexist. We extend across an entire continent. There is nothing else that connects us together as Americans, nothing except the desire for freedom. Without this, without the will of Georgians to fight, politically or militarily, for the liberties of Pennsylvanians, or of New Mexicans to fight, politically or militarily, for the freedoms of Alaskans, we are nothing.

I'm not a badass. I'm not a Navy SEAL. I'm not the "best" at anything. I'm average. However, I know that my freedoms came at a price, and that it costs a price to maintain them. I am willing to stand with others who are different than I am in order to guarantee liberty for myself, my posterity...and them and their posterity. I desire to feel a part of American society, instead of feeling like I am grouped into a clique that is permanently separated by cultural or religious differences, or some other social gulf. I only desire for ALL Americans to be like me in this one aspect: be willing to fight for my freedoms, as I am for yours. Don't get more complicated than this. It's a simple request, and simple to answer. Are you willing to participate in peaceful protests and petition your representatives on behalf of my freedoms? Are you willing to grab a rifle and come to my aid if government enforcers attempt to violate my rights though I've done nothing wrong, though I have not infringed on the liberties of any others? More importantly, think about this: if you wouldn't do it for me, do you really think that I, or anyone else for that matter, would be willing to do it for you? "Join, or Die," states Benjamin Franklin's separated serpent. Joined, we are strong. Separate, we will be conquered one by one, forced into submission by any strong force that seeks to dominate others' will and efforts to its own agenda. See the increasing government controls? Observing the attempt to completely control the healthcare? Witnessing the move via the NDAA to empower the military to incarcerate American citizens without a trial by their peers, all in the name of national security? Connecting the dots to similar moves by governments such as Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, using propaganda and fear to justify killing millions, all in the name of national security? Same strategies, strategies that WORKED, except in a different day.

A person loves liberty, true liberty, not only for himself but for all others he encounters, because if he is not willing to fight, to die, to kill for their liberties, no one will do the same for him. If you do not fight for yours and others' liberty, you'll lose it, and you'll watch this fading light, the promise of America, one of mankind's greatest hopes and social experiments, disappear...maybe forever. Current technology, military especially, turns this world into something else - history cannot predict if liberty would rise again, not with the ability to link across the globe for "interests of humanity," not with the ability to fly drones and satellites, using their thermal and infrared vision, and their ability to zoom in from miles away to view in minute detail, everything you do "for your own safety." If you abandon your responsibilities now, if you relinquish the weak hold on freedom you still have, I can guarantee you will not get it back, not in this generation...and perhaps never again. There is no unexplored land on Earth left to inhabit. There is no "New World" to "colonize" and through it rediscover and fight for freedom of choice. Figure out how important freedom is to you, I mean REALLY figure it out. Decide if you're willing to do whatever it takes to defend yours and those of your fellow Americans. Understand that ultimately, like many times in human history, "whatever it takes" may include the choice to use greater or equal force to stop someone who tries to take it from you. Understand that this person may be willing to kill you to take it, and that to preserve it you must be willing to do the same. I believe all Americans, whether now, in the past, or in the future, should ask themselves these questions, and analyze just who they are, what they are willing not only to die to protect, but kill with their own hands to defend.

It's time to get serious. Think about it.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: Treaded on May 23, 2012, 09:00:55 PM
Wanna see something not cool?  Go to the DHS facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/homelandsecurity (http://www.facebook.com/homelandsecurity)

Click the highlights tab and select Friend Activity - look and learn.

Hmmmmm hm.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: NOLA556 on May 23, 2012, 09:21:54 PM
Wanna see something not cool?  Go to the DHS facebook page:  [url]http://www.facebook.com/homelandsecurity[/url] ([url]http://www.facebook.com/homelandsecurity[/url])

Click the highlights tab and select Friend Activity - look and learn.

Hmmmmm hm.


o_O
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: Treaded on May 23, 2012, 09:25:05 PM
Rah don't mean to hijack the thread but I had to share that with you guys.  The way it works is DHS literally has a hot list of words and any post, status update, etc that contains those words is flagged for their review - set to private or not. 

OPSEC brother, OPSEC.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: NOLA556 on May 23, 2012, 10:34:53 PM
Rah don't mean to hijack the thread but I had to share that with you guys.  The way it works is DHS literally has a hot list of words and any post, status update, etc that contains those words is flagged for their review - set to private or not. 

OPSEC brother, OPSEC.

treaded, I think this is literally the first thing you've ever posted on these forums that I completely disagree with.

there is no such thing as OPSEC on the internet, and that is made obvious by the link you provided.
of course, this is just my opinion, but IMHO all expectations of ANY kind of OPSEC goes right out the window as soon as you open Firefox (or whatever internet browser you may use). I've heard about proxy servers and whatnot, and it seems like a pretty cool concept, but I just don't have much faith that it's as secure as it sounds. Just my gut instinct, not proven fact.

and Rah, to address your writing. BRAVO brother, bravo.

