🦄 Current Events Monday March 24, 2025 through Sunday March 30, 2025

[Numfuddle]

No, this isn't what I was suggesting. Instead, it's not confirmation bias on the particular conspiracy that drives the process. Instead, it's confirmation bias on some underlying broad cultural myth like "racism died in 1960", "the moral majority thinks XYZ", or "biological gender is binary and normal", etc. Of course, these are myths, they aren't real; at best, they are an oversimplification, at worse, they are complete bullshit.

But, people hold their myths very dearly. So, when they see evidence that those myths are false, it presents a problem for them. They can either accept that their cultural myths are bullshit or they can just ask questions. Of course, accepting your cultural myths are bullshit has implications for one's identity in a way just asking questions seems not to. And then people proudly march down the path you have described. The conspiracy provides them a method to believe that these cultural myths are real but for some shadowy something that has perverted things.

A similiar aspect is the dopamine rush people feel when they think they have special knowledge that elevates them above the fold. "I have access to hermetic knowledge and I know how the world really works compared to all of those other rubes" is a powerful drug, especially for people who are depressed and beat down over their average life struggles.

 

[blindbear]

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/nx-s1-5343417/myanmar-thailand-earthquake-bangkok-mandalay

Earthquake in South East Asia. 140+ people were killed in Myanmar.

 

[theevilsharpie]

Utah becomes the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water

Utah has become the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, over opposition from dentists and national health organizations who warn the move will lead to medical problems and disproportionately affect low-income communities.

Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed legislation late Thursday that bars cities and communities from deciding whether to add the mineral to their water systems.

...

Utah lawmakers who pushed for a ban said putting fluoride in water was too expensive. Cox, who grew up and raised his own children in a community without fluoridated water, compared it recently to being “medicated” by the government.

The ban, which is effective May 7, comes weeks after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has expressed skepticism about water fluoridation, was sworn into office.

...

Opponents warn the ban will disproportionately affect low-income residents who may rely on public drinking water having fluoride as their only source of preventative dental care. Low-income families may not be able to afford regular dentist visits or the fluoride tablets some people buy as a supplement in cities without fluoridation.

The sponsor of the Utah legislation, Republican Rep. Stephanie Gricius, acknowledged fluoride has benefits, but said it was an issue of “individual choice” to not have it in the water.

 

[NervousEnergy]

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/nx-s1-5343417/myanmar-thailand-earthquake-bangkok-mandalay

Earthquake in South East Asia. 140+ people were killed in Myanmar.

Seeing all the footage coming out of the urban areas, I think at least 2, and possibly 3 zeros are going to get added to that number.

 

[Da Xiang]

Seeing all the footage coming out of the urban areas, I think at least 2, and possibly 3 zeros are going to get added to that number.

Death toll from Myanmar earthquake is likely to surpass 10,000, USGS estimates

I didn't feel it here at home in Southern China but apparently a number of people in my city did.

 

[Shavano]

Utah becomes the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water

10 out of 9 dentists recommend not raising your kids in Utah.

 

[Technarch]

Utah becomes the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water

Ackshually that headline is wrong, drinking water additives have been banned here since 2003. For entirely stupid and selfish reasons.

 

[karolus]

A similiar aspect is the dopamine rush people feel when they think they have special knowledge that elevates them above the fold. "I have access to hermetic knowledge and I know how the world really works compared to all of those other rubes" is a powerful drug, especially for people who are depressed and beat down over their average life struggles.

Isn't that—to some degree—a characteristic of cults?

 

[ProphetM]

Ackshually that headline is wrong, drinking water additives have been banned here since 2003. For entirely stupid and selfish reasons.

And where is 'here'?

 

[Technarch]

And where is 'here'?

Here.

 

[karolus]

Maybe Pele was upset. Wouldn't want a volcanic disturbance over the issue, would you?

/s

 

[Yagisama]

If only there was a way to predict something like this would happen.

“Oklahomans want to hear and make sure that Social Security is protected and saved, not only for them, but their children, grandchildren,” Sean Voskuhl, AARP Oklahoma state director, toldOklahoma’s News 4. “More than 22% of Oklahomans rely on Social Security as their primary source of retirement income.”

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/800k-oklahomans-stressing-over-social-124500509.html

 

[arcite]

Death toll from Myanmar earthquake is likely to surpass 10,000, USGS estimates

I didn't feel it here at home in Southern China but apparently a number of people in my city did.

The Myanmar Junta are continuing to bomb the rebels, massacring civilians, and have the gall to ask for foreign aid. I see China stepped in with a fig leaf of a few shipments of AID.

 

[Bardon]

The Myanmar Junta are continuing to bomb the rebels, massacring civilians, and have the gall to ask for foreign aid. I see China stepped in with a fig leaf of a few shipments of AID.

And the rebels have called for a ceasefire and to assist any/all aid workers and equipment. The gov't keeps on bombing.

 

[Numfuddle]

Isn't that—to some degree—a characteristic of cults?

Yes.

 

[thrillgore]

Waiting for the new thread but: 1 in 5 Americans wants their state to join Canada. We're now in the potential balkanization phase of the collapse.