We Read The Dilbert Guy's Attempt to Make Trump into a Religion
Aug 17, 2023
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Garrison Davis joins Robert to discuss Scott Adams' attempt to make Trump into a religion. They explore Adams' background, Trump's persuasion skills, the influence of algorithms, and Scott's ultra-liberal views on abortion and marijuana legalization. They also delve into mass delusions, Trump's stance on climate change, prepared insults, and discuss various advertisements and sponsors.
The author highlights the need to understand concepts like cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias in order to have productive discussions about political issues.
The 2016 election revealed a significant shift in how people perceived reality, living in their own 'movies' shaped by personal beliefs and biases.
Trump's persuasion skills, including his nicknames and insults, played a significant role in his successful campaign strategy.
Deep dives
The Spooky Year and the Importance of Perceptual Shifts
In 2016, the author observed a dangerous situation forming in the political landscape. He believed that people's perceptions of reality were changing and that Trump's persuasive abilities were tearing apart the fabric of their worldviews. The author saw this as an opportunity to prepare the public for what he saw coming, emphasizing the need to understand concepts like cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias. He saw himself as uniquely qualified to speak on this subject due to his knowledge of persuasion. Despite not being able to predict specific events, he recognized Trump's persuasion skills as a game-changer in the political arena.
The Myth of the Rational Mind
The author challenges the common belief that human beings rely solely on facts and reason to perceive reality. He argues that people often rationalize their actions when they conflict with their beliefs, leading to cognitive dissonance. The author suggests that most individuals view themselves as the 'smart ones' and assume those who disagree with them just need better facts or smarter brains. He asserts that this filter on life is influenced by confirmation bias and results in partisanship. The author highlights the need to recognize the limitations of one's own perception in order to have productive discussions about political issues.
The Importance of Understanding Different Realities
The author asserts that the 2016 election revealed a significant shift in how people perceived reality. He argues that individuals live in their own 'movies' of reality, shaped by personal beliefs and biases. The author believes that misunderstanding Trump's methods and intentions could lead to dangerous outcomes and delusions. He suggests that people should strive for a broader understanding of different realities and strive for empathy and open-mindedness in political discussions.
The Power of Persuasion in Politics
The author discusses Trump's persuasion skills, which he refers to as weapons-grade. He believes that these skills led to Trump's success in the 2016 election, despite low approval ratings. The author emphasizes the need to recognize Trump as a master persuader, capable of shaping public opinion and influencing outcomes. He sees Trump's candidacy as a turning point in history and warns against underestimating the power of persuasion in politics.
Trump's Persuasive Use of Insults
Trump's nicknames and insults were deeply engineered and tested in front of live audiences. They were powerful enough to predict the downfall of candidates like Jeb Bush. His ability to insult and mock his opponents effectively differentiated him from others and played a significant role in his campaign strategy.
The Subjective Nature of Reality
The podcast episode explores the subjective nature of reality and the limitations of the rational mind. It references Plato's allegory of the cave and questions the existence of free will. The episode suggests that humans have a limited understanding of reality due to our faulty senses and interpretation of information.
