WIST QuotationsMar 6

A quotation from George Orwell

By “nationalism” I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labeled “good” or “bad.” But secondly — and this is much more important — I mean the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1945-05), “Notes on Nationalism,” Polemic Magazine (1945-10)

More about this quote: wist.info/orwell-george/16966/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #orwell #georgeorwell #civicduty #classification #devotion #duty #evil #good #goodandevil #ingroup #jingoism #moralduty #nation #nationalism #nationality #outgroup #population #racism #stereotype #tribalism #usvsthem

Orwell, George - Essay (1945-05), "Notes on Nationalism," Polemic Magazine (1945-10) | WIST Quotations

By "nationalism" I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labeled "good" or "bad." But secondly -- and this is much more important -- I mean…

WIST Quotations
Show threadM SchommerNov 1
@StefanMuenz
Nun, der Mann der aus dem Off ins Kanzleramt gebracht wurde gehört möglicherweise zur #InGroup die das Recht schützt aber nicht bindet.
Und das erregte Rentnerlein gehört anscheinend zur #OutGroup die das Recht bindet aber nicht schützt. #Wilhoit
Show threadM SchommerSep 29
@nerdherz
Frau Schröder gehört zur #InGroup, die Omas zur #OutGroup.
#Wilhoit's Law gilt analog.
WIST Quotations Has Moved!Sep 12, 2025

A quotation from William Dean Howells

Nothing is so hard to understand as that there are human beings in this world besides one’s self and one’s own set.

William Dean Howells (1837-1920) American author, literary critic, and playwright
Their Wedding Journey, ch. 2 “Midsummer-Day’s Dream” [Basil] (1872)

More info about this quote: wist.info/howells-william-dean…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #awareness #circle #ego #ingroup #others #outgroup #perspective #selfcenteredness #selfishness

Richard RatheJul 6, 2025

Many of you may already be aware of the important thoughts shared by #FrankWilhoit in his March 2018 blog comment "There is No Such Thing as Liberalism".

https://crookedtimber.org/2018/03/21/liberals-against-progressives/#comment-729288

It provides political framing I find useful. I propose using it as a test or "razor" (à la Occam) when evaluating political actions and legislation:

👉 Who does this action or law bind? Who does it protect? 👈

The best answer is the people who are bound are also protected. That would be a sign of that the action or law is a good one.

The worst answer is the people who are bound are not protected. This almost always means the action or law is a bad one.

As with all politics and compromise there are shades of grey, but this rule of thumb can help find the better action or law.

https://mdpaths.com/rrr/commentary/wilhoits_razor/index.html

#Politics #Law #Taxes #InGroup #OutGroup

Nutt LosJun 30, 2025

Der Mensch: Ein Affe mit einem strukturellen Gewaltproblem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaKK-SO-PDU

#WirGruppe #Ingroup #Outgroup #Anthropologie #Anthropology #Primatologie #Affenforschung #Primatology #Bonobos #Schimpansen #Frieden #Kriege #Kämpfe #Grausamkeit #Brutalität

Der Mensch: Ein Affe mit einem strukturellen Gewaltproblem

YouTube
WIST Quotations Has Moved!Jun 20, 2025

A quotation from Terry Pratchett

“You’re not one of us.”
“I don’t think I’m one of them, either,” said Brutha. “I’m one of mine.”

Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) English author
Small Gods [Simony] (1992)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/pratchett-terry/8119…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #terrypratchett #terrypratchettquote #discworld #ingroup #independence #other #othering #outgroup #usvsthem

Show threadapostrophe bastardMay 8, 2025

- All the group bullshit can happen even in #groups where everyone knows about the group bullshit. #Groupthink, group-based identities, #ingroup status games, ingroup favoritism, #outgroup derogation, #status seeking by attacking outgroup members, etc... it all happens here.

(Again, I don't think it happens as much as in conservative spaces, and it doesn't seem to be the unspoken, universally-approved structure of how everything works, as it is in some other spaces, but none of us are immune)

Matt WillemsenAug 24, 2024
Bonobo evidence suggests ancient origin of the 'common enemy effect'
https://phys.org/news/2024-08-bonobo-evidence-ancient-common-enemy.html #sociology #primates #bonobo #CommonEnemy #ingroup #outgroup
Bonobo evidence suggests ancient origin of the 'common enemy effect'

In the face of threats from other groups, humans, chimpanzees, and a selection of other species get closer to their own. Now an international team led by Kyoto University has shown that even our more peaceful cousins, bonobos—who have never been observed to kill outsiders—show a moderated version of this effect, hinting that this behavior may have emerged several million years ago, before our lineages went their separate ways.

Phys.org
Paul HouleJul 9, 2024

🖇️ Study finds motivation to compete is stronger with in-group members than with outsiders

https://phys.org/news/2024-06-stronger-group-members-outsiders.html

#socialscience #groups #politics #politicalscience #competion #ingroup #outgroup

Study finds motivation to compete is stronger with in-group members than with outsiders

Humans not only cooperate, but also compete more with in-group members than with out-group members and strangers, a new cross-country social-psychological study shows. This 'nasty neighbor effect' came as a complete surprise to the researchers, until they started delving into animal studies. The study is published in Science Advances.

Phys.org