My reasoning is… well it’s hard to explain without going 100% RL politics, which is as rude as it is counterproductive. Basically there’s different schools of thought on the strategy involved in asymmetrical warfare and I tend to come down on a particularly unpopular and effective side of the debate. That’s all I’m willing to say in public.
In terms of instrumental rationality, it’s pretty simple; being part of the winning team is generally useful, cheering and wearing the colors shows people you’re on the team, and you cheer a lot more enthusiastically when you actually believe it. Cognitive dissonance gets a bad rap, but it really is a lot easier to compartmentalize than to maintain a lie long-term.
being part of the winning team is generally useful
True. However cheering for your team while dehumanizing your opponents is often a poor way to make your team stronger in the long run. Labeling someone a terrorist diminishes your desire to understand their motivations and eventually mitigate further terrorism. Instead one ends up supporting Iraq war-style mission creep resulting in the needless deaths of those on your team.
In terms of instrumental rationality, it’s pretty simple; being part of the winning team is generally useful, cheering and wearing the colors shows people you’re on the team, and you cheer a lot more enthusiastically when you actually believe it.
“One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I for one welcome our new insect overlords. I’d like to remind them that as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves.”
My reasoning is… well it’s hard to explain without going 100% RL politics, which is as rude as it is counterproductive. Basically there’s different schools of thought on the strategy involved in asymmetrical warfare and I tend to come down on a particularly unpopular and effective side of the debate. That’s all I’m willing to say in public.
In terms of instrumental rationality, it’s pretty simple; being part of the winning team is generally useful, cheering and wearing the colors shows people you’re on the team, and you cheer a lot more enthusiastically when you actually believe it. Cognitive dissonance gets a bad rap, but it really is a lot easier to compartmentalize than to maintain a lie long-term.
True. However cheering for your team while dehumanizing your opponents is often a poor way to make your team stronger in the long run. Labeling someone a terrorist diminishes your desire to understand their motivations and eventually mitigate further terrorism. Instead one ends up supporting Iraq war-style mission creep resulting in the needless deaths of those on your team.
“One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I for one welcome our new insect overlords. I’d like to remind them that as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves.”