Chess Grandmaster Kasparov on Mob Mentality and Groupthink

> In his recent book “The Contrarian,” journalist Max Chafkin assigns an ideology to Mr. Thiel, then defines it as “fascist” and even tries to blame this concocted “Thielism” for the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. There is little doubt that the book would never have come to be had Mr. Thiel not supported Donald Trump in 2016.

I mean, OK. I guess it's probably unfair. But... to cite this kind of thing as an example of censorious excess and the decline of society and not at least nod to Thiel's own successful cancellation and destruction of Gawker media seems... logically suspect.

I mean, who is it not OK to destroy for ideological reasons and who is fair game?

Re: Chess Grandmaster Kasparov on Mob Mentality and Groupthink

#8

Post by commandlinefan » Thu, Nov 18, 2021, 7:40 PM UTC

spoonjim wrote: post #4

What does Kasparov know about Mob Mentality and Groupthink more than anyone else?

He grew up in soviet Russia, and they honed this rhetorical tactic to perfection. He knows what it's like to live in the aftermath of its "success" and has seen the end result as well.

Re: Chess Grandmaster Kasparov on Mob Mentality and Groupthink

#9

Post by fallingknife » Thu, Nov 18, 2021, 7:44 PM UTC

newacct583 wrote: post #7

The first example cites what I guess is an attempted cancellation of Peter Thiel: > In his recent book “The Contrarian,” journalist Max Chafkin assigns an ideology to Mr. Thiel, then defines it as “fascist” and even tries to blame this concocted “Thielism” for the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. There is little doubt that the book would never have come to be had Mr. Thiel not supported Donald Trump in 2016. I mean, OK. I guess…

Gawker was not "cancelled.". It was driven to bankruptcy by losing a massive defamation lawsuit. They brought it on themselves.

Re: Chess Grandmaster Kasparov on Mob Mentality and Groupthink

#10

Post by greenail » Thu, Nov 18, 2021, 7:47 PM UTC

commandlinefan wrote: post #8

spoonjim wrote: post #4

What does Kasparov know about Mob Mentality and Groupthink more than anyone else?

He grew up in soviet Russia, and they honed this rhetorical tactic to perfection. He knows what it's like to live in the aftermath of its "success" and has seen the end result as well.

I wish there was more education about what happened after 1917 in Russia. I've read the gulag archipelago and while that is an amazing work not many will endeavor to read it. My education on the topic in school did not do a good job describing how the culture was manipulated or how fear was used to divide the population. There are important lessons learned that should never be forgotten.