Post No. 3,493 - From this week’s coming interesting reading post: is conservatism a disorder?

From this week’s coming interesting reading post:   

“Is Conservatism a Personality Disorder? The Psychology of the Empathy Deficit”   https://youtu.be/hwjjVa3sBDA   “Thom Hartmann sits down with Christopher Armitage — journalist, criminal justice researcher, and former law enforcement officer—to discuss his provocative piece, “Conservatism: America’s Personality Disorder” (see also https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/conservatism-americas-personality). Armitage shares his firsthand observations from working within the prison system, where he noted a striking overlap between the psychological traits of hardened inmates and the rhetoric of modern conservative media.   His book: “Conservatism: America's Personality Disorder” - https://amzn.to/4yyFj2M   (covers matters such as teaching empathy in schools etc   Pub. independently, 2025, ISBN   9798290573236;   https://www.amazon.com.au/Conservatism-Americas-Personality-Christopher-Armitage-ebook/dp/B0FGDXSH4M )   The conversation explores the biological basis of empathy, the role of mirror neurons, and why figures like Elon Musk view empathy as a “bug” in Western civilisation. Thom and Christopher also discuss the “spoils system” of political disinformation, the impact of childhood trauma on leaders like D_n_ldoTr_mp, and whether cognitive empathy can actually be taught in schools ...”   

Hmm ... I am going to have to think about this - and maybe read the book. Every time I start to write a comment, multiple other aspects crop up - e.g., “is this an outcome of recent, post-neoliberalism versions of conservatism?” is met by “how do we know what the older versions of conservatism were really like, given the historical damage of patriarchy?” 

On the other hand, I absolutely support the teaching of empathy.  

Possible flaws 

Where I can, I will try to highlightopossible flaws / issues youoshouldoconsider: 

• there mayobe flawedologicaloarguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan  Myers’ freeoonline course “Clear and Present Thinking”;  
• I could be wrong - so keep your thinkingocaps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.
  

 

 

Gnwmythr 

teaching the "good" (balancedopositive and spirituallyomature) 
safer ways to counter the "bad" (outoofobalance, spirituallyoimmature) 

 

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Remember: we generallyoneed to be more human being rather than human doing, to mind our Mӕgan, and to acknowledge that all misgenderingois an act of activeotransphobia/transmisiaothat puts trans+ lives at risk & accept that all insistence on the use of “trans” as a descriptor comes with commensurate use of “cis” as a descriptoroto prevent “othering” (just as binary gendered [men’s and women’s] sporting teams are either both given the gender descriptor, or neither).

#PsychicABetterWorld   and  

 

Note that I am cutting back on aspects of my posts - see here, and Gnwmythr is pronounced new-MYTH-ear  

Copyright © Kayleen White 2007-2026     NO AI   I do not consent to any machine learning aka Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to reproduce, mimic, remix, summarise, or otherwise  replicate any part of this post or other posts on this blog via any means. Typo’s may be inserrted deliberately to demonstrate this is not an AI product.     Otherwise, fair and reasonable use is accepted under Creative Commons 4.0 on an Attribution-ShareAlike basis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/  

 

Post No. 2,892 - Some interesting reading/viewing

Here are some llinks that might of interest or value:

• “Marvel Defenders of The Status Quo”   https://youtu.be/LpitmEnaYeU   YES!!! (See also the critique of Superman’s actions at https://80000hours.org/career-guide/high-impact-jobs/   )      

• “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” - according to https://quoteinvestigator.com/2024/03/04/past-repeat/ , most likely George Santayana in 1905. The work by that website was exemplary, showing how the wording varied slightly through ten usages, and how lack of attribution and wrong attributions occurred over time; 

• I wrote a poem this week called “Connections”, about the struggle to find the right sort of connection for our varying state of being. One answer to that is psychic connection (e.g., to BPM  Guides), but , in addition to that, while we are in physical incarnation we have physical needs - food, water, shelter, etc, but also physical companionship.
  And that can be a challenge in today’s world, where variance of values is not given a first, let alone a second thought (except in the toxic pit of right wing hate), and yet that is so often crucial in determining whether or not a connection will last, let alone be of comfort, on any particular day ... 

