Contrarian Conformity with David Frum | Bulwark Podcast Clip

TL;DR

Individuals who turned against woke attitudes in universities and now campaign against wokeism and vaccines may be driven by psychological factors rather than logical ones.

Transcript

so i'm not going to use names here but i you know who i'm talking about and i think many listeners of this podcast have they consume other podcasts there is a group of people who in 2014 and 2015 they might have had um liberal or left-wing backgrounds but because uh they they got offended by woke attitudes in the university um the lack of regard fo... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Some individuals turned against woke attitudes in universities and substituted ideology over science, leading them to oppose wokeism and now vaccines.
• 🇦🇬 The shift from championing ideas to defending folkways may contribute to the lack of logical connection between anti-wokeism and anti-vaxxism.
• 🧑‍🏭 Psychological factors, such as a desire for independence and a feeling of being underappreciated, may drive individuals to campaign against wokeism and vaccines.
• 👨‍🔬 Anti-vaxx ideology appeals to individuals who are somewhat informed and passionate, as they often conduct their own research and feel underappreciated compared to others.
• 🇦🇬 Collective behavior among anti-woke and anti-vaxx individuals suggests a group mindset rather than individual oppositionism.
• 🇦🇬 There is a disconnect between anti-wokeism and anti-vaxxism, as anti-woke individuals may not necessarily be anti-vaxx and vice versa.
• 🙈 The rejection of mainstream beliefs and the desire to be seen as independent thinkers may contribute to the adoption of anti-vaxx beliefs.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did some individuals with left-wing backgrounds turn against woke attitudes and now campaign against wokeism and vaccines?

These individuals were offended by the substitution of ideology over science and the lack of regard for scientific achievement in universities. They found refuge in the podcast and sub-stack space where they oppose wokeism and now vaccines.

Q: Is there a logical connection between anti-wokeism and anti-vaxxism?

No, there is no logical connection between the two. Anti-wokeism and anti-vaxxism seem more like posturing and attitudes rather than coherent ideologies. They might be driven by a desire to be seen as independent thinkers and resistant to groupthink.

Q: Why do anti-vaxxers claim to be independent thinkers while following a group?

While some anti-vaxxers may claim to be contrarians or independent thinkers, the collective movement suggests that their opposition is not solely rooted in individualism. They exhibit synchronized behavior like the pivot seen when Joe Rogan moved, indicating a group mindset.

Q: What type of people does anti-vaxx ideology strongly appeal to?

Anti-vaxx ideology tends to resonate with individuals who are somewhat informed and interested in keeping up with information. These individuals often feel underappreciated compared to others despite their knowledge, leading them to reject mainstream beliefs and conduct their own research.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Some people with liberal or left-wing backgrounds turned against woke attitudes and substituted ideology over science, leading them to campaign against wokeism and vaccines.

• The shift from championing ideas to defending folkways, such as guns and fried food, may contribute to the disconnect between anti-wokeism and anti-vaxxism.

• The psychological drivers behind these behaviors include a desire to be seen as independent thinkers and a feeling of being underappreciated compared to others.