I think the reason why nobody comments on it is the same reason that we find ourselves in this current situation as a society. Your post is long, and requires half a brain to comprehend, so most people skip past it. It takes too much out of their day to turn the dry rusty gears in their head and think, so they ignore it and skip along to the latest funny clip of a half-retarded person singing like a dying animal on American Idol. Honestly, this is the primary reason why I disagree with EJR and GAP when they talk about reaching out to the Occupy movement and whatnot. I've lost all faith in reaching out to those who are either asleep, or awake but moving in the opposite direction. They are a lost cause. I "share" lots of stuff of FB, interesting and/or important news stories, but rarely to I waste my time writing on there. Very few people give a shit bro. It's sad, but it's reality.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: Treaded on May 23, 2012, 10:41:15 PM
Nola, in this instance I was referring not to trying to hide but to refrain from posting stuff like that on those "social networking" sites.  Rah's post was excellent BTW. 
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: crudos on May 23, 2012, 10:46:45 PM
Rah, You might try that on Google+. FB is too lite and fluffy for concentrated thoughts. Or better yet, right here on SP.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: sledge on May 23, 2012, 11:05:04 PM
Wanna see something not cool?  Go to the DHS facebook page:  [url]http://www.facebook.com/homelandsecurity[/url] ([url]http://www.facebook.com/homelandsecurity[/url])

Click the highlights tab and select Friend Activity - look and learn.

Hmmmmm hm.


Oh Crap!  I followed the link and this is what it had at the top of the page only with my real name..

Sledge posted about Department of Homeland Security in his link.
March 17
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/atk-secures-40-caliber-ammunition-contract-with-department-of-homeland-security-us-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-dhs-ice-2012-03-12?reflink=MW_news_stmp (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/atk-secures-40-caliber-ammunition-contract-with-department-of-homeland-security-us-immigration-and-customs-enforcement-dhs-ice-2012-03-12?reflink=MW_news_stmp)
ATK Secures .40 Caliber Ammunition Contract with Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration a
www.marketwatch.com (http://www.marketwatch.com)
2Like ?  ? Share
Sledge I wonder why the Department of Homeland Security needs 450 million rounds of .40 cal. Hollow Point? They must know something that we don't.
March 17 at 9:52pm ? Like
Sledge My First thought was of the Katyn Forest. Katyn forest massacre (卡廷森林大屠杀) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USZcrMn48Xg#)

Katyn forest massacre (卡廷森林大屠杀)
www.youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com)
The Katyń massacre, also the Katyń Forest massacre (Polish: zbrodnia katyńska, '...See More
March 17 at 10:09pm ? Like ?
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: Treaded on May 23, 2012, 11:16:56 PM
Sledge - don't feel bad.  Mine had me calling big sis an asshat (I wonder which list that got me put on).

Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: sledge on May 23, 2012, 11:28:52 PM
Sledge - don't feel bad.  Mine had me calling big sis an asshat (I wonder which list that got me put on).

I'm thinking it's probably a good thing we aren't friends on FB.  I probably would have clicked "Like" on your link.  LOL!
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: special-k on May 24, 2012, 06:32:50 AM
Since I have never, and will never have a FB account.....Could someone explain specifically what's going on?
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: sledge on May 24, 2012, 08:57:04 AM
Since I have never, and will never have a FB account.....Could someone explain specifically what's going on?

Most of the comments I read on the DHS  FB page were negative.

When you go on their page FB recognizes you and puts up any posts you or anyone you've friended at the top of the page for you to see.   Not really a big deal.  It's not permanent on the page.  It's just there for you to look at.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: Treaded on May 24, 2012, 09:56:49 AM
Sledge that's not the only part of it.  Notice that some of the comments contain NO direct reference to DHS nor were posted on the DHS page.   
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: sledge on May 24, 2012, 10:15:56 AM
Sledge that's not the only part of it.  Notice that some of the comments contain NO direct reference to DHS nor were posted on the DHS page.   

LOL!  Are you insinuating that FB is pointing at people and saying, "Hey DHS, Look at them, look at them!"  I hope FB's stock goes down to a nickel.

Frig them.   I don't really care if DHS looks at me.  I mean fair is fair.  Because I'm damn sure looking at them.  And as concerned as they seem to be about what people are saying about them I must not be the only one looking at them.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: EJR914 on May 24, 2012, 01:34:34 PM
Looks like I got off FB at just the right time.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: EJR914 on May 24, 2012, 01:43:35 PM
Honestly, this is the primary reason why I disagree with EJR and GAP when they talk about reaching out to the Occupy movement and whatnot. I've lost all faith in reaching out to those who are either asleep, or awake but moving in the opposite direction. They are a lost cause. I "share" lots of stuff of FB, interesting and/or important news stories, but rarely to I waste my time writing on there. Very few people give a shit bro. It's sad, but it's reality.

That isn't what I was saying at ALL NOLA.  If you missed what I was saying, its because you immediately shut out any type of objective thought the moment that you heard the word Occupy, probably due to some emotional feeling that you've developed over many months of media, friends, family and the government drilling that Occupy is completely useless and abhorrent for so long into your brain.

You weren't listening, or in this case reading.  Your prejudices have blinded your objectiveness and have robbed you of your mind. 

