Noam Chomsky |
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seanyshuffler
Jack Charlton PM snitch Joined: 09 Jun 2011 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 9538 |
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Posted: 23 Apr 2013 at 8:25am |
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Was taking a dump on the jacks in the library yesterday and saw this written on the wall.
Sport- it's a way of building up irrational attitudes of submission to authority, and
group cohesion behind leadership elements. Noam Chomsky Googled him after and looked at some of his stuff. Excerpt from a talk given.... ''This is an oversimplification, but for the eighty percent or whatever they are, the main thing is to divert them. To get them to watch National Football League. And to worry about "Mother With Child With Six Heads," or whatever you pick up on the supermarket stands and so on. Or look at astrology. Or get involved in fundamentalist stuff or something or other. Just get them away. Get them away from things that matter. And for that it's important to reduce their capacity to think. Take, say, sports -- that's another crucial example of the indoctrination system, in my view. For one thing because it -- you know, it offers people something to pay attention to that's of no importance. [audience laughs] That keeps them from worrying about -- [applause] keeps them from worrying about things that matter to their lives that they might have some idea of doing something about. And in fact it's striking to see the intelligence that's used by ordinary people in [discussions of] sports [as opposed to political and social issues]. I mean, you listen to radio stations where people call in -- they have the most exotic information [more laughter] and understanding about all kind of arcane issues. And the press undoubtedly does a lot with this. You know, I remember in high school, already I was pretty old. I suddenly asked myself at one point, why do I care if my high school team wins the football game? [laughter] I mean, I don't know anybody on the team, you know? [audience roars] I mean, they have nothing to do with me, I mean, why I am cheering for my team? It doesn't mean any -- it doesn't make sense. But the point is, it does make sense: it's a way of building up irrational attitudes of submission to authority, and group cohesion behind leadership elements -- in fact, it's training in irrational jingoism. That's also a feature of competitive sports. I think if you look closely at these things, I think, typically, they do have functions, and that's why energy is devoted to supporting them and creating a basis for them and advertisers are willing to pay for them and so on.'' Is he speaking out his hole or is there truth in his words?
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colemanY2K
Roy Keane Fresh minty breath Joined: 01 Mar 2010 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 14959 |
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The most respected philosopher and political critic (obviously his enemies think otherwise) of our time Seanie. He has written some great books and all have excellent reviews on Amazon. Interesting to read the negative reviews as they are written by his enemies. What's particularly ironic are the zionists who castigate him when he is of Jewish extraction.
Edited by colemanY2K - 23 Apr 2013 at 8:41am |
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"One of the dominant facts in English life during the past three quarters of a century has been the decay of ability in the ruling class." Orwell, 1942.
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Cabra Hoop
Roy Keane Joined: 06 Feb 2012 Location: Royal County Status: Offline Points: 10837 |
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This man is a genius. He strips away all spin and articulates how most of the world is controlled and the mechanisms used by those in control to manipulate the masses into specific beliefs and thought processes. He avoids ideological rhetoric and rows against the tide of accepted norms.
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" BFC always gives me a laugh........ "
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AntrimMan
Jack Charlton YBIG's resident Nordy/London Hipster Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Location: Christmas Island Status: Offline Points: 9454 |
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Would lean more towards talking out his hole from that extract anyway...
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@AntrimMan85
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Baldrick
Robbie Keane Peyton-tly Pedantic Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 32783 |
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His books are well worth a read and even if you do not agree with him on everything he is a fantastic philosopher, political commentator, polemicist, and political agitator.
Manufacturing consent is well worth a read. |
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AKA pedantic kunt
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Cabra Hoop
Roy Keane Joined: 06 Feb 2012 Location: Royal County Status: Offline Points: 10837 |
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Agree with Baldrick - The only cavaet i would have is that the ideas he has may be a challenge to accept or even consider for those who accept live as an ostrich.
On the other hand if you accept some of his rationale, he can leave you a sense of total helplessness and deep cynicism of society.......
