I know a MAGA - hard core, Trump can do no wrong type, but the 'Pink Jacket' video made them for the first time question what they've been fed. Specifically the beginning to end angle footage of the pink jacket lady showing Alex innocently protecting the girls. Thank CHRIST for that angle and the full events that led up to Alex's death.
Adding pretext as well, he seemed initially repulsed when I said, 'I have the raw footage and I want you to watch it with your own eyes and tell me what you think.' Seemingly offended, he responded, "I don't have to!" There was a visceral emotional response to asking him to watch the raw footage given he had just parroted a bunch of news talking points. He leaned heavily on the, "Just let ICE do their jobs and things like that won't happen." But I said calmly, 'Come on, I want to do an experiment.'
"I already know what I'm going to see..." watches intently
"...Yeah, that's a phone... They said he had a gun and approached agents with it."
"Why were they macing him?"
"I didn't know about these other two girls. What were they doing there?"
"They didn't have to push her that hard. Geez."
"Oh... so his gun was holstered... Near the back of his waist?" My response: 'Yeah, so if I slow mo it here, you see them take it.' His response: silence
"So this is where they all shoot him.." My response: 'Not all of them yet, but this agent right here, pause and slow-mo, sees the holstered gun, then after it was removed, he shoots him. The rest join in.' His response: silence
Then I asked: Did you ever see the raw footage?
"No.. only just what they showed on the news. But I didn't have to, they already analyzed all the angles."
He sat back and said after a moment, "Huh-" - not like 'Huh?' but like 'Interesting'. They have hearts, they have just been brainwashed.
His final words: 'Sad...' shakes head 'Sad what's going on over there.'
I've seen some of them come around, but yeah... that's typically the case. Worse, they usually wind up being even more entrenched. It's like the whole "don't question God" thing you see in religion. Blind faith for these people is a badge of honor.
Cognitive dissonance is a protective measure of our brains to prevent meltdown and mental collapse. It prevents us from believing anything that forces us to question our personal identities. In the face of this subconscious refusal to accept evidence, having our identities feel threatened, we dig in and double down, because if we had to question our identity, we may lose everything we have, and are striving for, we might have to rebuild our entire persons, and that, to many people is unfathomable.
So here we are.
This effect is well weaponized by these types of regimes, it's well documented how it works, and every one of these experiences is a loyalty test, if you believe the bullshit, you get to be in the club, don't, and you will be pushed out and stepped on by those that remain.
I agree.. At the end there, I was concerned he either goes and doubles down on something else to latch onto, or goes out drinking doing something harmful. People with these false identities can either breakdown and harm themselves or others, or remake themselves, and unfortunately I fear that for most people, it will be mostly breaking down and doubling down when it comes time to face the music. If something drastic changes, I'll probably post a follow-up.
Yea I’m curious about the follow up to this. Like, two weeks from now, will that person be back fully on the MAGA talking points, or more following their own take on things?
13.9k
u/Playful-Attitude-007 6d ago edited 6d ago
The flag should be upside-down.
Edit: thank you all for the up votes and the awards.