PragerU - A manipulative deep stage orange/blue channel using dishonest tactics

[tenta]

Take a look at these 2 videos, I think they're very good examples and I think both were inspired by Bernie running for president 2020:

"so many buildings were rebuilt by citizens without the help of the government, ergo extremist free market capitalism is good"

That's like saying starving African children should always just find their own food, which also makes it an appeal to anecdote fallacy. Citizens getting lucky (about the fact that the rails weren't damaged by the fire) and fixing things on their own that could have been fixed more quickly by the government should not be America at it's best to you.

Free market capitalism is becoming a cult as a result of the ego backlash, such as Jordan Peterson defending billionaires who could end world hunger twice and still be rich (take Bill Gates as an example).

They give devotion to community as an example of a good, yet the government should apparently have none whatsoever and not send any supplies to make the rebuilding faster.

This type of video will never appeal to someone outside of the circle-jerk or convert them, socialist ideas like free healthcare are about human need, meanwhile allowing people to sit on money that could go to the poor while keeping up a facade of donations isn't. But they simply think that giving 2 examples, out of which the first one is based only on wishful thinking, is enough.

Also take a look at the thumbnail, it implies the people on the left are hard working and are making innovations, not like they're just trying to make as much money as they can, completely ignoring the genetic and environmental privilege someone successful in a company can have.

Here's an example of them outright lying, and being caught:

 

Edited April 4, 2019 by tenta

[Leo Gura]

It's purely a right-wing propaganda channel. It does not even attempt to understand the issues.

One good thing about PragerU is that it reveals who the fake experts are. Any "expert" or "intellectual" you see on in their videos automatically exposes himself as a clown, and is never to be taken seriously. Here's looking at you, Jordan Peterson

[TheAvatarState]

2 hours ago, Leo Gura said:

It's purely a right-wing propaganda channel. It does not even attempt to understand the issues.

One good thing about PragerU is that it reveals who the fake experts are. Any "expert" or "intellectual" you see on in their videos automatically exposes himself as a clown, and is never to be taken seriously. Here's looking at you, Jordan Peterson

Is that grounds to automatically dismiss everything Jordan says? I don't think there's anything fake about his rise in popularity, because he's an intellectual who has well thought out arguments. Isn't calling Peterson a clown, never to be taken seriously, the exact same non-nuanced judgment that you criticize others of making?

[Leo Gura]

1 hour ago, TheAvatarState said:

Is that grounds to automatically dismiss everything Jordan says?

Not everything he says is wrong, but his worldview is generally-speaking so misguided and corrupt you'd be better served just skipping over it.

It's not like there aren't 1000 better teachings available.

Quote

I don't think there's anything fake about his rise in popularity, because he's an intellectual who has well thought out arguments. Isn't calling Peterson a clown, never to be taken seriously, the exact same non-nuanced judgment that you criticize others of making?

Anyone who would go on PragerU is not to be taken seriously.

Find yourself better sources. That's my point.

See, it would be a mistake to take a propaganda source seriously, as though it was on the same level as an awakened teaching. This is the mistake of false equivalency. Being openmidned does not mean you let people propagandize you.

It takes nuance to be able to discern what is and what isn't propaganda.

He is a saavy exploiter of the culture wars. That's why he rose in popularity. Not because he makes good intellectual arguments. Those arguments are egoic justifications. They come from lack of self-awareness.

Also, don't confuse popularity with truthfulness or quality. They are usually inversely proportional.

[Alex]

@TheAvatarState It's pretty sad that someone as smart and educated as JP got caught up in this nonsenseical culture war. The content he put out in the recent year is mediocre at best, compared to his lectures from back in the day. Dealing with politics, drama and the protection of "the west" (who knows what it is supposed to be ) seems just like an giant waste of time. It would be nice to see him step back for a while and focus on issues that are more in reach of his expertise like psychology, religious symbolism and science. 

[Quicksilver]

Dont be fooled, JP is what we call a snake oil salesman. A chameleonic fast talker, who says everything and nothing at the same time. I would steer away from calling him smart or educated and never turn to him for any kind of wisdom. 

 

The bits and pieces where he does make valid points are much better found in better teachings. 

 

As for Prager, they are best seen as ideologues. They are parroting right wing view points with little added nuance. Best seen as providing intellectual masturbation for people who already agree with those viewpoints in the first place. 

[Dayo]

Jordan Peterson in my opinion should focus more on his psychology practice. His politics isn't great. I prefer watching his psychology and religious lectures.

[Leo Gura]

His psychology lectures aren't too bad.

Still, watch out for how this politics, dualistic metaphysics, and ego infect his psychology.

[mandyjw]

One thing I started doing for a spiritual practice for a short time was going to CNN to read the headlines then going to Fox News and trying to reconcile/figure out the main gist of what happened. I have a good friend and she's conservative to my liberal and we've changed and deepened each other so much. She just sent me a Jordan Peterson video, I have a tough time getting through it though. 

[Leo Gura]

@mandyjw That's cause you're a cultural Marxist nihilist

[mandyjw]

@Leo Gura Ok, that's a riddle I'm going to have to digest and unravel.  

 

[Zizzero]

Careful not to do the very thing you're criticizing. I see a lot of examples of propaganda in this thread; and I'm not talking about PragerU

[tenta]

5 hours ago, Zizzero said:

Careful not to do the very thing you're criticizing. I see a lot of examples of propaganda in this thread; and I'm not talking about PragerU

 

Just exposing how they try to twist the facts. Their videos will have a propaganda vibe to the people who agree with them too, just nicely packaged propaganda similar to a witty zinger, the ego will love those types of "confirmations" it's right.

Edited April 4, 2019 by tenta