An Admission
Hello.
My name is Strollingone and I am a recovering stupid dupe.
Sometimes I can go for a whole day without a relapse, but I am always one lie away from becoming a dupe again. When I believe a lie, I usually get very angry and waste a lot of energy being concerned about it. Then, when I discover the lie, I get angry all over again for being lied to AND for believing another lie. That’s one reason I like websites like this one because so many people here can see the lies quicker than I can.
Sometimes the desire to lash out at all the stupid dupes around me for being stupid dupes is overwhelming, but that is worse than believing a lie. One can discover the truth and move on from the lie, but one can never heal the wounds from a lashing because the injured ones deny that they are stupid dupes. The scars can get so thick that they prevent the truth from getting through at all. Besides, most people are content with the way things are.
Very few people know that I am a stupid dupe because they are all stupid dupes, too, but don’t realize it. The ones that know that I am a stupid dupe are also recovering stupid dupes like me. We get together—usually by email or phone-- and hold Stupid Dupes Anonymous meetings. We point out recent lies to be avoided and share about the ones we fell for. I hope that you have found a Stupid Dupes Anonymous chapter near you.
It seems to me that the most that a recovering stupid dupe can do for a denying stupid dupe is to remember what it feels like and to continuously point out in small ways that the truth might be other than what they are being told. Lots of people are now aware that there is an agenda and that they are being played. They try to ignore it, but you can't ignore something unless you know that it is there. It seems like the most that can be done is to consistently point out what the agenda is and, when they ask, tell them who you think is writing the agenda and why. It’s pretty much one-on-one every chance you get. It’s a long, messy slog, but it is the only way to get there.
Comments
My Republican co-worker and I
have sort of formed our own little Stupid Dupes Anon. While I do not watch TV "news" at all anymore, her husband still insists on it. But what they do now is actively compare what's being covered on the Faux vs networks, CNN, etc. They both fell for the "other side," but now they too see it for what it is - lies, we are fed so many, so fast if you watch that mess - that it becomes more obvious daily to both of them. But we constantly have to monitor that, LOL. Especially in the age of Trump and "The Resistance."
We agree on much more than we disagree on, that's really been the most interesting part. Today, I do not think she or her husband would vote Rump again, but I know neither would touch Shillary EVER. So yes, recovering Stupid Dupes here. This site helps immensely in treatment for SD.
Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur
I have one of these too
In an online gaming group I've been in for 15 years, there is 1 Republican (or former Republican, now hates both parties), me, and a bunch of liberals. The Republican and I are constantly joking about how bad the rest are because they are all complete dupes. We also agree on more than we disagree; our biggest disagreement isn't even a disagreement. He thinks that government has proven itself too inept to ever be functional, and I just think it's inept but it could be reformed sufficiently if enough heads rolled.
And "government" is also
now by Corporation really. We agree on that too. And the sickening monetization of everything, including that in our own company. We also agree and worry about the relentless silos people are putting themselves into - she's got good friends that are still hopeless and relentless Hillbots, they simply don't talk politics anymore at all, they can't. And that is terrifying really. It's divide and conquer, by any and all means the PTB deem necessary. Trump's a real useful dupe there, providing us daily hot button distractions to keep us all outraged over stupidity. And God we do laugh while we talk! One more small sanity vent for both of us from the fucking daily madness.
Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur
I truly believe that
it is the little one-on-ones that make the biggest difference. The first, and therefore, biggest divider in the gambit is the continuously reinforced assumption that it is just me: everyone else thinks everything is okay, so there must be something wrong with me. Finding out that this is not the case is yuge.
I have a libertarian stupid
dupe buddy and we go stupid duping together sometimes. We agree on war, drug policy, etc., the handful of things libertarians are right about and we disagree on almost everything else.
We both know we are stupid dupes getting duped though, and most of our disagreements are just about who's doin' the dupin'.
Oh boy does this ring true:
During the primaries he told me Bernie was his favorite once Rand Paul was out. He said he liked Bernie better than the any of the establishment Republicans even if he would have to "put up with some socialist bullshit" that he doesn't like. The reason he gave: Bernie is the most honest politician he's seen on the national stage since Ron Paul [narrator: That's quite a compliment. Ron Paul is kind of a big deal among libertarians].
He knows Trump is a ridiculous and dangerous buffoon but he hates Hillary with the heat of 1,000 megatons of Uranium One scandals.
He didn't celebrate Trump on election day, the only little mental high-5's to himself he got to enjoy were officially casting a vote against Hillary and then getting to watch her lose.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
I've still got a John Edwards '08 tote bag hanging in my garage holding burnt out light bulbs to be recycled as I couldn't figure out another use for it.
The real SparkyGump has passed. It was an honor being your human.
Wonderful, wonderful!
The part of John Edwards could easily be played by a burnt out light bulb.
@strollingone ROTFLMAO!!
ROTFLMAO!!
