Beware of Charisma

[Daniel Balan]

I've become aware recently that the substance of a perspective is irrelevant as long as the one delivering the perspective is extremely charismatic and presents himself as a very well spoken individual who is also well dressed and has a deep tone of voice. I've noticed myself get sucked into perspectives as long as the one speaking is someone I personally admire. It is the case with Leo. But it is also the case with my uncle, whom holds perspectives that are diametrically opposed than those of Leo when it comes to politics. Yet both made me buy into their perspectives. 
The role of this post is to sound the alarm when it comes to extremely persuasive personalities. You need to bring your A game when it comes to critical thinking and skepticism when listening to someone who possesses charisma and seems like he knows the ins and outs of a particular subject, especially when it comes to politics. 

I also invite you to share your own thoughts on how to not be manipulated by these cunning individuals and how to differentiate between healthy perspectives and people who try to talk you into voting with someone like Trump. I've thoroughly studied Leo's video on Lower and Higher perspectives, and personally I've been even more confused. I don't know why Leo is right when he says that the left and the democrats are objectively better than the right wing conservatives. When I listen to both perspectives each perspectives bring pretty valid points into discution. The only reason I don't vote conservative is because I realize that the whole movement is to keep in place the faulty status quo which facilitates fiscal evasion and maximizing the profits for the ones in charge. But other than than I'm very confused, I don't understand some left wing politics, such as immigration, To me conservatives make a valid point into thinking that people from underdeveloped countries shouldn't be allowed to come in masses. I have no problem if my country brings here 100k Chinese people or Italian people, but I'm actually scared if my country would allow 10k of Somalians or Afgans. 

Edited February 9 by Daniel Balan

[NewKidOnTheBlock]

To keep it very short, it is likely because your sense of self is not strong enough. Liberal wokiesm is all about constantly deconstructing supposedly oppressive societal norms, and Leo's stuff is about deconstructing everything, including your ego. How are you supposed to have a strong sense of self if you're constantly focused on faults of your own ego? At some point it should just get strong and rigid and should change very rarely, if ever. That is not to say that a strong sense of self is the only ingredient necessary for charisma, but it is essentially a necessary prerequisite for it. You have to be sure of your own shit otherwise your mind will keep changing at the gust of wind. And ussually conservative people are sure of their own shit. Unlike liberals.

As a matter of fact - I'm not sure whether I have seen a single charismatic liberal, that identifies as a liberal, it's always either people who don't care about politics much or a few conservatives who are charismatic

[Daniel Balan]

That is interesting. Thanks for the response.@NewKidOnTheBlock

[Ero]

That’s an important point. Leo brought it up in the low vs high perspective video. Tis the reason grifters and con artists are always hyper charismatic.

[Salvijus]

What if truth is the ultimate charm? 

[Daniel Balan]

Most of the times the ones speaking the truth are usually not very charismatic, yet being truthful gives you a veil of purity.

[Jannes]

@Daniel Balan When we dont know the subject that is being talked about we tend to rely on secondary indicators which would indicate/ make it more likely that what is being said is valid. Indicators like a good ability to articulate oneself, confidence, ... basically what you talk about. 

You said It yourself, you need to think critically about what is being said. When you catch somebody lying you have to put all what is being said into question. 

And I also think with experience you won't get persuaded as easily. When you study human behavior by observing other people you can kind develop a good enough bullshit detector to see that trump isnt authentic, even if you dont know much about politics. 

[Daniel Balan]

Nice advice! @Jannes Thank you. 

[Schizophonia]

The truth is in the nuance.

[Daniel Balan]

All I want is that I never get manipulated by mainstream media, alternative media, etc. Leo said it best, we are living in complete media and epistemic perverty. All I want is to be able to discern which thing is objectively best for society and myself AKA how to develop a healthy perspective on everything. In 2015 I descovered Leo, and I've been brainwashed by him, in 2019 I've firstly encountered Andrew Tate, when he had like 10k followers on Twitter, damn I was mesmerized by him and I got totally brainwashed, at that point everything good Leo instilled into my mind for 4 years was completely thrown in the bin by Andrew Tate, Hell I've even been scammed by 60$ by Tate in 2021 with a BS program of his. That was the time I've realized how big of a pervert Tate was. And my first instinct was to go back to Actualized.org and listen to the videos that released weekly. But from 2019 to 2021 Tate in a way made me hate everything Actualized.org stood for. Only after I realized that behind the mesmerizing persona is a damn conman who's only objective is to take every penny away from gullible people like me. I've been raised only by my grandma, and when I saw Tate for the first time I felt that all the advice and his worldview is like that from a father I never had. Also Tate fooled me into being an extreme right winger for those 3 years, and after I ditched him, I basically adopted Leo's political perspective.

