"Collective Illusions": Why false consensus in society is so dangerous | Todd Rose for Big Think

"Collective Illusions": Why false consensus in society is so dangerous, with Todd Rose
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In a perfect world, the relationship between private opinion and public opinion would be basically like a mirror. At its best, the public opinion holds a mirror to us, and it reflects exactly who we are. But because of collective illusions, that's typically not the case.
Collective illusions lead individuals to make decisions that are contrary to their private values simply because a majority of people in a group believe the majority thinks something that they don't. As a result, the entire group can end up doing something that almost nobody wants, which is fatal to a free society.
But if society creates a space where people feel comfortable expressing views they believe might deviate from the group, you'll find out pretty quickly whether your impression of the group is correct or not. Even when we fundamentally end up disagreeing, a truthful disagreement is always better than a collective illusion.
Read the video transcript: bigthink.com/s...
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Collective Illusions is a 9-part series brought to you by Stand Together: a community of changemakers tackling our biggest challenges
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About Todd Rose:
Todd Rose is the co-founder and president of Populace, a think tank committed to ensuring that all people have the opportunity to pursue fulfilling lives in a thriving society. Prior to Populace, he was a faculty member at Harvard University where he founded the Laboratory for the Science of Individuality and directed the Mind, Brain, and Education program. Todd is the best selling author of Collective Illusions, Dark Horse, and The End of Average. He lives in Burlington, Massachusetts.
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Read more of our stories on illusions in society:
Are you superior to others? Or is it an illusion?
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Penn Jillette: The year that shattered America’s illusions
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Is free will an illusion?
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[@ChristopherOrth]

My first awareness that this happens was the "satanic panic" back in the 80s. Everyone was convinced that satan worshipers were everywhere, and having secret rituals. Yet there was absolutely no evidence for it anywhere. It was nuts. And then at some point, it all just vanished and nobody talked about it anymore. I was glad to have experienced that as a young teen, because it's made me more aware of these things as they have come up throughout my life.

[@ForAnAngel]

People are talking about it now. Q-Anon followers believe Hollywood and Washington DC are filled with satanic pedophiles.

[@joshuacarroll1758]

What do u mean there are literally huge satanic churches and rituals openly everywhere

[@joshuacarroll1758]

Ever heard of spirit cooking ??

[@joshuacarroll1758]

Or the satanic church lol

[@ForAnAngel]

@@joshuacarroll1758 No there aren't.

[@DanielDumbrill]

"A truthful disagreement is better than a collective illusion". Brilliant

[@joeseabreeze]

This video hits the nail on the head when it comes to collective illusions and social pressure. And sadly, judging from some of the comments, most people didn’t get it

[@tycumbie788]

Yes, I responded to a commenter above who didn't get the multiple levels of illusion. But this incomprehension underscores the problem, I think.

[@lessonsin30s]

Dear unknown person whoever reads this we don’t know each other yet I wish you all the luck afterward from this moment ✨♥ you are a blessing you don’t know that yet, don’t blame yourself or else lose yourself in the desert of uncertainty, ur smile is precious keep that up😌

[@hyperspacejester7377]

What a crock of like farming bullshit 😆

[@gabrieljordan8015]

Social media is destroying our humanity. I really hope we get can pull through these confusing times.

[@flippy66]

It pre-dates social media, it's the monopolisation of media in general which is the issue - i.e. Murdoch

[@Rayji10]

This is the most relatable experience that most people will go through in some point of their lifes. Actually, you realize these ilusions when a little spark comes into the mind and a question like "Why do I care about this?" emerges, and so theres this awereness moment, that is incridible and disturbing at the same time.

[@hunnybadger442]

Our reality is defined by the stories we tell ourselves... Alter the story... Alter one's reality... It's not so much what something is or isn't but the narratives we attach to said thing that gives it it's meaning and value... It is when something moves past the physical to the emotional that it has the most impact on our reality...

[@yashgoyal5183]

That's an excellent elucidation 🙌

[@golfboyyk]

When in deep confusion do you see every moment as new?

[@hunnybadger442]

@@golfboyyk how is every moment not new?

[@tdnpodcast5963]

I love that. It's the amygdala that provides the immediate non analyzed reaction.

[@cosalidra759]

Can someone please make Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson watch this. Please. I don't know how to get in touch with them. And I want them both to invite Todd Rose to their respective podcasts. I think it is going to be one hell of a discussion.

