TRIGGERnometry Mania: How Societies Go Crazy - Lionel Shriver
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May 11, 2025 
Lionel Shriver, a renowned American author known for her provocative insights, dives into the phenomenon of societal manias. She discusses how trends like transgenderism and climate activism shape public discourse and challenge open dialogue. Shriver also explores democracy's fragility in crises, the evolution of language in political contexts, and the distortion of communication amid societal madness. Plus, she examines the implications of overcorrection in political discourse and the urgent need for reform in immigration policies.
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Manias as Social Hysteria
- Lionel Shriver identifies recent social manias like transgender obsession, Black Lives Matter, COVID, and Me Too as signs of collective hysteria.
- These manias spread rapidly, showing humanity's susceptibility to sudden cultural obsession beyond political divisions.
Career Fear Delayed Critique
- Lionel Shriver avoided publicly discussing transgenderism for years out of career fear despite personal misgivings.
- She ultimately published a cautious essay in 2016 criticizing gender ideology's reliance on stereotypes.
Climate Change Mania Warning
- Climate change represents a current mania because it silences all dissent and forbids criticism.
- When a political view disallows debate, it becomes social hysteria rather than a genuine political perspective.