• “We need to stop talking about ‘resilience’. I’m not here to inspire you with all the trauma I’ve endured | Natasha Sholl | The Guardian”   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/04/we-need-to-stop-talking-about-resilience-im-not-here-to-inspire-you-with-all-the-trauma-ive-endured      

• a fungus grows better when exposed to “good vibes” (actually, white noise);  

• [CW: discussion of self harm]   “When you're having THOSE hard thoughts ... ”   https://youtu.be/vBJy0dt3J9w   The comment about this providing a sense of agency resonates with me.     
  

• “The Good, The Bad and the Autistic (a “Teatime” film)”   https://youtu.be/31LewGm7UpA   This is an excellent consideration and discussion     
  

• ““What Should I Do With This Pain?” Bereaved Israelis and Palestinians urge Peace and Reconciliation, drawing on their Grief”   https://www.juancole.com/2024/10/bereaved-palestinians-reconciliation.html       

• this week’s “afterlife report” by the  Zammits:  
     https://www.victorzammit.com/October4th2024/  
  

• my   candle magick for the world  and   candles in the service of life incl human rights & democracy & caring for the world; 

• my recent posts on my political blog:  
• “Australia’s moral conscience has grown a spine ... ”   https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/09/australias-moral-conscience-has-grown.html      “As we approach the anniversary of 7th October, 2023 ... [Note: Content Warning - links to reports on oppression/bigotry/hate, violence/abuse/war. Reader discretion is advised]”   https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/09/as-we-approach-anniversary-of-7th.html      “On current, ongoing events in Lebanon (and related events elsewhere)   [Note: Content Warning - links to reports on oppression/bigotry/hate, violence/abuse/war. Reader discretion is advised]”   https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/10/on-current-ongoing-events-in-lebanon.html      “On climate change, the US Presidential election/democracy, and the legacy of human rights abuses”   https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/10/on-climate-change-and-us-presidential.html      “Update regarding activism email calling for anti-trans provocateur to be denied a visa [Note: Content Warning - links to reports on, and discussion of, bigotry/hate. Reader discretion is advised]”   https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/10/update-regarding-activism-email-calling.html      “A first reaction to Timothy Snyder’s new book “On Freedom””   https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/10/a-first-reaction-to-timothy-snyders-new.html      “Will be cutting back shortly on posts about West Asia”   https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/10/will-be-cutting-back-shortly-on-posts.html     
  
  
• also from YouTube:
  

• from YouTube and elsewhere on neurodivergence: 
• “Did you know that autism and eye contact is a skill that a lot of autistic people develop”   https://youtube.com/shorts/Ourprw0SsoU      
  
  
• “5 Misconceptions About Autism”   https://youtube.com/shorts/04JgxAzAKMQ    
  

If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below, and there’s also Instagram. 

Note that I am cutting back on aspects of my posts - see here. 

(Gnwmythr is pronounced new-MYTH-ear)   

Remember: we generally need to be more human being rather than human doing, to mind our Mӕgan, and to acknowledge that all misgendering is an act of active transphobia/transmisia that puts trans+ lives at risk & accept that all insistence on the use of “trans” as a descriptor comes with commensurate use of “cis” as a descriptor to prevent “othering” (just as binary gendered [men’s and women’s] sporting teams are either both given the gender descriptor, or neither).

 

Copyright © Kayleen White 2007-2024     NO AI   I do not consent to any machine learning aka Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to reproduce, mimic, remix, summarise, or otherwise  replicate any part of this post or other posts on this blog via any means. Typo’s may be inserrted deliberately to demonstrate this is not an AI product.     Otherwise, fair and reasonable use is accepted under Creative Commons 4.0 on an Attribution-ShareAlike basis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/   

 

 

 

Post No. 874 - They're preservationists, not conservatives

When I was younger, a teenager and in my 20s - back in the 70s and 80s in Queensland, one of the tools being used by developers against those with environmental concerns was to describe the latter as “preservationists”, rather than “conservationists” - which was being done so the developers could then “sneak” a development that tore up rainforest or heritage sites into existence as “part of evolution”. That is fair dinkum.