[@NastyCupid]

basically everything is a collective illusion, we just have to filter out the bad ones and hang on to the ones that will provide us with a better future for as much people as possible.

[@robertdragusin5302]

What about religions? I see it as a collective illusion, but most people support it even if there is no scientific proof. What can you do to dismantle it?

[@UncleBuZ]

Education.

[@robertdragusin5302]

@@thelastpillar4973 actually the best description of gravity is given by Einstein. The theories are tested over and over again with science experiments. Literally every test it's a proof, evidence of the theory. They can measure the effect of gravity and can't prove it wrong, even when they try. how much more evidence you need? On the other hand religion doesn't offer any evidence for it's affirmations, nothing can be tested but they ask you to believe it without questions. Nice double standards

[@GiraelCS]

@@robertdragusin5302 There are no absolute proofs in science, only absolute disproofs. I do find it unfortunate that the term "proof" has been so misused throughout the supposedly scientific community and I think the issue lies in its origin. I assume it originates from mathematics, where you can both prove and disprove absolutely, because there you play the role of "god". You know all that is needed for that decision, but scientific method doesn't have that luxury. Empirically we can never know all. That is a fundamental limitation but also a great asset. What we're left with is consistency. And that is what I recall from a lot of good articles. No statement of proof, just consistency between hypothesis/theory and observation. While one inconsistency can be taken as an absolute disproof, one consistency or any finite number of them can't be taken as a proof.

[@robertdragusin5302]

@@GiraelCS nobody said science is perfect, that is why it's always changing and improving. But it's the best way we have to describe the world. So if anyone is coming with a hypothesis i chose the scientific way, otherwise i can't differentiate between a good idea and a bad one.

[@thstroyur]

You can start by using actual reason for criticizing actual religions, as opposed to the... *ca-ham* "collective illusion" (AKA strawman) that Western society has of them. So here I am, a revert Catholic - who supposedly believes what he does with "no scientific proof". Now, go ahead: prove to me there is no God, Christ never ressurected, and the Church operates as a cabal of immoral scammers; go ahead and do all that without question-begging or ipse dixits or special pleading, or any other fallacy - but before you do that, I think a proof of the epistemic excellency of scientism is also in order, because apparently my fellow repliers don't seem too keen to mindlessly buy into it, either...

[@enliven4203]

The reason why so many people are miserable, pathetic, and constantly failing; is because they care way too much about how others perceive them. Honestly, who cares what others think. If you're always worried about how some random stranger is going to look at you, then you're pretty much destined to a lifetime of misery and failure.

[@pietjankbal1240]

WOW! INTERESTING! HELPFUL! SOLUTION-MINDED!

[@MajinSayon]

The solution is to not take seriously what others think. Which you won't do, ya twat.

[@ngle4246]

LOL! BLAND! HARMFUL! DECONSTRUCTIVE!

[@The_Cyber_System]

This is extremely interesting. I have Autism, and I've always been aware of this idea but never had the words to describe it, but I also have a tendency to actively work against Collective Illusions. I also sometimes go along with them due to interpersonal trauma, PTSD, and social anxiety, but I definitely buck the trends a lot more often than anybody else in my life, and I don't really understand why more people don't notice the effect.

[@crappymeal]

i dunno what ive got but ive always seen collective society as a stange thing

[@SundownTE]

Based on your YT profile you succumb fully to all the popular collective illusions

[@The_Cyber_System]

@@SundownTE That's an interesting insight. Could you give me some examples of where I'm falling prey to collective illusions?

[@fibonaccisequins4637]

I feel the exact same way.

[@DerTeke]

This is a really interesting topic. Thank you for the video. Now I would love to discuss this with Mr. Rose :D

[@papillondogs4297]

"Collective illusions: The most damaging consequence is that the illusion of one generation tends to become the private opinion of the next generation". AKA the birth of religions and racism.

[@user-cv1jb9xv2p]

Simply put lies are very bad. Lying is very bad. Truth is good.

[@julianbastian6723]

I remember as a kid I used to think I was the only one consciousness in this world, because I always used to question why I was always objectively different compared to my friends

[@tycumbie788]

OK, but that's actually the opposite of CI. If you had, say, believed you were the only one, but thought that everyone else believed that all people are conscious, while in fact they all thought they were the only ones, and so you publicly said you believed everyone was conscious while privately believing it was only you, THAT's collective illusion. Imagine, now, that you expressed what you really thought, and so did everyone else. There would be a mass awakening. THAT is the power of breaking CI.