I didn't say we could or even would try to CHANGE the Occupier's minds or get them invovled in some freedom movement, I said you could infiltrate them and USE THEM for your purposes.  Like a CIA officer developing an asset to USE for their purposes.

There is a big freaking difference between what you are portraying what I was saying, and WHAT I actually said.  Actually what I have said.  I won't take responsibility for GAPs words. 

Its the same BS that I just dealt with with OON.  You guys can't READ what I actually write, whether its because you are blinded by your own prejudices or paradigm of arguments, but you all fail to read what I actually write, and remain objective.  Its completely frustrating to be taken out of context and misrepresented like you are doing. 

You may need to go back and re-read what I wrote on the Occupy Movement.  Not GAPs words, but MY WORDS.  Those are the only ones that I am responsible for. 

Also, please don't lump GAP and I together like we are one person.  We are not, and we BOTH have very different thoughts, opinions, we both experienced and viewed the PATCON in very different ways, just by being two different people, with two different sets of experiences, states of minds, and Point of Views. 
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: NOLA556 on May 24, 2012, 01:45:53 PM
Honestly, this is the primary reason why I disagree with EJR and GAP when they talk about reaching out to the Occupy movement and whatnot. I've lost all faith in reaching out to those who are either asleep, or awake but moving in the opposite direction. They are a lost cause. I "share" lots of stuff of FB, interesting and/or important news stories, but rarely to I waste my time writing on there. Very few people give a shit bro. It's sad, but it's reality.

  Your prejudices have blinded your objectiveness and have robbed you of your mind. 



LOL ::)
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: EJR914 on May 24, 2012, 01:48:16 PM
Well NOLA, would you rather me take the other possible approach, which is that its your reading comprehension which is lacking, which has come to you completely misrepresenting and falsefully stating my opinion on infiltrating the Occupy Movement?
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: NOLA556 on May 24, 2012, 01:58:31 PM
no bro  ::) - is because you freak out over someone saying they disagree with you and then write a novel for a response sounding like Mel Gibson from Braveheart.

I have no quarrel with you bro. even if I did misunderstand your stance on that OWS thing, I still disagree even with "infiltrating" them. I think it's a waste of time. that's my opinion. nbd right?
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: EJR914 on May 24, 2012, 02:10:24 PM
no bro  ::) - is because you freak out over someone saying they disagree with you and then write a novel for a response sounding like Mel Gibson from Braveheart.

I have no quarrel with you bro. even if I did misunderstand your stance on that OWS thing, I still disagree even with "infiltrating" them. I think it's a waste of time. that's my opinion. nbd right?

That's fine, its not disagreeing, its when someone completely mis-represents what I say.  We're all fine to disagree.  I understand there is always a lot of disagreeing going on when someone first presents a radical proposal.  It might be a waste of time, but we will never know unless we try.

If it turns out to be a failure, I'll be the first one to come here and tell you what a failure it was, and how we need to try something else.

I do find your defeatist attitude a bit disconcerting, but its all good, bro.  Just keep fighting the good fight.

"Any stool in a bar fight," are good words to live by, and I'm grabbing at every bar stool I can find, that I think can work, because believe it or not, we are in a fight right now.  One which I believe is a fight to the death, literally.

I'm sorry that you can't possibly imagine what benefit a freefor operation could gain, from studying the organizing techniques of Occupy, their tactics, or from having a bunch of monkeys run around, blocking traffic, tying up LEO resources for days.  If you cannot see the benefit or value that could be gained from something like that, then I could not possibly help you see it. 

To edit:  NOLA, if you don't like my Mel Gibson Braveheart speeches don't fucking read them, see I posted it, and just move on, but don't sit there and misrepresent everything that I write, like you actually objectively sat there and read my post.  Its completely frustrating. 
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: rah45 on May 24, 2012, 03:52:33 PM
@ Treaded: I did not know about the DHS friend activities. I only had one on there...and it was Sledge's post. LOL

I had considered how controversial it was after I finished but before I posted. I think it's worth it to stimulate thought. I've already posted similar, if somewhat less blatant, posts addressing similar subjects, both on FB and L&L and SP.com. Thanks for the concern, though.  ;)
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: crudos on May 24, 2012, 04:04:11 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: Treaded on May 24, 2012, 04:28:52 PM
@ Treaded: I did not know about the DHS friend activities. I only had one on there...and it was Sledge's post. LOL

I had considered how controversial it was after I finished but before I posted. I think it's worth it to stimulate thought. I've already posted similar, if somewhat less blatant, posts addressing similar subjects, both on FB and L&L and SP.com. Thanks for the concern, though.  ;)

I'm going on a little rant here so hang with me for a sec-

You know it gets to a point where you know you're on enough lists to not really care anymore.  I was on lists before there was a DHS ;) They know who I am so frankly I don't really care.  But for those that have lived clean I advise them against posting this kind of stuff in the wild.  I'm more of an advocate of working in meatspace when it comes to the Tribe. 