I hate that I can't think for myself, I need someone like Leo or in the worst case scenario someone like Tate to shape my perspective and worldview, political or my attitude towards life in general. How do I know that I'm not currently hypnotized into believing everything Leo advocates. I honestly confess that I'm unable to think for myself. And that is bothering me deeply. After 7 years of following Leo's work which at it's core is to make the audience think and arrive at certain conclusions without external manipulation. 

Bottom line is: How would I have developed good politics, good worldview, good everything, If I never encountered Leo. Some day maybe something tragic happens and either Leo is gone, or my country will become a dictatorship like Russia, and I won't be able to access Leo's work. I want to know how to become someone like Leo or Daniel Smachtenberger if I never had access to the internet to listen to such remarkable minds, and my environment would consist of only individuals such as Tate and the only media to consume would be Fox news. 
 

Edited February 11 by Daniel Balan

[Daniel Balan]

What do you think guys?

 

[puporing]

You can't learn what you aren't ready for. There is a deep metaphysical reason people fall for "charisma", so much so that it prevents almost the entire human race from finding their origin. 

Generally a good practice is to have some open mind, but even that isn't nearly enough to cut through delusions.. 

Then again, truth will always come out one way or another because that it exists, so "something/someone" knows it (with certainty). There's some hope in that.

Edited February 13 by puporing

[Salvijus]

Maybe it's not a complete answer but the longer you can observe the situation impartially without forming an opinion, the more refined, crystallized, deeper, sharper your perception will become into the reality of what is true and what is false. I believe this discernment can penetrate any subject if it remains uncluttered with egoic biases for a sufficient amount of time.

The only problem is that those who have blind spots of biases are not aware of those blind spots. That's why they are called blind spots to begin with. And those blind biases can corrupt your perception of the situation. The only antidote against that I would say is constant spiritual practice and purification of the mind. 

Edited February 13 by Salvijus

[Daniel Balan]

I've realized that I have such a weak character that basically lets say in an election where there are 10 candidates, if I listen to every each of them for like 40 minutes on a podcast I get convinced by everyone and their points of view. And usually the person I watch a podcast of last is the one that gets my vote. Man I'm such a sheep. Seems like everyone is right when I listen to them. 

[Daniel Balan]

12 hours ago, Salvijus said:

 what is true and what is false. 

Basically after almost a decade of watching Leo, he made me aware that false and true are relative. Russians believe that the west have encroached on them, which from their POV is true. The west thinks Russia is a mafia state which is also true from the western pov, so truth and falsehood are just relative notions depending on who you speak to. Since I'm unable to discern who to vote, I'd rather stay at home. 

[Salvijus]

10 hours ago, Daniel Balan said:

I've realized that I have such a weak character that basically lets say in an election where there are 10 candidates, if I listen to every each of them for like 40 minutes on a podcast I get convinced by everyone and their points of view. And usually the person I watch a podcast of last is the one that gets my vote. Man I'm such a sheep. Seems like everyone is right when I listen to them. 

I feel we're kinda forced to rely on other people's analysis because only less than 1% actually have a full picture understanding of the situation and those are the people who live and breathe politics their whole life from inside the game, not outside observers. Everyone is borrowing their understanding about politics from somebody else. It's just a matter of cherry picking the views that you like and dismissing the people with opposite views you don't like haha. The fact that you listen to opposite views and haven't yet decided who's right or wrong probably makes you the most advanced on this forum. I feel everyone else here is a sheep but you're the only one honest about it. That's a nice quality. 

10 hours ago, Daniel Balan said:

Basically after almost a decade of watching Leo, he made me aware that false and true are relative. Russians believe that the west have encroached on them, which from their POV is true. The west thinks Russia is a mafia state which is also true from the western pov, so truth and falsehood are just relative notions depending on who you speak to. Since I'm unable to discern who to vote, I'd rather stay at home. 

That's a good point. 

Edited Friday at 07:21 AM by Salvijus

[Daniel Balan]

@Salvijus Thank you for the feedback!  

[Salvijus]

[Daniel Balan]

Hi @Leo Gura I'd like to hear your opinion on this subject please.  

[Leo Gura]

On 2/13/2025 at 1:37 PM, Daniel Balan said:

basically lets say in an election where there are 10 candidates, if I listen to every each of them for like 40 minutes on a podcast I get convinced by everyone and their points of view.

Otherwise known as Joe Rogan syndrome