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The Screed's avatar

Perhaps psychedelics can be both a cure and a catalyst for basilisks. On one hand they can open the mind to new thoughts that crowd out the basilisk. On the other hand this openess can make one more vulnerable to other basilisks.

Maybe a strong ego could be a decent protective measure, but as algorithms become more targeted, we’ll all be at risk. A personalized basilisk for everyone, fused at the hip with the ego through an endless barrage of reinforcement.

Traditional organized religions or other shared belief systems that invite all regardless of conflicting perspectives might help? But we’re losing those at an accelerated rate. Aside from polishing a mirror shield, maybe our best defense would be redirecting algorithmic reality tunnels so that they lead to an intersection of beliefs.

Some burgeoning digital basilisks:

- Doomerism/climate doomerism

-self diagnosing and psychosomatic illness(tik tok Tourette’s , mental illness as an identity)

-astrology(benign, for now)

-FIRE/grind set/hustle culture (could be freeing for some, but imposes limiting beliefs equating wealth with enlightenment )

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Brad & Butter's avatar

You just described the barbell strategy of ideology, and how each manufactures pools of haves and have-nots. This leads directly back to the Gervais-MacLeod thesis. A problem with this is that it is possible for "Basilisks" to be an innate human problem, which act as a selection mechanism to "weed out the weak", the Theravada (narrow road) disciplinary mindset, whilst masquerading as a Mahayana (universalist) society. The opposition to this system of "little deaths" is inherently macro-scale death, and every man shall require the most toothless basilisk. https://archive.fo/IikPh https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2010/02/04/the-genealogy-of-the-gervais-principle/

As The basilisk gets dissected, it can be understood that the meatware analogue is THE "cancel culture", and that just like how antipathic and passive-aggressive trolling makes meatwares of blackmailing fail, all other forms of Basilisk is succumbed to jesters' tricks. https://hplusmagazine.com/2015/08/20/rokos-basilisk-meets-okors-basilisk https://archive.ph/cRhY7 https://archive.ph/ChzEc

Case in point the Zizekian slogan "I would prefer not to" (instead of "I don't want to"). To act out against basilisk is exactly how you get captured. To recognize that you cannot be threated by delusions are most important point. The Taoist call this Wu Wei (the refusal to follow or react). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3q2q_4EYQQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du1BwflBi_o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32uYl8vinu8

In the realm of social governance, this manifests as the "three stories", and that all basilisks has to have options for loyalty, compromise, and rebellion. The missing fourth element within this trinity (both in the Biblical and pre-Lacan Freudian sense), is "compliance without forfeiture", Havel's Power of the Powerless, Yarvin's Clear Pill Theory. https://archive.ph/o2JzZ

Now, how can these forms be reapplied to the sexual blackpill? The blackpill is in essence activated charcoal, it may absorb toxins, but also nutrients. At some point, hydration and fasting becomes a better alternative once no more toxins have been ingested. The rejection of consumerism and impotence should not come at the exprense of care and strength. The right to refuse feminine subordination should not come at the cost of masquerading as "hustle cultists" and masculine domination, and the recognition of material friction of psycho-genomics and physiognomy (the "coup d'oeil" of lookism) should not lead one to destroy what is beautiful, only that one is not obligated to own it or assimilate with it. Thanks Kindred Harvest https://www.youtube.com/c/KindredHarvest/videos

Now, what other basilisks can we name? Ludditism, female "empowerment" theory, church as organization, dietary bandwagoning (veganism, low fat diet, low protein diet), scientism and publication infallability, "tradcon" fetishism, blank slate doctrine. Feel free to discuss.

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Hermezz Triple_Kool's avatar

Listen to the Tao Te Ching every once in a while. Lol

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Jamal The Wonder's avatar

I may be creating a basilisk by saying this but wouldn't there evolve a basilisk which dooms those who hold mirror shields?

If I, the amateur analyst, who exposes and directs the basilisk's gaze back towards itself encounter a memetic hazard about analyzing itself, then the polishing is useless.

So I guess the true armor is to Know Thyself and as with all true cures it is the most painful. But I wonder in the case of self knowledge and basilisks, would it prevent me from wandering into the caverns in which these creatures lay? Or would my utter lack of self doubt and brilliant intuition simply not allow the gaze tho effect me?

Great article!

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Brad & Butter's avatar

To clean up these muddled metaphors, facts on the ground beats the fog of war. Materiality is what separates ideals (lack of doubt, knows half-truths, prestige-craving, compromising time investment and ambition, repitition and nuance over tact, conformism and envious, vulnerable narcissism) and opportunities (understands truth to balance out doubt, win-win, strong ambition, methodical, redundancy and planning, diverse in thinking, self-oriented functional "psychopaths"). https://daedtech.com/defining-the-corporate-hierarchy https://daedtech.com/defining-the-corporate-hierarchy https://theredqueen.substack.com/p/dunning-kruger-power-effect https://swellandcut.com/2018/09/26/in-plain-sight/ https://aeolipera.wordpress.com/2015/05/31/midwits/ https://theuntangler.wordpress.com/2022/04/14/midwit-red-flags/ https://archive.fo/7Kan2 https://kadavy.net/blog/posts/barbell-strategy/

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hi's avatar

>If I, the amateur analyst, who exposes and directs the basilisk's gaze back towards itself encounter a memetic hazard about analyzing itself, then the polishing is useless.

false. the polishing shines a true, enlightening light back; the basilisk can not reflect back towards you. Only if you failed to know thyself would it fail you to know thyself.

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