I'll feed you some honest truth here:  The .gov believes that anyone who opposes their little artificial oligarchy is a menace to them.  The current administration wants to vilify ANYONE that opposes their blatant marxist progressive dem agenda.  And they use entities like the SPLC (who has admitted it doesn't even bother addressing the radical left) funded by taxpayer $ to further that message. The OWS kids are "useful idiots" in their campaign.  Seriously - why the fuck would a president support them and state he's against huge corporate profits while charging 35k a plate at a campaign dinner?   Don't get me wrong - the OWS kids are exercising their 1st amendment rights and although I totally disagree with their message and think the majority of them are truly "useful idiots" I support their right to do so.  Look at the organizations that support OWS - labor-unions, the freaking Communist party, the democratic party, the list goes on. 

Don't believe me?  Think about this.  During the Clinton admin the word "militia" became a dirty word.  Now they're pushing for "Constitutionalists" and "Patriot" to be dirty words and succeeding.  Answer this one:  twenty years ago the phrase "Patriot Group" was used to describe organizations like the VFW, Daughters of the American revolution, etc.  Now they use it as a phrase for "domestic terrorist groups". 

Study history - and look at the Communist manifesto.  It's being fulfilled right here in our country.

/rant off
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: sledge on May 24, 2012, 05:10:07 PM
@ Treaded: I did not know about the DHS friend activities. I only had one on there...and it was Sledge's post. LOL


Ahhh, seeing as you are a young guy with young kids maybe you don't want to be reposting things that I say or post.  Just saying.  Just because I don't give a crap doesn't mean that you shouldn't.  I don't recall anyone ever saying that I had a lick of common sense.  Do you recall it?  Nope?  Didn't think so.  :)
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: EJR914 on May 24, 2012, 05:13:46 PM
;D

I like that, it might be time to change my icon.   ;D
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: EJR914 on May 24, 2012, 05:22:29 PM
@ Treaded: I did not know about the DHS friend activities. I only had one on there...and it was Sledge's post. LOL

I had considered how controversial it was after I finished but before I posted. I think it's worth it to stimulate thought. I've already posted similar, if somewhat less blatant, posts addressing similar subjects, both on FB and L&L and SP.com. Thanks for the concern, though.  ;)


I'm going on a little rant here so hang with me for a sec-

You know it gets to a point where you know you're on enough lists to not really care anymore.  I was on lists before there was a DHS ;) They know who I am so frankly I don't really care.  But for those that have lived clean I advise them against posting this kind of stuff in the wild.  I'm more of an advocate of working in meatspace when it comes to the Tribe. 

I'll feed you some honest truth here:  The .gov believes that anyone who opposes their little artificial oligarchy is a menace to them.  The current administration wants to vilify ANYONE that opposes their blatant marxist progressive dem agenda.  And they use entities like the SPLC (who has admitted it doesn't even bother addressing the radical left) funded by taxpayer $ to further that message. The OWS kids are "useful idiots" in their campaign.  Seriously - why the fuck would a president support them and state he's against huge corporate profits while charging 35k a plate at a campaign dinner?   Don't get me wrong - the OWS kids are exercising their 1st amendment rights and although I totally disagree with their message and think the majority of them are truly "useful idiots" I support their right to do so.  Look at the organizations that support OWS - labor-unions, the freaking Communist party, the democratic party, the list goes on. 

Don't believe me?  Think about this.  During the Clinton admin the word "militia" became a dirty word.  Now they're pushing for "Constitutionalists" and "Patriot" to be dirty words and succeeding.  Answer this one:  twenty years ago the phrase "Patriot Group" was used to describe organizations like the VFW, Daughters of the American revolution, etc.  Now they use it as a phrase for "domestic terrorist groups". 

Study history - and look at the Communist manifesto.  It's being fulfilled right here in our country.

/rant off


I agree with everything that you said.   [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co

With that said, wouldn't it make sense to use those "useful idiots" in the OWS movement, for FreeFor purposes, if at all possible?  I'm not going to spell it all out for you, but I KNOW there are ways we can use these useful idiots for OUR gain.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: Treaded on May 24, 2012, 06:08:22 PM
Therein lies the problem with "OWS".  Originally OWS had a vastly diverse course of social issues that it voiced that varied regionally and even between cities in the same regions.  But over the course of time the movement has been co-opted by organizations like moveon.org, labor unions,  and their ilk.  If you look at their agenda now it almost solely blames Corporations for the problems in America and almost completely absolves the politicians of guilt.  It doesn't recognize the principles of a Republic instead espousing the anarchic conditions of a straight democracy.

In Russia Stalin effectively used the Proletariat (what we would consider the "99%") to conduct the process of "Dekulakization" which was the purge of not only the remainder of capitalism in Russia but the source of the counter-marxist effort at the time, the Kulaks and "petite bourgeois" (what we would call small business owners).  Those Proletariat "useful idiots" were so fixated in their thinking that no amount of logic or rational argument could turn them.  You're going to find the same thing among what remains of the OWS movement in instances where they want to be absolved of student loans by the taxpayers but refuse to be subjected to that tax burden later on in life when it's their turn to pay. 

