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Reading Tolkien will turn you into a right-wing extremists - UK Government

Started by GeekyBugle, March 10, 2023, 12:11:36 AM

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GeekyBugle

March 10, 2023, 12:11:36 AM
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

I

#1
March 12, 2023, 10:28:00 AM
Horrifying.  It's especially amusing to see Orwell on that list.  I'm proud to say that I have read most of those "harmful" books, but will make it a point in the future to read those on the list that I haven't read yet.

Trond

#2
March 12, 2023, 11:06:19 AM
When I saw that I almost coughed up my coffee, but I didn't want to ruin my brown shirt and my tiny square mustache.

GeekyBugle

#4
March 12, 2023, 01:02:40 PM
Buy the physical books if you haven't, before they "sanitize" them. Proving Orwell right.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

― George Orwell

Ghostmaker

#5
March 13, 2023, 11:11:28 AM
They've already started with Dahl and Fleming.

Even with the outcry, they cannot be trusted.

"Sure as I know anything, I know this - they will try again. Maybe on another world, maybe on this very ground swept clean. A year from now, ten? They'll swing back to the belief that they can make people... better. And I do not hold to that. So no more runnin'. I aim to misbehave." --Mal Reynolds, Serenity

The Spaniard

#6
March 14, 2023, 01:18:34 PM
What if you were already one?  Does it push you all the way to the other end of the spectrum?

Stephen Tannhauser

#7
March 14, 2023, 06:28:02 PM
Quote from: The Spaniard on March 14, 2023, 01:18:34 PM
What if you were already one?  Does it push you all the way to the other end of the spectrum?

In the '60s Tolkien was a hallmark of hippie counterculture, which was itself a reaction against '50s bourgeoisieism, so yeah, it might well do so.
Better to keep silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt. -- Mark Twain

STR 8 DEX 10 CON 10 INT 11 WIS 6 CHA 3

SHARK

#8
March 15, 2023, 06:33:34 AM
Quote from: The Spaniard on March 14, 2023, 01:18:34 PM
What if you were already one?  Does it push you all the way to the other end of the spectrum?

Greetings!

*Laughing* A girlfriend asked me, "What are your ideas on Politics? Where do you fit with politics?"

I answered, "I sit at the RIGHT HAND of Genghis Khan."

She was hugely amused, and shrieked with laughter. But she knew what I meant, and where I stand, politically.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK
"It is the Marine Corps that will strip away the façade so easily confused with self. It is the Corps that will offer the pain needed to buy the truth. And at last, each will own the privilege of looking inside himself  to discover what truly resides there. Comfort is an illusion. A false security b

The Spaniard

#9
March 15, 2023, 07:52:22 AM
Quote from: SHARK on March 15, 2023, 06:33:34 AM
Quote from: The Spaniard on March 14, 2023, 01:18:34 PM
What if you were already one?  Does it push you all the way to the other end of the spectrum?

Greetings!

*Laughing* A girlfriend asked me, "What are your ideas on Politics? Where do you fit with politics?"

I answered, "I sit at the RIGHT HAND of Genghis Khan."

She was hugely amused, and shrieked with laughter. But she knew what I meant, and where I stand, politically.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Amen!

Armchair Gamer

#10
March 15, 2023, 09:23:50 AM
Quote from: Stephen Tannhauser on March 14, 2023, 06:28:02 PM
Quote from: The Spaniard on March 14, 2023, 01:18:34 PM
What if you were already one?  Does it push you all the way to the other end of the spectrum?

In the '60s Tolkien was a hallmark of hippie counterculture, which was itself a reaction against '50s bourgeoisieism, so yeah, it might well do so.

   Having read Tolkien's letters thoroughly, this is why I have recently formulated a policy of never judging a work based solely on its fanbase. :)

oggsmash

#11
March 17, 2023, 05:42:20 AM
   I think the bar to be a right wing extremist in the UK is extremely low.   It is really, really low in the USA now.  Basically if you are a 90's democrat or right of that ....you are a right wing extremist.

Brad

#12
March 17, 2023, 06:55:54 AM
"Right-wing extremist" in this case means standing up to an evil tyrant, I suppose.
It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance.

Neoplatonist1

#13
March 21, 2023, 02:42:33 PM
Quote from: GeekyBugle on March 10, 2023, 12:11:36 AM
You're all just a bunch of right-wing extremists according to the British government.

https://boundingintocomics.com/2023/03/08/british-government-reportedly-believes-radicalization-into-the-far-right-can-occur-from-reading-tolkien-c-s-lewis-aldous-huxley-and-george-orwell/

Did anyone else feel their mind numbed by the government-speak quoted in that article?

You'd think any self-respecting autocracy would encourage people to read 1984, the useless and evil book that it is, to help demoralize their citizenry.

Garry G

#14
March 24, 2023, 04:29:18 PM
I think there's a lack of nuance here. There's been an historical problem with the Prevent strategy in the UK in its focus on Muslim extremism whilst not addressing right wing extremism. This is a problem because there have been some terrible right wing attacks over the last decade from the killing of a Labour MP to recent attacks on elderly Muslim men, they were burned to death whilst leaving a mosque.

This sort of stuff needs to be addressed and it's not unusual for a government to want it to be investigated. So they investigate and get reports and this is one of the reports. It may or may not be useful but I'm sure we all agree that trying to address ideologies that lead to people setting fire to elderly men is a good thing. I know the were Muslim but come on.

It's also interesting that there's a link to the Tolkein Society being worried about the writers work being appropriated by dangerous people,

https://boundingintocomics.com/2022/07/05/tolkien-society-to-feature-paper-titled-j-r-r-tolkien-culture-warrior-the-alt-right-religious-crusades-appropriation-of-tolkien-at-oxonmoot-2022/

I can see how the links can be made.

So basically the UK government, who currently can't really be accused of being liberal in any way, are looking at ways to stop people being so radicalised that they start killing MP's  and burning old men in the streets by engaging people before they get to that stage. I'm good with research into doing this.
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