[@budaraivoso]

the belief that they know the exact quantity of 'collective illusions' in a given age is an illusion.

[@ziguirayou]

True. And that observation is not an illusion.

[@mrnobody3161]

Belief is an illusion. To many believers, not enough knowers. Lots of political, societal and emotional immaturity running rampant in the masses. I'm a severe introvert. I've deliberately and consciously created a disguise or incognito by choices I've made in my personal appearance and the way I dress. I get judged incorrectly, people stay away from me and I'm good with that. I could care less what others think of me. Happiness occurs when you no longer seek happiness.

[@Lindsoiderf]

These seem to mirror the internal conflicts that exist, there is probably a deeper shadow to why these exist since consciousness develops in complex ways and in a pattern the social identity mirrors that and the internal conflicts we wrestle with. Awareness is a big piece of dismantling illusions but there are deeper forces and reasons that we have conflicts within our identity. kids take on the externalized version until they reflect and learn what success is in themselves and discover who they are their values develop through stages. this is not a process of regression to fear , we all need a healthy relationship to status and personal fulfillment not value one or the other.

[@JeffChangsBro]

What do you think these deeper influences are? A possible inherent survival programming developed throughout evolution that clashes with a modern day life where we do not necessarily have to be constantly worried about survival. Therefore people tend to adjust this programming to detect modern threats? It would explain why people don’t reveal their true opinion. In evolutionary terms, being ostracised from the group meant a threat to survival

[@Lindsoiderf]

Absolutely! All the ways that we make meaning, develop values, and the evolutionary drives at play to survive. We adapt to our cultural environment to succeed in the world and can have differing values depending on many different factors.

[@desertshadow6098]

Control mechanism that induces conflict. Evolution requires obstacles to progress to higher understanding.

[@roberttolliver9402]

This concept should become directly applied to religion.

[@bmedhi1592]

We need newer, more open social media to allow these conversations to unfold

[@chinookvalley]

Sadly, that's where the lies start, and maintain the momentum.

[@LilPW]

@@chinookvalley You are sad

[@LilPW]

@@chinookvalley Openness never hurt anyone except for the military.

[@sollymadeit]

Funny enough this is the biggest problem with the world right now. No fear.💙

[@FlashKillsFTW]

That is some big think as always from this fine channel

[@cronaman3196]

Ive been recognising this on my own for the past couple months and slowly have i found videos and articles to educate me on the right terminology to use so i can describe what the fuck im actually thinking and what's bugging me, like this video. What i struggle with is actually talking to others. I felt like this can solve it. Last night i had an interaction in a grocery store where the guy infront of me seemed uncomfortable that i was even behind him. Maybe due to his skin color being the minority and i refused to move cus i was like, well thats his problem cus i literally do not care about his skin color. He's a contious being, everyone is so i dont think that way. But he seemed real bothered by me, keeping his distance and keeping a constant eye on me. He got to the check stand and noticed his watermelon was super cheap and was like, "can i go get another?" The casheer said no and i butted "I And said I can, im really fast" I ended up doing it after telling the cashire not to wory about it, I was fast, i came back and befoe he left he changed his complete opinion on me and i could tell apologised in a way that wasnt direct but though his humble actions on giving me a hand shake and asking my name, though we'd probably never ever meet again. To me he was stuck in a way of thinking that was developed by comforming, maybe in his daily life he trusts white people at his work and such, but in the store and out an about white people that are strangers like me might seem more threatening cus theyre unknown and seem too comfortable. When i believe everyone should be comfortable (if theyre deserving of it). This isnt socializing to me though, this is just me being an example of how i think humans should behave. Took me 30 seconds to run and get that watermelon and the cashire was reluctant to allow it. If im to socialize i break down, i cant function, i wouldnt know what to say. If the watermelon guy struck up a convorsation with me, he'd come to realise i really cant speak comfortably speak all the fluent and cohearently. I can in my head and when im alone but im 24 and i. Struggling to speak my true self cus anxiety is killing me and people regularly do not have the patients to even try and figure out that im trying so very hard and giving me a chance is too much effort. Now i cant find the actual people who could see it because im scared, im so tired of regection. It hurts to be reminded im weird, so most my life I hide in my basment aparment. Like rn :/ studying stuff i dont feel like I can apply

[@jimjam36695]

At our core we are still hunter, gathers, problem solvers focused on rearing the next generation. Yet, we are rapidly becoming convience seeking cyborgs through extreme specialization. This is an anxiety inducing and unnatural transition for the biology.

