Hannah Ardent?

bluefoxicy · Post by **bluefoxicy** » 09 Nov 2010, 12:28

I think it was Hannah Arendt who noted that one of the signs of the development of a totalitarian society is when people cease being angry/outraged by the actions of their rulers and seek solace in laughing at them impotently.
This describes more than half the comments here.

Off Schneier's blog.

Who is this Hannah Ardent and where can I subscribe to her newsletter?

Fran · Post by **Fran** » 09 Nov 2010, 13:40

bluefoxicy wrote:
I think it was Hannah Arendt who noted that one of the signs of the development of a totalitarian society is when people cease being angry/outraged by the actions of their rulers and seek solace in laughing at them impotently.
This describes more than half the comments here.
Off Schneier's blog.

Who is this Hannah Ardent and where can I subscribe to her newsletter?

Google (!)

Jp1978 · Post by **Jp1978** » 10 Nov 2010, 09:34

I think it was Hannah Arendt who noted that one of the signs of the development of a totalitarian society is when people cease being angry/outraged by the actions of their rulers and seek solace in laughing at them impotently.

This is how it is in our country. People are ignorant, apathetic, afraid or some combination of the three.

bluefoxicy · Post by **bluefoxicy** » 10 Nov 2010, 17:57

Jp1978 wrote: This is how it is in our country. People are ignorant, apathetic, afraid or some combination of the three.

Thus the question.

Remember, I'm the guy that complains about banned books and about the sh*t quality of our mandated reading, about how education pushes the mediocre on highschoolers and tries to keep them (by gentle suggestion or strong guidance or, occasionally, by force... apparently by force of suspension for having "banned" books occasionally?!) away from ideas they don't like.

I'm also the guy that wants a "required reading" list that, ironically, pushes MY ideals on people. Those ideals are "hey, why don't you think a little about what's going on around you, instead of mindlessly doing whatever you're told?" I want something that will slant people in the direction of taking notice of stupid crap around them, without actually pushing much of a final opinion on them.

Anything that says "X might mean Y, you should take a hard look if X happens" is good in my book. Unfortunately it's also a fine line between "look, think, act if necessary" to "DANCE PUPPET DANCE!" because you're still giving people ideals about what is bad.