I'll give you a quick snapshot of the average OWS'er.  They grew up in a culture that gave them useless things freely and taught the intellectual lie of "no one fails".  That same culture reinforced that authority is responsible for the well being of the person and not the person themself.  Dalrymple summarized it pretty well with a few of his concepts in regards to the state of youth in western civilization:

- The ideology of the Welfare State is used to diminish personal responsibility. Erosion of personal responsibility makes people dependent on institutions and favors the existence of a threatening and vulnerable underclass.

- The root cause of our contemporary cultural poverty is intellectual dishonesty. First, the intellectuals (more specifically, left-wing ones) have destroyed the foundation of culture, and second, they refuse to acknowledge it by resorting to the caves of political correctness.

- An attitude characterized by gratefulness and having obligations towards others has been replaced?with awful consequences?by an awareness of "rights" and a sense of entitlement, without responsibilities. This leads to resentment as the rights become violated by parents, authorities, bureaucracies and others in general
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: rah45 on May 24, 2012, 06:20:28 PM
@ Treaded: I definitely see the merit of your argument, but how else do you get the word out? This is a fight for liberty, as EJR has explained, and as such there needs to be pro-liberty propaganda out there, propaganda that the masses are able to understand at the basic level. I suppose I could just write things like that on Microsoft Word and save it on my computer or on a flash drive for later dissemination, but then I have to wonder, at what point does it become acceptable to reveal it? I have no problem showing it to people around me, but that list gets short quickly...there are so many more people to awaken in such a short period of time. The clock is ticking, the government propaganda machine continues to rumble along, and we struggle to convince handfuls of people here and there of the righteousness of our stance. It's even harder to convince them to be willing to philosophically fight for the cause of liberty, much less prepare in any way for a physical conflict in its defense.

I'm no hero, and I never will be. I do what I think is right and try to help others along the way, if I'm able to do so. However, I also know there is a point where advocates of liberty in a nation turning against liberty have to stick out their necks in the struggle if they are to succeed in their mission. Samuel Adams and his band of Patriot propagandists are a good example - they crossed the line from peaceful protestor to active dissenter/propagandist, and knew they might endure consequences from British authorities or Tories. My question is, where is that line drawn? Who draws it? Do we wait until the government "crosses another line?" If they cross many more serious lines, we'll be either in a Communist dictatorship or in a hot civil war. I want to reach people in a meaningful way before we cross the Rubicon. After that point, I think it will mostly be the end of talk and the beginning of more serious actions to defend ourselves and the freedoms we hold dear.

@ Sledge: No, I didn't copy your post. I actually never read it, to my recollection. I think it just shows what you and your friends have said about DHS or other things.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: Treaded on May 24, 2012, 06:32:55 PM
Brother you don't try to reach everyone.  IMHO you should focus on building tribe in your immediate area.  If or when TSHTF those that already have tribe are a leg up from those that don't.  The liberty argument is truly a valid one but IMHO there's not going to be a stand at Lexington green.  I kind of go into what I perceive to be what's going to happen in my blog (a little self serving I know but worth the read to get your mental gears grinding). 

Why tribe in your immediate area?  In reality we're so blakanized already that any effort at coordinating a widespread effort is IMHO is going to be futile.  I have about as much in common with the average southern Californian as I do with a bulgarian.  People in New York nowadays have little in common with folks in Jawja ;)  etc.. etc..   

If you read up I kind of touch on another phenomena that's happening and that's the migration to the south - it is real and it is happening.  What's going to be left up north is a majority that is dependent on the .gov for it's handouts.  Once again little in common with us Southerners.  You PACORWEST guys are probably seeing the same thing happen with folks moving up from Cali.

Summary:  I'd much rather depend on my neighbor down the road than some guy on the internet 1200 miles away. 
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: rah45 on May 24, 2012, 06:53:58 PM
I see your point. Considering that my BOL is actually an hour away, my immediate housing situation being only temporary, I find it hard to see those neighbors as worth taking time out to get to know, probe, and "tribe up" (half of them elderly - one elderly wife beats her husband on monthly basis, complete with ambulance response - LOL). Most of the friends I have on FB (like 90%) are actually people in Georgia, people within a couple hours' drive from me. Many are family and actual friends, not just acquaintances. It is for that closeness, that possible willingness to listen, that I post things like yesterday's brief essay. I don't pretend to be the best writer, but for the seeming lack of a permanent tribe to build around me since I won't be here if SHTF (or even in two years, since we're renting), I attempt to use FB as a medium that many of the people I care about use in order to stimulate thought. Of course, if they "ignore" all my posts by this time it is useless, but I know some of them still do read them.

