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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

#81

Post by wolfgang42 »

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…

There’s an amusing short story about “tin pacifists”, The Toys of Peace.[1] The introduction claims that this is a “primitive instinct”; but I tend to agree more with the conclusion.

On a related note, a Tumblr post[2] that’s been making the rounds recently:

> “In a game with no consequences, why are you still playing the ‘Good’ side?”

> Because being mean makes me feel bad.

> Because my no-consequences power fantasy is being able to help everyone.

[1]: https://gutenberg.org/files/1477/1477-h/1477-h.htm#page3

[2]: https://deflare.tumblr.com/post/157885054221

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#82

Post by fwip »

alex_sf wrote: post #60
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…

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.

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#83

Post by [deleted] »

_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…

[deleted]

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#84

Post by ogogmad »

SecuredMarvin wrote: post #66

I wonder no more why my people, after Habeck announcing more than a uncomfortable winter, are united in supporting the people of Ukraine. He offered suffering for a cause. While the morale is quite different, the social mechanics repeat.

I consider it a good thing in this case.

Germany could try rationing its natural gas to ensure that everyone gets at least a minimum amount. Could that work?

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#85

Post by [deleted] »

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…

[deleted]

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#86

Post by dbcurtis »

simonh wrote: post #76
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…

>The fact is that there is something deeply appealing about him. I think the magic ingredient is utter, palpable self conviction. Complete unwavering dedication to your own rightness, regardless of any counter argument, any prevarication, even evidence to the contrary, is intoxicating. You don't need to argue, you don't need to convince, you don't need reasons, you're just right by definition. The simplicity and lack…

a.k.a. reality distortion field

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#87

Post by mcnamaratw »

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…

Maybe the strange centrist form of government that the US had from about 1935 to maybe 1995.

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#88

Post by [deleted] »

[deleted] wrote: post #85
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…

[deleted]

[deleted]

Re: George Orwell’s 1940 Review of Mein Kampf

#90

Post by refurb »

alex_sf wrote: post #60
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…

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.

Pretty much this.

Humans are not peaceful by nature. And when one group of humans want something another group of humans don’t want them to have, violence is the ultimate option to solving that conflict.

Thankfully many countries see the cost of solving conflict through violence and seek to avoid it, but it’s always there.

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