[@jeffm6342]

Can someone provide me a link to a credible list of modern collective illusions?

[@fabled.]

I was at a demonstration where people were shouting "air defense for ukraine" and advocating no fly zone and I was horrified... do people realise what they were shouting for?

[@chrissandoval9459]

Like the current American Dem/Repub party system. Everybody adheres to all beliefs of their chosen side even if they don't particularly agree with them. They don't want to be accused of trading with the other side, so they go along with the unpopular beliefs.

[@Grz349]

That’s not a collective belief, but the result of a first past the post election system.

[@crappymeal]

@@Grz349 its a cult

[@srivatsavakasibhatla823]

This feels similar to the concept of Prisoner's dilemma in Game Theory. Is this topic also related to human psychology?

[@eddiemendoza6304]

The biggest collective illusion is religion.

[@thstroyur]

Oh, the irony here 😂

[@simplethings3730]

I'm not a sociologists but I'm not sure I agree with some of the things said in this video. Also when a solution to a problem involves a large percentage of the population spontaneously changing their behavior, it is not a solution.

[@cybronichuman]

What is the name of the music playing from 1.04? Listening to it in headphones was a pleasure

[@apolodelsol]

Even though collective illusions have been present for centuries, it still affect the masses like if it was brand new; humans. Thanks for the 101.

[@tdnpodcast5963]

Love the story - We have followed rabbit holes to our own destruction. Like communism - I think we have something closer to home that mirrors this problem as well.

[@SundownTE]

This is timely considering what just happened with the "what is a woman?" Ketanji Jackson clown show, wouldn't you agree? People openly avoiding saying what's true because of a sustained collective illusion

[@jacobzaranyika9334]

I can't imagine anything more delusional than FAME. Celebrities are the new gods. False idols. I and my family will take NO part in that.

[@enieh112]

Next question in the collective illusions link should be: how to have a discussion with someone of fixed mindset without the words "love to argue" coming up? This is the concept of Plato's allegory of the cave.

[@gmajororder]

Love that violon

[@Riiddz]

thank you for making this video

[@hyperspacejester7377]

Ask them how *they* know what most people think and watch your comment get deleted. 😆

[@hyperspacejester7377]

Hypocrites 😂

[@funnyguyinlondon]

Awareness of 'collective illusuons' works better in Anglosphere given the stronger tradition of empiricism and classical Liberalism, than say continental Europe where collectivism is more entrenched and critical thinking is sorely lacking

[@michael2275]

Wokeness is a collective illusion that will end badly

[@crappymeal]

how do you know you don't have a collective illusion of wokeness being a problem?

[@michael2275]

@@crappymeal Because none of it stands up to first principles/logical analysis.

[@crappymeal]

@@michael2275 im not saying its stupid im saying its collectively being perceived as the greatest threat to america atm 😂

[@michael2275]

@@crappymeal It probably is. Wokeness is fundamentally anti American

[@zachwhoar]

Where did the full length version of this go?

[@quakeSanchez]

Very good video. Thank you!

[@TeoBlu]

I live in a country that is considered %95 of certain religion. I know that majority is not practicing, and a vast majority doesn't even live according to its principles. Yet, when asked privately why they agree to be considered as followers, they say because of pressure from the majority, which is only a perceived one. This is clearly a circle of madness to me, certainly falls into the "Collective Illusion" category. Although, my preferred term is "collective delusion".

[@tycumbie788]

There's a little subtlety to this idea, it's not about just illusion, it's A kind of a house of mirrors, multi-level, Escher-like mind game, illusions folding in on illusions phenomenon. CI is when you personally DON'T believe something but you think everybody else does (LEVEL ONE ILLUSION) so you SAY you believe it to conform (LEVEL TWO ILLUSION), but the double whammy of it is, the majority actually DOESN'T believe it (LEVEL THREE ILLUSION)! So the whole group ends up going along with something that only a few actually believe (LEVEL FOUR: THE RESULT OF THE COLLECTIVE ILLUSION). And I think the really dangerous thing is, some individuals are savvy enough to understand and manipulate this phenomenon.