I've talked to the other family that will be present at my BOL, and who lives there now, about "tribing up" with the neighbors or local neighborhood folks. I was told that the neighbors don't really care, and the head of household (and only one close enough to an "active patriot" in that family) doesn't think it's worth his time to risk speaking to them, in case they remember it when SHTF and decide to come looking for handouts or something. That's one reason I really wanted to go to GAPATCON - to find anyone near my BOL area in order to get better recon on the people in the immediate area.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: Treaded on May 24, 2012, 07:05:27 PM
Buddie it ain't always easy to build tribe.  One of my neighbors was kicked out of the army back in the day and since I spent my entire adult life up until a year and a half ago as a troop in one form or another he really is cold towards me so I give him his space.  You're not going to get through to everyone and that's just plain reality.  But when shit gets crazy people tend to relook their beliefs - i.e. post 9/11 look how the country was unified.  It may take shit hitting the fan for some, most, or all of them to come around. 
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: rah45 on May 24, 2012, 07:30:21 PM
Buddie it ain't always easy to build tribe.  One of my neighbors was kicked out of the army back in the day and since I spent my entire adult life up until a year and a half ago as a troop in one form or another he really is cold towards me so I give him his space.  You're not going to get through to everyone and that's just plain reality.  But when shit gets crazy people tend to relook their beliefs - i.e. post 9/11 look how the country was unified.  It may take shit hitting the fan for some, most, or all of them to come around.

Hmmm...now I'm wondering if writing or gathering a series of essays on the basic liberties of individuals, how societies/tribes should operate together, successfully, with mutual respect and support, would not be a good thing to have. Print out 10 copies of each essential essay, put them all into some cheap, durable plastic folders, and consider them expendable handout materials. Perhaps keep a couple of folders' worth of copies for use as in-house reading. It might make getting others on the same page (i.e., "tribe" starts from personal liberty, working its way up to survival of the community) a bit easier if they can read it on their own time in a format broken down into small, easily digestible parts. It would really help to bolster any verbal interactions, since I know I either say things the wrong way, or omit important topics or instructional steps, when conversing with someone regarding a project or philosophy. I communicate 100% better when I write or type.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: Treaded on May 24, 2012, 07:43:12 PM
Rah, have you read the stuff I've written on building tribe and tribal politics?  Some of it might help ya a bit. (more self promoting which ain't something I'm fond of).
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: rah45 on May 24, 2012, 07:49:38 PM
Rah, have you read the stuff I've written on building tribe and tribal politics?  Some of it might help ya a bit. (more self promoting which ain't something I'm fond of).

I've browsed it, but not spent any in-depth time in study over it. No offense...a full-time job, wife, 5 year old and 2 month old just keep me busy or tired most of the time. Yesterday and today combined has probably been the most time I've been on SP consecutively in a long while. I plan to do more reading this weekend, if I have the free time and don't need the sleep.  ;)
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: crudos on May 24, 2012, 09:30:45 PM
What's going to be left up north is a majority that is dependent on the .gov for it's handouts.
Hey now, us northerners will be just fine up here. Personally I have no desire to migrate south, nor any reason to. Just saying.  :))
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: EJR914 on May 25, 2012, 03:11:15 PM
Therein lies the problem with "OWS".  Originally OWS had a vastly diverse course of social issues that it voiced that varied regionally and even between cities in the same regions.  But over the course of time the movement has been co-opted by organizations like moveon.org, labor unions,  and their ilk.  If you look at their agenda now it almost solely blames Corporations for the problems in America and almost completely absolves the politicians of guilt.  It doesn't recognize the principles of a Republic instead espousing the anarchic conditions of a straight democracy.

In Russia Stalin effectively used the Proletariat (what we would consider the "99%") to conduct the process of "Dekulakization" which was the purge of not only the remainder of capitalism in Russia but the source of the counter-marxist effort at the time, the Kulaks and "petite bourgeois" (what we would call small business owners).  Those Proletariat "useful idiots" were so fixated in their thinking that no amount of logic or rational argument could turn them.  You're going to find the same thing among what remains of the OWS movement in instances where they want to be absolved of student loans by the taxpayers but refuse to be subjected to that tax burden later on in life when it's their turn to pay. 

I'll give you a quick snapshot of the average OWS'er.  They grew up in a culture that gave them useless things freely and taught the intellectual lie of "no one fails".  That same culture reinforced that authority is responsible for the well being of the person and not the person themself.  Dalrymple summarized it pretty well with a few of his concepts in regards to the state of youth in western civilization:

- The ideology of the Welfare State is used to diminish personal responsibility. Erosion of personal responsibility makes people dependent on institutions and favors the existence of a threatening and vulnerable underclass.

- The root cause of our contemporary cultural poverty is intellectual dishonesty. First, the intellectuals (more specifically, left-wing ones) have destroyed the foundation of culture, and second, they refuse to acknowledge it by resorting to the caves of political correctness.

- An attitude characterized by gratefulness and having obligations towards others has been replaced?with awful consequences?by an awareness of "rights" and a sense of entitlement, without responsibilities. This leads to resentment as the rights become violated by parents, authorities, bureaucracies and others in general

I know all that, and yet, that still has nothing to do with what I was talking about.

You only need to control a handful of useful OWS idiots, say 20, for our purposes, so that we can use their idiot antics, for OUR, the FreeFor Gain.

