free_man 0 #1 November 17, 2004 The 14 Characteristics of Fascism by Lawrence Britt Spring 2003 Free Inquiry magazine Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy. The 14 characteristics are: Powerful and Continuing Nationalism Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottoes, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc. Supremacy of the Military Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized. Rampant Sexism The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy. Controlled Mass Media Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common. Obsession with National Security Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses. Religion and Government are Intertwined Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions. Corporate Power is Protected The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite. Labor Power is Suppressed Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed . Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts. Obsession with Crime and Punishment Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders. Fraudulent Elections Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections. Copyright © 2003 Free Inquiry magazine Reprinted for Fair Use Only. http://www.veteransforpeace.org/The_14_characteristics_030303.htm ____________________________________________________ Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day. Thomas Jefferson “…because I hope you know this, I think you do…all governments are lying cocksuckers.” Bill Hicks, Relentless Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #2 November 17, 2004 Characteristics of a TROLL. 1) not puting any personally Info in their profile. 2) Posting only articles that support their crazy agenda. 3) Posting for the sole purpose of inciting trouble. Chris ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
juanesky 0 #3 November 17, 2004 Just came here to see if you actually filled out your profile....got to go now..."According to some of the conservatives here, it sounds like it's fine to beat your wide - as long as she had it coming." -Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,998 #4 November 17, 2004 > Characteristics of a TROLL. Calling people trolls is a personal attack EVEN IF YOU THINK THEY ARE. The usual warning. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #5 November 17, 2004 Bill when did this happen?????? I mean troll in the thread troll sense not in the short hairy smelly sense ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #6 November 17, 2004 Is that a short joke? SHORT POWER! Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #7 November 17, 2004 Shit.... I can't say short either... someone maybe offended. I bet PETA is behind all this too. Peta felt that the Trolls out there had feelings and should no longer be called such. ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #8 November 17, 2004 Really? Why? Is it not simply pointing out to the first poster that they are breaking the forum rules. Saying "troll" is simply a short hand for saying "the forum rules define what you just posted as posting a "troll" and such actions are banned. Someone who posts a "troll" thread is defined by the very rules of this site as a "troll". Why would it be a personal attack to use the terms laid down by the site rules? Sangiro mentions both personal attacks and trolling in the same breath when he sets out the rules to his site. Is saying something is a personal attack a personal attack? Why not? Why the distinction between two things that the rules appear to place into the same category? Sorry to be pedantic but this just strikes me as a really bizarre ruling. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,998 #9 November 17, 2004 > Bill when did this happen?????? From a post a few months back: ------------------------------------- Personal attacks It is important to realize that a personal attack is any attack (slurs, insults, denigrations, implications about their mothers, etc) or threat against another poster. Any such attack is not permitted here. This is true even if you are absolutely, 100% sure that the poster is stupid, or ignorant, or childish, or an ass. It doesn't matter if you think it is true or not, or even if you can prove they are an ass. You can't post such messages here. If you feel it is important to post such things, unmoderated forums like rec.skydiving do not have any such restrictions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,998 #10 November 17, 2004 > Saying "troll" is simply a short hand for saying "the forum rules define >what you just posted as posting a "troll" and such actions are banned. You are not allowed to call anyone names here. Those names include pedophile, troll, idiot etc. You cannot call someone a pedophile even if you wish to call attention to the fact that any reference to pedophilia is prohibited. The post in question was no more a troll than the innumerable "Michael Moore is an idiot!" posts are. "All you skydivers suck!" would be a troll and would be deleted. >Is saying something is a personal attack a personal attack? No. If you said "I feel that's a personal attack" no problem. If you say "you're a troll and you're engaging in personal attacks" then there is a problem. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #11 November 17, 2004 Quote> Bill when did this happen?????? From a post a few months back: ------------------------------------- Personal attacks It is important to realize that a personal attack is any attack (slurs, insults, denigrations, implications about their mothers, etc) or threat against another poster. Any such attack is not permitted here. This is true even if you are absolutely, 100% sure that the poster is stupid, or ignorant, or childish, or an ass. It doesn't matter if you think it is true or not, or even if you can prove they are an ass. You can't post such messages here. If you feel it is important to post such things, unmoderated forums like rec.skydiving do not have any such restrictions. Still Bill I do not see the personal attack... I am calling this person what HH calles them based on his description. It is not slander or a threat. It is merely an observation. For instance I am white. or, this guy is a troll. Not an insult, just a fact. But what ever.... ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #12 November 17, 2004 QuoteI am calling this person what HH calles them based on his description. hehe, HH has called people trolls more then a few times on DZ.com over the past few years.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #13 November 17, 2004 Bill, Seriously.... this is a question. If I said Bill Von is a dictator, is that a Personal Attack? Or is just my opinion of your behavior? ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #14 November 17, 2004 Aside from whether or not this post is a troll post or not... using the term "troll" surely can't be an insult - Sangiro uses it in his rules. He points to a dictionary definition. He bans trolling, and by the dictionary definition someone who trolls is a troll. Saying someone is a troll is by definition of the term, indicating that you think their post is in violation of the rules. It can't an insult. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,998 #15 November 17, 2004 >I am calling this person what HH calles them based on his description. Doesn't matter. If you called someone a pedophile, based on what HH says in his rules, you'd still get banned for it. "But I'm just discussing the rules!" is not a way to get around those rules. A really good way to deal with someone you consider a troll is just not reply to his thread. It will quickly scroll off the bottom of the screen. When you do reply, you indicate you think his topic is worthy of discussion - and it will stick around, as this thread has. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #16 November 17, 2004 Quote>I am calling this person what HH calles them based on his description. Doesn't matter. If you called someone a pedophile, based on what HH says in his rules, you'd still get banned for it. "But I'm just discussing the rules!" is not a way to get around those rules. A really good way to deal with someone you consider a troll is just not reply to his thread. It will quickly scroll off the bottom of the screen. When you do reply, you indicate you think his topic is worthy of discussion - and it will stick around, as this thread has. THe difference in these two cases is that the "P" word you keep referring to is clearly stated NEVER to be mentioned. That is much different from the Troll word. Bill, how many times have you posted this: "Don't Feed the trolls" By doing so you are calling that person a troll and by doing so then are personally attacking them!!!! This is somewhat hypocritical IMO!!!!! ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,998 #17 November 17, 2004 >Bill, how many times have you posted this: "Don't Feed the trolls" Never. >By doing so you are calling that person a troll and by doing so then >are personally attacking them!!!! >This is somewhat hypocritical IMO!!!!! Note my name appears here in green; thus one of my jobs is to determine things like what a personal attack is, what a troll is etc. Generally if I become aware of a troll I delete it. Also note that "things that piss you off" do not equal "troll." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pajarito 0 #18 November 17, 2004 I call BS on this one. He didn't call anyone anything. That would be like someone posting a link to the forum rules in response to someone's post. I guess you can read into the posts what you want to seeing as how it's your privilage and all but it seems to be kind of quick on the draw to me. But hey...carry on with your bad self! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MC208B 0 #19 November 17, 2004 Billvon, champion of the underdog and uninformed! Hope you had fun in P town anyway Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #20 November 17, 2004 QuoteBy doing so you are calling that person a troll and by doing so then are personally attacking them!!!! This is somewhat hypocritical IMO!!!!! If Bill does it its OK. If you do it its an attack. Right or wrong thats the way it is."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 9 #21 November 17, 2004 Alright, I don't give a rats-behind about Trolls or Troll-Accusations. We should call this time-period in Dropzone History "The Great Troll Trials of 2004" Yes, It is a neat to see these 14 characteristics of Fascism and look back upon history and see the progress (or DE-progress) of these military States. I'm a big history buff, and it gives me something to think about.. The word was spread in this thread that you had some agenda... I don't see any agenda here (but maybe I'm just dense..). If you are hinting anything more than "These are the characteristics of Fascism", then I fear you may dig yourself into a hole awfully quick, my friend... Good post though - something to look at and think about..=========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,452 #22 November 17, 2004 About trolls (taken from a link referenced in the forum rules) Quotethe term is generally considered to be correctly applied only to those looking to provoke outrage or discord And that differs from a lot of what's on SC how exactly? Do you really think that posters saying "fuck the queen" is not looking to provoke outrage or discord? I realize the original poster doesn't have any profile information -- that reduces the credibility that he has. It's an interesting article, but probably slanted. Duh. But it's no more slanted than the stuff from the anti-MM sites, or than MM's work itself. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
free_man 0 #23 November 17, 2004 This is a post of 14 characteristics of fascism, from an article written by a political scientist, who did a study on fascism. It is posted to inform, and hopefully get people to think and question. If you disagree/agree with any of these characteristics, please comment, if you think it is trolling, then instead of name calling "troll", state why you think it is trolling. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll If posting thought provoking alternatives to the status quo is trolling then so be it. It is easy to sit back and read, listen, and watch mainstream views (mostly propaganda/disinformation, IMHO), and deny any thing to the contrary. When challenged, cognitive dissonance kicks in, defense mechanisms turn on, instead try opening the mind and thinking of other posibilities. PEACE "The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them." Albert Einstein “…because I hope you know this, I think you do…all governments are lying cocksuckers.” Bill Hicks, Relentless Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
storm1977 0 #24 November 17, 2004 QuoteAbout trolls (taken from a link referenced in the forum rules) Quotethe term is generally considered to be correctly applied only to those looking to provoke outrage or discord And that differs from a lot of what's on SC how exactly? Do you really think that posters saying "fuck the queen" is not looking to provoke outrage or discord? I realize the original poster doesn't have any profile information -- that reduces the credibility that he has. It's an interesting article, but probably slanted. Duh. But it's no more slanted than the stuff from the anti-MM sites, or than MM's work itself. Wendy W. Wendy, the term I used is due to the Many posts over the past few days.... Click on this persons recent posts and view for youself.... Call a spade a spade ----------------------------------------------------- Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feuergnom 28 #25 November 17, 2004 not putting any personally Info in their profile *** you know what really sucks? basing credibility on things like jump numbers, license number, home-dz (you name it) in a forum where being a skydiver is more or less unimportant if i take a brief look in the profiles of _many_posters in dz.com it really looks like the _the_ place for people with more posts than jumps so to jump up for him (or any other poster) who for whatever reason there might be, has no interest in filling out their absolutely fake-proof dz-profile – the habit of flaming somebody for named reasons sucks BIG TIME The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle dudeist skydiver # 666 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
