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George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

gutenberg.net.au

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Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#101

Post by refurb »

busyant wrote: post #25
colechristensen wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“There should be a science of discontent” Many modern political problems stem from people needing something to struggle for and other people fighting against it. There’s also a lot of shaping going on where if people weren’t so upset about X they’d realize Y was a huge problem so let’s distract them permanently with X.

> Many modern political problems stem from people needing something to struggle for and other people fighting against it. Reminds me of the lines in Fight Club: "We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war. Our Great Depression is our lives." I'm not sure if that precise quote is in the book, but it's certainly in the movie and it echoes your sentiment and those above.

And the saying “Good times create weak men”.

And it’s true. You often see a growing discontent among wealthy societies where everything is taken care of.

People need purpose in what they do and “my purpose is to fight for the survival of my country” is a pretty compelling one to many people.

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#102

Post by the_only_law »

fumblebee wrote: post #91
Barrera wrote: post #63

> But Hitler could not have succeeded against his many rivals if it had not been for the attraction of his own personality, which one can feel even in the clumsy writing of Mein Kampf, and which is no doubt overwhelming when one hears his speeches … The fact is that there is something deeply appealing about him. A commenter here (and one on the original article) has noted that the part being elided appears to be the…

I can't help but think one of the most appealing aspects of Hitler would've been his ability to deliver passionate speeches. For example, I have no idea what he's saying in this speech [1], but the tone at which he delivers it is undeniably quite mesmerising, especially when compared to the tone of, say, Joe Biden [2]. In a time where radio ruled, it's hard not to think he wouldn't stand out, irregardless of the cont…

Yeah charisma is one of those things that can draw people in. Look at many cult leaders too. Charles Manson often went on just entirely nonsensical tirades, but could sound almost profound while speaking them. Jim Jones speeches have a similar angry rallying cry type of feel.

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#103

Post by tehjoker »

EUROCARE wrote: post #58
superb-owl wrote: post #9

> Hitler, because in his own joyless mind he feels it with exceptional strength, knows that human beings don’t only want comfort, safety, short working-hours, hygiene, birth-control and, in general, common sense; they also, at least intermittently, want struggle and self-sacrifice This fact has been the downfall of every utopian ideology, and ignoring creates a vacuum that fascist regimes readily fill. I wonder what…

Why can't people struggle and self-sacrifice for utopia?

they did in the Soviet Union very admirably.

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#104

Post by daseiner1 »

zozbot234 wrote: post #20
Avicebron wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you inherently ascribe it to "male loser" vs. just "loser"?

Because patriarchy. To females, being a "loser" was simply the status quo; there were no "winners" to aspire towards.

humbug. just because men have different measures of status and success does not mean women don’t have some of their own

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#105

Post by likeclockwork »

alex_sf wrote: post #65
zozbot234 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kids just don't know any better. I would imagine that those who actually spent some of their childhood in a war zone would have a very different perspective. What's toxic is when grownups end up glorifying war or thinking of it as a solution to hard problems.

I don't think this counts as Godwin's law given the context, but: What exactly is your solution to the sort of naked aggression by Hitler in WW2? Is war not a solution to that problem?

Lets translate your question.

What exactly is your solution to the sort of [war] by Hitler in [war]. Is war not a solution to [war]?

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#106

Post by scandox »

fwip wrote: post #82
alex_sf wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand why that's toxic. Striving, struggle, and violence are critical for any living thing to survive. Short of reaching post-scarcity, this can't change. If we define toxic as harmful, then violence is the opposite. It's the only reason we have civilization.

Cooperation, not violence, is the reason for civilization.

I think possibly cooperation and violence. Or even cooperation for the purpose of enhanced violence.

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#107

Post by WesolyKubeczek »

zozbot234 wrote: post #39
tomkat0789 wrote: post #30

I think he highlights some fundamentally toxic aspects of human nature with this bit: “The Socialist who finds his children playing with soldiers is usually upset, but he is never able to think of a substitute for the tin soldiers; tin pacifists somehow won’t do.” The engineer in me wishes we could substitute the soldiers with construction workers or something, but I can’t deny enjoying war games growing up. These da…

Kids just don't know any better. I would imagine that those who actually spent some of their childhood in a war zone would have a very different perspective. What's toxic is when grownups end up glorifying war or thinking of it as a solution to hard problems.

> I would imagine that those who actually spent some of their childhood in a war zone would have a very different perspective.

They very much play war games, even incorporating the realities around them into the games, like checkpoints, airstrike alarms, and such.

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#108

Post by swayvil »

_Algernon_ wrote: post #4

The top comment points out that a part is redacted, removing "I should like to put it on record that I have never been able to dislike Hitler. Ever since he came to power - till then, like nearly everyone, I had been deceived into thinking that he did not matter - I have reflected that I would certainly kill him if I could get within reach of him, but that I could feel no personal animosity.". This Gutenberg version…

I can't believe they flagged and censored my reply, which addressed that point of censorship. Are these people irony-proof?

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#109

Post by [deleted] »

yrgulation wrote: post #29
superb-owl wrote: post #9

> Hitler, because in his own joyless mind he feels it with exceptional strength, knows that human beings don’t only want comfort, safety, short working-hours, hygiene, birth-control and, in general, common sense; they also, at least intermittently, want struggle and self-sacrifice This fact has been the downfall of every utopian ideology, and ignoring creates a vacuum that fascist regimes readily fill. I wonder what…

> I wonder what sort of strange centrist form of government might be able to strike a balance between our need for comfort and our need for adventure. Any government that will satisfy my need of adventure and struggle in colonising the solar system and exploiting the endless amounts of resources it has and harnessing the virtually unlimited energy of our star will have my vote. But people prefer tribal adventures and…

[deleted]
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