There was also a serious debate about natural change processes, which is a bit like the amathiacs who think the current human induced climate change is just a slightly bigger natural variation in carbon dioxide levels, only more reasonable. That debate also covered things like using what is now described “indigenous / cold” burn offs to control the risk of too much vegetation leading to an uncontrolled fire (what I would describe as the balanced position) vs. never burn off at all (the unmitigated "preservationist") vs. hot fire burn offs (as advocated by authority, but not supported by adequate resources and rather missing the point).

These thoughts came to mind as I considered the rabid reactions of the uber-conservatives to measures designed to keep LGBTI kids alive in schools, and I realised they are, as with John Howard’s white picket fence mentality, the political equivalent of the stereotypical environmental preservationist: they don’t want ANY CHANGE AT ALL past their mythical Golden Age of the 1950s (where, a bit like people with their head in the sand and the Hitchhiker's Guide to Galaxy’s “Ravenous Bugblatter Beast”, they think that, because they didn’t see it, things like domestic violence and “homosexuality” didn’t exist ... whereas that enforced invisibility was itself actually part of the problem), whereas conservatives are resistant to change, but have supported good change - as an example, the decriminalisation of male homosexuality was done by the - misnamed - Liberal Party, who are our conservative party. They - the conservatives - have even advocated for change that, whilst I consider it often harmful or favouring the elites, is still change.

So ... I will now start to refer to the current batch of political reactionaries as what they are: preservationists, not conservatives.

[1] BPM = Balanced Positive (spiritually) Mature. See here and here for more on this.
[2] Please see here, here, here and my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia. I'm also exploring use of h2g2, although that doesn't appear to be as extensive (h2g2 is intended - rather engagingly - to be the Earth edition of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy").

[3] I apologise for the formatting: it seems Blogger is no longer as WYSIWYG as it used to be, and there are a lot of unwanted changes to layout made upon publishing, so I often have to edit it immediately after publishing to get the format as close to what I want as possible.

Love, light, hugs and blessings

Gnwmythr, Pagan Energy Worker, Wéofodthegn

(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear"; ... aka Bellatrix Lux … aka Morinehtar … would-be drýicgan or maga ... )

My "blogiography" (list of all posts and guide as to how to best use this site) is here, and my glossary/index is here.

I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ... See here for my group mind project, here and here for my "Pagans for Peace" project (and join me for a few minutes at some time between 8 and 11 PM on Sunday, wherever you are, to meditate-clear for peace), and here for my bindrune kit-bag. I also strongly recommend learning how to flame, ground and shield, do alternate nostril breathing, work with colour, and see also here and be flexible.

The real dividing line is not between Christianity and Islam, Sunni and Shia, East and West. It is between people who believe in coexistence, and those who don’t.

Tom Fletcher, Former UK Ambassador to Lebanon

• All of the above - and this blog - could be wrong, or subject to context, perspective, or state of spiritual evolution ...

Tags: conservatism, politics, preservationist, reactionary, society, 

First published: Fryrsdagr, 3^rd June, 2016

Last edited (excluding fixing typo's and other minor matters): Sunday, 10^th March, 2024 - removed ableist slur, updated formatting, added updated end notes including copyright 

 

 

If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below, and there’s also Instagram. 

Remember: we generally need to be more human being rather than human doing, to mind our Mӕgan, and to acknowledge that all misgendering is an act of active transphobia/transmisia that puts trans+ lives at risk & accept that all insistence on the use of “trans” as a descriptor comes with commensurate use of “cis” as a descriptor to prevent “othering” (just as binary gendered [men’s and women’s] sporting teams are either both given the gender descriptor, or neither).

Copyright © Kayleen White 2007-2024     NO AI   I do not consent to any machine learning aka Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to reproduce, mimic, remix, summarise, or otherwise  replicate any part of this post or other posts on this blog via any means. Typo’s may be inserrted deliberately to demonstrate this is not an AI product.     Otherwise, fair and reasonable use is accepted under Creative Commons 4.0 on an Attribution-ShareAlike basis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/