Again, think outside of the box, more like an intelligence operative gaining an asset, using the asset for their purposes and advantage, and then discarding the asset when you have fully used them for YOUR purposes, and think less like an honest FreeFor citizen. 
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: Treaded on May 25, 2012, 04:20:12 PM
Which faction of the OWS would you try to appeal to?  The idealistic or the materialistic?  Do you engage the anarchists wishing to destroy the system by arming them (pretty much a felony that'll send you to jail for the rest of your life and ruin your family) or appeal to the materialists that want more handouts?  Do you have anything of value to them to offer?  Is your ability to change folks thinking strong enough to override an up to that point lifetime worth of programming?  The Tea Party tried it and it didn't work - quiet the opposite the OWS attempt blew up in their faces.  So did the Paulinistas- same end result.  The groups that have succeeded in co-opting OWS are the ones that fundamentally push for the same thing.       

IMHO their values and beliefs are so diametrically opposed to what you would be trying to get them to believe that any effort would have little to no effect.  And that is why the anarchists have yet to get overwhelming support from the OWS - because they oppose what the majority of the OWS crowd believes it really wants.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: NOLA556 on May 25, 2012, 04:45:26 PM
Which faction of the OWS would you try to appeal to?  The idealistic or the materialistic?  Do you engage the anarchists wishing to destroy the system by arming them (pretty much a felony that'll send you to jail for the rest of your life and ruin your family) or appeal to the materialists that want more handouts?  Do you have anything of value to them to offer?  Is your ability to change folks thinking strong enough to override an up to that point lifetime worth of programming?  The Tea Party tried it and it didn't work - quiet the opposite the OWS attempt blew up in their faces.  So did the Paulinistas- same end result.  The groups that have succeeded in co-opting OWS are the ones that fundamentally push for the same thing.       

IMHO their values and beliefs are so diametrically opposed to what you would be trying to get them to believe that any effort would have little to no effect.  And that is why the anarchists have yet to get overwhelming support from the OWS - because they oppose what the majority of the OWS crowd believes it really wants.

same question I've been curious about.

all this talk about "infiltrating" and using them for our purposes. what exactly does that mean? how would we go about infiltrating and using them?
without convincing them that their ideology is deeply flawed, how does anyone plan to "use" them. I'd think the primary focus of using any demographic to your own advantage would require getting their hearts and minds on-board with a liberty-based agenda, which they are 100% opposed to in the first place.

if I'm truly missing something here, then fill me in. please just keep everything above the belt though, no need to freak over a petty discussion.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: EJR914 on May 25, 2012, 06:09:16 PM
Which faction of the OWS would you try to appeal to?  The idealistic or the materialistic?  Do you engage the anarchists wishing to destroy the system by arming them (pretty much a felony that'll send you to jail for the rest of your life and ruin your family) or appeal to the materialists that want more handouts?  Do you have anything of value to them to offer?  Is your ability to change folks thinking strong enough to override an up to that point lifetime worth of programming?  The Tea Party tried it and it didn't work - quiet the opposite the OWS attempt blew up in their faces.  So did the Paulinistas- same end result.  The groups that have succeeded in co-opting OWS are the ones that fundamentally push for the same thing.       

IMHO their values and beliefs are so diametrically opposed to what you would be trying to get them to believe that any effort would have little to no effect.  And that is why the anarchists have yet to get overwhelming support from the OWS - because they oppose what the majority of the OWS crowd believes it really wants.

Anyone that I could use.  I'm not picky.  I would never arm anarchist.  They are free to arm themselves if they want to, but I certainly wouldn't promote it.  I despise so-called idiot anarchist that destroy other people's property or hurt other people.  Also, there are many kinds of anarchist, you are just choosing one type out of the many.  Whatever I would need to offer them, legally, so that it would help me complete my mission.  It could be nothing more than BS, or hey, you wanna tick off some COPS and get away with it?  The thing that you might be too set in your ways to see is that OWS already employs all the techniques that I would need them for.  Before you start having that emotional reaction just from the mere mention of the OWS idiots, try and study some of the tactics that they have employed already, that could be helpful to the success of a FreeFor Mission. 

If you would read my posts, I've already stated very clearly that I am NOT trying to change their minds, NOT ONE BIT.

You're not listening, you're not reading. 

OWS already employs the techniques that could help Freefor successfully complete one of their missions.

I care not of their values, I care not of their beliefs.  Its what they ALREADY do, that I need, all I would need to do is make them do it, at a time that I would need.  That's it.  Infiltration and a little bit of work could make that happen fairly easily I imagine.

You, NOLA, and everyone else here is going to have to put down their raging dislike and hatred of the OWS and anarchist that destroy property, to even come close to being open-minded enough to understand what I am saying or advocating.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: EJR914 on May 25, 2012, 06:16:21 PM
same question I've been curious about.

all this talk about "infiltrating" and using them for our purposes. what exactly does that mean? how would we go about infiltrating and using them?
without convincing them that their ideology is deeply flawed, how does anyone plan to "use" them. I'd think the primary focus of using any demographic to your own advantage would require getting their hearts and minds on-board with a liberty-based agenda, which they are 100% opposed to in the first place.

if I'm truly missing something here, then fill me in. please just keep everything above the belt though, no need to freak over a petty discussion.