[@amandasmith7212]

It’s like the old children’s story “ the emperor’s new cloths”

[@TeoBlu]

Yes, very concise version.

[@jacobzaranyika9334]

That includes you too Bill. You are immediate family.

[@varalabeschkuni2890]

thanx!!!!

[@healingv1sion]

Thing is people are too sensitive to disagree these days. People are too cowardly to have an unique opinion. They just parrot whats deemed safe.

[@wetandsandy1]

The issue with that is people can have their livelihoods taken from them just for stating a unique opinion. How is it cowardly to repeat what’s safe when stating the contrary can leave you destitute and hopeless, and for what? So you can say “ I told you so” to these people? That doesn’t put food on the table.

[@healingv1sion]

@@wetandsandy1 yeah you got a point there. Ugh, society is such a mess right now

[@javierpacheco8234]

​@@healingv1sionsociety will be a mess always, personally politics, Fame, trends, and Religions always create collective illusions, which to me is kinda sad Becuase it basically blocks other kinds of ideas.

[@FreedomFROMReligionID]

I'm an exmuslim. I may be wrong, but I think most people don't like my former religion, Islam. Even many Muslims themselves don't like their own religion (because they have no choice, they believe and are afraid of hell). However, there is this collective illusion that people are okay with Islam, because even now the UN just announced "Islamophobia day". I think we should be honest. If we don't like something, we should say it. Criticize it fairly and openly without hatred. Even if it is deemed "offensive". Otherwise, Islamists will take advantage of our attitude towards Islam.

[@RemotHuman]

I would have liked more examples

[@PhokenKuul]

So then, basically just a new term for "Groupthink", got it.

[@AmySorrellMusic]

You gotta talk to each other? Nobody listens.

[@chinookvalley]

Trying to get someone who believes a lie to talk about it, is pretty impossible.

[@Drarack]

That's not gonna happen, though. What is proposed as a solution here would require even the most fringe and controversial perspectives to be able to be voiced publicly. But it's impossible for that to not also carry a social risk, leading to the most dissenting voices only coming from the most radical corners from people who often do not have the most informed opinion.

[@groob33]

Ironically, what you've just described IS a collective illusion.

[@ziguirayou]

Your fear of other people's opinion is a very interesting perspective. How did you come to the conclusion that fringe or controversial perspectives make logical sense enough to cause "damage" to your view on how society should work?

[@iceshcratiote3635]

Ec. Mecro Verde

[@divyagupta3297]

Best channel

[@KrystelSpicerMindArkLateralThi]

..I collect deep thinkers who practice to be honest to reduce degrees of separation between us & twixt flailers alike, dismantling what I know us as ..''the battering ram'. We are a people who give but to only who in our reach, & a people dangling in that reach looking pleasingly like who to give a fish. They smash one way a people who need help who go unsought, & the other way a people to God complex by agreeing with them so much they not take no for an answer. People with God complex tend to mistake fragments of truth for quips for pitches & on being told all a person writes is free, they take run with them, faster than anyone who tends to check their sources. They run right back up the cliff face, turning from 'smashed up God complex kitten' to 'bulldozer in the briar parch', to 'shattered glass house still pelting stones at the even greater glass house we live ..the mad dream of the planet'. ..Like me. Practice to be honest, see finer details, draw comparisons. Those comparisons they continue to draw between them, & produce fragments of truth which say things, some you may like & some you may not ..like a talking Disney decor. Write things that seem to be beyond others wildest dreams, as much a witness to your own lives as anyone else.

[@emp5352]

I just got pinged for a pessimists archive regarding cynics against commercial space travel. The author made the adage (paraphrased) "They laughed at the Wright Brothers". Yet the assumption that "cynics of the past were wrong about flight" is non-sequitur to draw the conclusion that "cynics of the present are wrong about commercial space travel". Public collective sentiment is driven by these kind of fallacies, throughout all walks of life. It costs billions in cases of Theranos for the rich, and billions in cases of cryptocurrency for the poor.

[@KaiseruSoze]

Great speech. And totally idealistic. He ignores natural selection.