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" BFC always gives me a laugh........ "
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Andkend
Liam Brady Joined: 03 Jun 2012 Location: Poznan Status: Offline Points: 2859 |
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I am a fan -
have tried to read alot of his stuff but he's hard going, great bedtime book, you woul nod off fairly quickly. I enjoy hearing him speak and really respect his views on Israel and the palestine question. i bought Gaza in crisis but have not really had the time to get down and really read it. What he says about sport is true enough, but the same could be said of music e.t.c but i suppose that involves more personal taste. I don't think he's saying its bad, just a bit of analysis which is always good. |
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heighway2heaven
Ray Houghton Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: Myanmar Status: Offline Points: 4209 |
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There are certain issues he wont go near though, and that's why some would term him as being a 'gate-keeper of the left'.
Anywhoo, that piece above reminded me of a short article I've literally just finished by a spurs fan.. http://www.cartilagefreecaptain.com/2013/4/22/4251988/luis-suarez "Ultimately we're all a bunch of idiots who care way too much about grown manchildren running around chasing a ball. Who are also idiots. And we're all going to act in completely stupid, irrational ways. Some of us just wear different colored kits." |
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Andkend
Liam Brady Joined: 03 Jun 2012 Location: Poznan Status: Offline Points: 2859 |
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can't get that link to work, anyone else have problems. |
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RogerMilla
Moderator Group #TEAMJAVIER #ENGANCHE Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Location: Delaney Park Status: Offline Points: 34858 |
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fully agree that sports fandom can be a distraction from the things that matter , but jaysis life would be utter dung without it
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The first time the Devil made me do it. The second time I did it on my own.
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heighway2heaven
Ray Houghton Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: Myanmar Status: Offline Points: 4209 |
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I wouldn't worry about it Andkend. Just more Suarez related gubbins. It was the quote at the end that gave cause for some self-reflection. |
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coleman's
Liam Brady Joined: 22 Nov 2011 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 1018 |
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Like what most say, whether you agree with him or not his arguments are very well put forward. I've only read one of his books, a collection of the talks he has given over the years, a bit dated now, but it opened my eyes up to US foreign policy in particular, as I never really paid heed to politics before it
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roverstillidie
Jack Charlton Bohs number 1 fan Joined: 25 Jun 2011 Status: Offline Points: 8529 |
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He is broadly right. Look at the soap opera that is English football. Its celebrity rather than sport. Historically dictators have used sport, specifically football, as a social contol mechanism. Even the Gah in Ireland were a cultural fascistic organisation first and foremost. However, this is clearly not true in all cases. For most of us sport is a fun way to lose the belly, and I really don't think going to Rovers games can be considered as being part of a state sanctioned social control project. The opposit in fact. I think this is through an American view of the world where fan culture isn't politicised.
Edited by roverstillidie - 23 Apr 2013 at 10:35am |
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Baldrick
Robbie Keane Peyton-tly Pedantic Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 32783 |
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I think a sad reflection on society is that people only read books, articles, posts etc that they agree with and avoid things they disagree with. I think its important for the development of ones brain to read mostly stuff you disagree with as it gives the brain a good work out. |
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AKA pedantic kunt
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heighway2heaven
Ray Houghton Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: Myanmar Status: Offline Points: 4209 |
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He believes in 'magic bullets'.
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seanyshuffler
Jack Charlton PM snitch Joined: 09 Jun 2011 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 9538 |
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Even looking on this forum the amount of detail some people can go into when debating football is quiet remarkable. It's the equivalent of physicists or political scientists having a debate in their field. Perhaps some peoples minds on here should be put to better use in areas that actually matter. |
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Baldrick
Robbie Keane Peyton-tly Pedantic Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 32783 |
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Who determines what matters though. Its an exisistentialist question about life. Who is anyone to tell another person how they should conduct their life and how they should use their brain etc. In my view the term should is a very dangerous term as it someone how indicates that there is a hierarchy of ways to spend your life. Within reason, as long as you do not harm or hurt someone else if you wish to talk about football all day c'est la vie.
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AKA pedantic kunt
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heighway2heaven
Ray Houghton Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: Myanmar Status: Offline Points: 4209 |
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Baldrick Kierkegaard.
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