You're going to have to put down your searing dislike and hatred of OWS first, then study the tactics they already employ, and then sit down and think what you could be doing, while these OWS idiots are tying up all the police resources of an entire area or city.  All you need is for these two things, to happen at the exact same time, whether by your coordination, or your knowledge of the time.  That's as much as I am willing to say over and open source internet forum. 

Do some serious studying about how the CIA operates abroad.  The tactics.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: rah45 on May 26, 2012, 05:35:28 PM
Okay, while this has been an eventful ride, it has gotten a bit off topic. Treaded has had very important things to say, but the main responses I was looking for aren't really present in this thread.

First: If you do not use FB to "wake up" the masses or debate with other patriots/preppers, what do you use? I use the internet because with my home and family situation it is impossible for me to just get out into the real world and talk to people. This way, I can do it while babysitting my kids, or for fifteen minutes before I have to do the next important household/family thing. If not FB, then what? BlogTV is a given...but most people don't use that - they prefer a written format, as it is generally better thought-out and specific, since the English language is mind-bogglingly complicated, offering five different words for every possible meaning.

Second: I had two people give me feedback on what I wrote...not exactly a lot considering the number of members present. I think what I wrote is decent, but not perfect. I'd like more feedback, considering that I sometimes email things like this to interested parties, and because writing these miniature essays is a way of transcribing my own thoughts in a manner I can better understand and remember. Debate over it only increasing my defense of its validity, or causes me to further revise my opinion and knowledge towards a better end. So...more opinions, please?
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: Treaded on May 26, 2012, 11:04:51 PM
Rah what you wrote is sound and thought provoking.  You writing and thoughts are more than good enough to warrant publishing.  But I will warn you - the whole movement can suck you in and sour you if you're not careful. In the end you'll have to choose your medium and each one of them have their positives and negatives.  The medium I deal in (the "blogosphere") is a really strange one but what I'm familiar with so I'll address it.  For those familiar with the whole "Patriot blogosphere" it's a really diverse medium.  There are sights that present original constructive methodology type content (Mosbys Nous-Defions is a great example) Aggregators (i.e. Balkos Agitator which pulls articles from all over the place mixed with original content), the mega community blogs (JWRs Survivalblog is the monster of them - I get over 1000 reads a day off of his site), and then those that go all over the place.  It's kind of become an ad-hoc network of sights.  That being said there is also currently a lot of divisiveness going on.  Do me a favor and read the blog entry and then read through the comments made at CAs WRSA on an entry he wrote.

http://westernrifleshooters.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/slaves-women-and-freedom/ (http://westernrifleshooters.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/slaves-women-and-freedom/)

The temperament of those comments are telling but there's something unique about that whole thread.  The majority of those folks are "Patriot Bloggers".  I've watched a couple of them get drug into the whole schoolyard slap fest between blogs accusing each other of everything from being a snitch to being a commie or felon.  There's a lot of egos at work and some of them get bruised way too easily.  If you do decide to blog it might be a good idea to think about setting standards for yourself especially when it comes to reblogging or linking to some of these blogs.

Like I said your piece is solid in both content and thought.  If you take the time to look over each medium and do a little research you'll be ok.



     
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: crudos on May 27, 2012, 10:40:00 AM
Rah, I can come up with nothing of note about the grammar or structure of your article. All that seems fine. But what media to get your ideas onto is another question. I don't think FB is the right venue for expanded monologues on any subject. You could go the route of starting a group or page (or whatever it's called now) on FB and try that. Treaded is probably closest with using the blog format, and is pretty much exactly what blogs where made for. Unfortunately, imo, a well-done blog is one that is updated pretty regularly and that can take a fair amount of time, especially if you can only be online for short amounts of time as you stated. You could just start a thread here on SP to collect your writings until you find a better venue for what your trying to accomplish. So yeah, that's my couple of thoughts. I definitely think you should keep on writing whenever you can and further develop your ideas and thoughts.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: NOLA556 on May 27, 2012, 01:00:41 PM
Rah, I can come up with nothing of note about the grammar or structure of your article. All that seems fine. But what media to get your ideas onto is another question. I don't think FB is the right venue for expanded monologues on any subject. You could go the route of starting a group or page (or whatever it's called now) on FB and try that. Treaded is probably closest with using the blog format, and is pretty much exactly what blogs where made for. Unfortunately, imo, a well-done blog is one that is updated pretty regularly and that can take a fair amount of time, especially if you can only be online for short amounts of time as you stated. You could just start a thread here on SP to collect your writings until you find a better venue for what your trying to accomplish. So yeah, that's my couple of thoughts. I definitely think you should keep on writing whenever you can and further develop your ideas and thoughts.


 [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co I think that analysis is pretty much dead on.
Title: Re: Attempt to use Facebook to inspire critical thinking.
Post by: rah45 on May 30, 2012, 04:06:15 PM
Thanks, guys. I don't believe I have enough information in me to do a blog worth its salt, but on the occasion that I do write something worth reading, I'll post here.