I wasn't Duped by Edwards, but my boyfriend was. It was the populism that got him. Also, he wasn't raised in the South from birth like I was--I can pretty much detect the bullcrap pulled by white Southern politicians, having been around it a lot.
I *was* Duped, however, by Howard Dean.
Although I'm not 100% sure that was a bonafide Dupe, since Dean got spanked and sent to the corner by the establishment and spent a bunch of time in the doghouse. Once he came back, he was all smiles for Hillarycorp, having learned his lesson. The fact that there was a period of punishment followed by a period of bringing back into the fold suggests to me that maybe there was something genuine in what Dean was saying/doing.
I was *definitely* Duped by Obama, though. No question there. I try hard not to remember how I felt that last night before the '08 election in Manassas.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I was living in NYC
During the 2008 election and saw the results in Times Sqaure with the rest of my friends and what seemed like the entire population of New York. When Virginia went for Obama, I remember all the girls near me began to cry, as did I.
Ah, the memories...
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
@strollingone Can I use this as my
Can I use this as my new sig. code?
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
sure!
Although the one you have now has both reason and rhyme.
I'll donate about 60 years' worth to yours!
I have a Hope and Change
Obama '08 sticker that is affixed to an old storage box containing my old taxes. Seems ironically apropos.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Yaaaarggghh!
The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?
BEEEE-YAAAAH!
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I didn't think it was weird when he did that.
In fact, I thought it was kinda cool. Not only was he saying the right things, but he could celebrate them. The penalty for transparency is shunning.
@strollingone Me too. But really,
Me too. But really, they were just grasping at straws. Any old thing they could twist into something bad and then rant about it on the news ad nauseam would have done.
Another reason why I think maybe he wasn't altogether Duping us.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
There was no penalty
Dean was paid handsomely for sheep dogging the grass roots into the Dem pen. Still is.
That picture is him celebrating his payoff.
The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?
LOLLL
Thy words dost ring true, sir. Then the top rail was deliberately left low enough for us goats to clamber out?
I bought into Howard Dean.
I think he was real until he was destroyed. Then he decided to eat and pay his rent and sold out. I never bought into Obama. I saw him as having much in common with Elmer Gantry and a pedophile.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
@dkmich I'm kind of in the same
I'm kind of in the same boat. I think he was for real, though a lot of us misinterpreted him as being farther left on policy than he was. He wasn't so much a left-winger as a rational man who believed in democracy and decried deeply stupid policy. That necessarily put him to the left of both the Bush administration and the concurrent Democratic party, which was more or less on its knees.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Definitely a long time stupid dupe
here. I bought it all hook, line, and sinker. I wanted to believe so much that I believed in pipe dreams.
Now, some call me cynical, but I call myself enlightened, and I feel so much stronger as a result.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Eagle Scout, Honor Society, volunteered for
Vietnam (so they sent me to Panama). Enlightenment started for me in Basic Training. The light went on when I realized it wasn't just me, it was the system that was insane. Then I could see the things that were in my way.
And you're here for?
Recovery?
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
All I know is strollingone
I cast my first vote for Jimmy Carter in 1980 and I am sure I've been a dupe or been duped every since then.
Yes. And to quote yet another great Democrat
President: "I feel your pain!"
@strollingone Still think, along with
Still think, along with dkmich, that probably Dean was for real, for what that's worth. The system doesn't do media character assassinations on its tools, usually.
As for Carter, I still think he was mostly a good man, who had some dumb ideas about the decency of the business world, and caved on El Salvador--probably his most unethical act ever. I wonder what they did to convince him to reverse his original policy. Again, you see, they took him down with extreme prejudice, which makes me think it likely that he wasn't there to Dupe us. The right still trots him out now and then to engage in some fun character attacks. Hell, even the Clinton wing does. But that's understandable; without Carter's fall and Mondale's failure, none of them would have a reason for being.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Yeah, your definitely
not alone. There seem to be many more nowadays that just ain’t buying it-although a lot of us can’t take our eyes off the train wreck happening and feel powerless to stop it.
I think it’s waaay too late to try and all we Can do now is watch and avoid the wreckage, if possible. This train ain’t stopping, this ship ain’t turning.
None of us have a lever long enough, and if we did, we got no place to stand to use it.
Stop These Fucking Wars
peace
Edit; added ‘us’, Doh?!
Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .
Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .
If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march
Yes. I agree with your assessment.
Started going bad right after WWII with the secrecy. Secrecy requires lies. Lies cover stuff up. Not long before the whole effort becomes one of protecting the people from what they don't want to know. And as long as there is cover and the people won't know... That part is definitely out of control and needs to find a wall to run into. Trying that with the economy doesn't work as well: ultimately, the lies result in either not having enough to eat or a decent place to live. Lot harder to hide that. It is now a contest to see how long we can/will stand for it...how much we will let them take. We could have a pool! The one who guesses closest to the time when everyone says: "I'm madder than hell and I'm not going to take it any more" wins every else's ration card for that day!
So glad to see you posting here
and I'm looking forward to what you'll be saying next.