[@marna_li]

Sweden, that is an egalitarian culture, is pretty much a consensus culture where you are forced to agree or give in public to not disturb harmony. That makes the whole situation also very easy to manipulate by those in power. The others giving in.

[@wingbull2009]

Nice pitch but the book is apparently not as fundamental as he claims in this video, with collective illusions being more akin to sayings.

[@dailydoseofmedicinee]

Interesting👍

[@zeroxmagicSS]

Voting 101

[@zynga726]

Of course others believe in crazy stuff. But not me. The crazy stuff I believe is all true.

[@ifeelikedyeing360]

It seems this is how the government handled the perpetrators in Epstiens case

[@Unknowndeformity2227]

Religious fanatics can be a primary example

[@biggusdickus2795]

Is this Solomon Asch theory?

[@Geerardr]

western sense of self

[@shrodingerscat4191]

Oh, like Covid, masks,vaccines and Trump All collective illusions

[@flippy66]

3:17 - I don't agree, I think a small number of people who control the media are primarily responsible for shaping how people perceive what others think.

[@mistycloud4455]

America is divided

[@user-rb7ns9yj5y]

Welcome to most people today in regards to both RNC and DNC willfully ignorant 🙄

[@toddcameronh4722]

Exhibit A: Pandemic hysteria

[@user-cv1jb9xv2p]

🙏🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@user-cv1jb9xv2p]

... so, it is gets worse for the next generation if illusion exits O God help

[@MrApw2011]

I am blurry face and I care what you think.

[@flipwinks5387]

And who creates these illusions? It is not the people!

[@miamivicemami]

Gilens Page line

[@MasterShubhamC]

3:20 Even He knows what He's saying is BS.

[@rosariolake1810]

I guess if you put it like that it is why we have religion it's people believe in things they can't prove🤔

[@BinaryRhyme.JackOfArts]

Feeling kinda bad for you folks - you can't afford background paper wide enough to fill the frame. Hope things improve for ya.

[@thstroyur]

The perceived smalness of the background is itself a collective illusion, though

[@BinaryRhyme.JackOfArts]

@@thstroyur Yeh, I know it's intentional. Just hoping they move on from that esthetic soon, lol.

[@RickDelmonico]

You will own nothing and be happy?

[@ChiDante]

💟🔥

[@batfly]

I'll take Liberty or Death. Optimism is cowardice. Idealism is cowardice. "The honorable end is the one thing that can not be taken from a man." - O.S.

[@thstroyur]

And that thing would be Virtue. C'mon, man - you're so close to the right answer, there...

[@elfboi523]

The easiest way out of this bullshit is just not giving a fuck about what other people think. I don't need anybody to agree with me, I don't care if everybody hates me and nobody wants anything to do with me.

[@thstroyur]

Then I'm afraid nobody is going to give a fuck about your advice, either - so back to square zero, it is...

[@PerceptionVsReality333]

Same here.

[@canibaloxide]

Collective illusions or what I like to call civilization

[@N0Xa880iUL]

Like communism

[@sollymadeit]

Fascism

[@mrmephistopheles8026]

@@sollymadeit Capitalism or all ...ism

[@TheJohnnyJohnny]

@@mrmephistopheles8026 Whateverism

[@miamivicemami]

Capitalism works for about 2% of the population, west loves capitalism to enrich a few elite and turn the rest of the population into serfs. they loot resources from the global south and use slave labor. Ie Nestle

[@arkology_city]

@@miamivicemami "Capitalism works for about 2% of the population" How did you acquire your phone? Your computer? You must own a computer factory??? Or did a capitalist invent, manufacture, and sell you those things? Can you list off some socialist products for me? Other than roads and schools (indoctrination centers)

[@gamezswinger]

And sometimes things are just what they seem. Racist, homophobic and atheophobic. 🤔

[@thstroyur]

"Atheophobic"; now that's a new phobia to my collection! Wow, this ideologue crap sure looks like Pokémon - gotta catch 'em all, amirite? Indeed, I myself'd be technically "atheophobic" - but not because I'm "afraid" of a self-defeating proposition - any more than I'm terrified of square circles 😂

[@NastyCupid]

thanks for providing us with an example of someone stuck in a collective illusion

[@gamezswinger]

@@NastyCupid There are both collective illusions and collective realities. When my sister, that married a black man, they are denied apartment housing, that is both collective reality and collective illusion, depending on the individual in the position of power (the landlord).