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Body Snatchers from X Man: The Elon Musk Origin Story

12 snips
Mar 30, 2025
Rebecca Lamov, a Harvard historian specializing in brainwashing and mind control, joins Gad Saad, an evolutionary behavioral scientist, to delve into the intriguing idea of the 'woke mind virus.' They explore its origins linked to Cold War anxieties and Musk's controversial bid for Twitter. The conversation touches on the psychological effects of historical fears of mind control, the Sharpeville massacre's aftermath, and how social media impacts public discourse. Their insights reveal how the past informs today's struggles with freedom of speech and societal manipulation.
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ANECDOTE

Musk Buys Twitter

  • Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion and renamed it X, driven by concerns about free speech and a "woke mind virus."
  • He viewed Twitter as a platform vital for democracy and a way to combat what he saw as harmful ideologies.
INSIGHT

Origins of Mind Virus

  • The concept of a "mind virus" originates from Richard Dawkins, who used it to describe the infectious nature of ideas, particularly religious ones.
  • Elon Musk adopted this term, but applied it to what he perceived as harmful "woke" ideologies.
ANECDOTE

1950s Mind Control Fears

  • The 1950s saw a rise in fears about mind control, fueled by the Cold War and events like the Korean War.
  • The film Invasion of the Body Snatchers reflected these anxieties, depicting people seemingly losing their individuality.
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