bianca-alexander88

[bianca-alexander88]

the evolution of the human organism has been so successful, in large part, because of our brain’s ability to orient toward pro-social behaviour

therefore, those among us who consistently demonstrate a lack of empathy, a propensity for harshly judging and quickly condemning others, and a rigid inflexibility with regard to cooperative or collaborative efforts, among other sociopathic qualities and traits, only make evident their evidently defective brain structure.

it is only corporate capitalism (not mother nature) that glorifies and materially rewards the cold, calculated, and callus nature of the sociopathic human brain, because this damaged brain structure (whether it be the result of a birth defect, or the result of brain trauma, etc) enables the perpetuation of extractivist and exploitative behaviour, which indeed is the surest route to the acquisition of excessive capital, but it is at the expense of the healthy evolution of our species and indeed the very survival of the planet.

instead, the ability to emotionally empathize and engage with others in a pro-social manner are perhaps the most significant features of a healthy and well functioning human brain. throughout our evolution, mother nature has rewarded cooperation and community. in contrast, corporate capitalism promotes hyper-individuality as a means to separate, divide, and isolate, because the market takes priority over the life of the individual, and the survival of our species.

the ability to be cold and uncaring is not an indication of “emotionless superiority" that ought to be respected and aspired to as though it were some kind of achievement, but rather it is an indication that the brain behind said anti-social behaviour simply isn’t firing on all cylinders (in colloquial terms); this can be observed in brain scans of supposed sociopaths, in which it has documented that entire brain regions lack proper activation and grey matter (darkness, where there should be the bright light of neural connectivity).

in other words, being cruel, greedy, and vindictive just let’s everyone know you’re a dumbass. 🖤

[bianca-alexander88]

If you’re doing his laundry, tidying up after him, planning his social calendar, having to remind him to practice basic hygiene, and cooking his meals for him, baby girl -- you’re not his woman, you’re his mother. 

[bianca-alexander88]

banality of evil 

can one do evil without one being evil?

evil deeds without evil intentions; thoughtlessness and disengagement from reality; inability to think from the stand point of someone else; shallow and clueless; a joiner 

a man who drifted in search of purpose and direction, not out of ideological belief 

lack of self reflection defines evil; casualness of evil

the reasons they do what they do aren’t specifically to sow evil (cracking egg, example)

mundane acts of violence, as part of daily business; just what they do

negligent, selfish, uncaring = byproduct of chosen life

human identities, riddled with fragile complexities 

[bianca-alexander88]

The 10 Tactics of Fascism

The Mythic Past: Inin the past, we were great, and that has been taken from you.

Propaganda: friend vs. enemy distinction; the Other are fundamentally opposed to the nation. 

Anti-intellectualism: the Leader sets the rules about what’s true or false; any expertise is a threat to the Leader. 

Unreality: Get people used to being lied to. 

Hierarchy: Convince people they’re “better than” others, get them attached to privileges granted based on their position of superiority. 

Victimhood: Equality is presented as victimhood. 

Law and Order: Does not mean justice or equality; structure of legitimacy. 

Urban/Rural Divide: Sodom and Gomorrah

Sexual Anxiety: Those aren’t people trying to live life their own way… they’re trying to destroy your traditions. 

Arbeit Macht Frei (“Work shall make you free”): Free labour

-- Jason Stanley

[bianca-alexander88]

It came to this ingenuous confession of an “open mind.” The mind was indeed so open that it had nothing in it at all. — Sir Edward Clarke (1886)

An open mind is all very well in its way, but it ought not to be so open that there is no keeping anything in or out of it. — Samuel Butler (1908)

For my friend said that he opened his intellect as the sun opens the fans of a palm tree, opening for opening’s sake, opening infinitely for ever. But I said that I opened my intellect as I opened my mouth, in order to shut it again on something solid. — G. K. Chesterton (1909)

Whereas I am incurably convinced that the object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid. — G. K. Chesterton  (1936)

Practical gentlemen hate uncertainty, balancing of probabilities, skepticism or approximation. They have a number of bitterly satirical comments on persons whose minds are so open that their brains fall out. They are bent on getting to a conclusion. — Professor Max Radin (1937)

Let us keep our minds open by all means, as long as that means keeping our sense of perspective and seeking an understanding of the forces which mould the world. But don’t keep your minds so open that your brains fall out! There are still things in this world which are true and things which are false; acts which are right and acts which are wrong, even if there are statesmen who hide their designs under the cloak of high-sounding phrases .— Walter Kotschnig (1940)

Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out. — Arthur Hays Sulzberger (1953)

[bianca-alexander88]

Coming to the realization that a part of me really latched onto the belief that, in order to be an artist, I had to be sad. That only sadness and despair could provide the kind of depth of character worthy of producing artwork. It just dawned on me this afternoon that -- just maybe -- the artist could also be happy. I thought to myself, what if happiness and a state of contentment is a place from which an artist can produce great things too. Perhaps even greater things.

[bianca-alexander88]

How harshly a person judges the mistakes, shortcomings and failures of others tends to reveal just how harshly they judge themselves. If they can’t extend kindness and empathy to themselves, they are unable to extend it to others.

[bianca-alexander88]

I will never be a thing of one particular moment.

[bianca-alexander88]

Beauty fades but a bitch lasts forever.

[bianca-alexander88]

he's just that kind of guy that when you ask where he lives he says 'in the moment'

[bianca-alexander88]

crack my entire spine like a glow stick that's all i ask

[bianca-alexander88]

if you ever try to convince me of the health benefits of taking cold showers just know we're never speaking again

[bianca-alexander88]

say ‘lol’ and move on

[bianca-alexander88]

a twitter thread that actually killed me

[bianca-alexander88]

limerence, my drug of choice;

because it’s so much easier to

chew you up and spit you out

than to look at myself;

don’t worry, it’s just passing.

I live in this place,

you’re only pass through.

[bianca-alexander88]

never blame someone for a health status; you’re just desperately trying to cling to a sense of control. the reality is shit happens and even the “healthiest” people get sick, and it is through no fault of their own. even if you do engage in behaviours that are considered risk factors for certain diseases, no one “deserves” to get a horrible illness.

[bianca-alexander88]

Sympathy is easy because it comes from a position of power.

Empathy is looking someone else in the eye and realizing that you could be them and that all that separates you is luck.