Ideological Groupthink
When people turn a standard operating procedure into a conspiracy theory, we all lose
Nothing irks me more than “groupthink” on either side of the aisle. But I am particularly disturbed by the groupthink within MAGA. I immediately noticed how egregious this groupthink has been since the start of this pandemic. Trump created a “groupthink” mentality and MAGA has taken groupthink to the extreme.
The Duckpin yesterday wrote on the Republican Party “warping the definition of conservative, not letting the facts get in the way of their warped reality.” This is groupthink folks, and it is dangerous. The Duckpin’s post from yesterday.
What is groupthink? Let me provide some quotes:
“Groupthink is a term of the same order as the words in the newspeak vocabulary George Orwell uses in his dismaying world of 1974. In that context, groupthink takes on an insidious connotation. Exactly such a connotation is intended, since the term refers to a deterioration in mental efficiency, realty testing and moral judgments as a result of group pressures.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink
“Groupthink is a dangerous phenomenon that can occur when a group of people make decisions or come to conclusions based on the opinion of the majority rather than critical think and individual analysis.”
Why am I bringing this up? Yet again, the MAGA Groupthink is on full display. And it is dangerous.
The advisory committee on vaccines is meeting Oct. 19 and 20 with this purpose:
‘The committee is charged with advising the Director, CDC, on the use of immunizing agents. In addition, under 42 U.S.C. 1396s, the committee is mandated to establish and periodically review and, as appropriate, revise the list of vaccines for administration to vaccine-eligible children through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, along with schedules regarding dosing interval, dosage, and contraindications to administration of vaccines. Further, under provisions of the Affordable Care Act, section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act, immunization recommendations of the ACIP that have been approved by the CDC Director and appear on CDC immunization schedules must be covered by applicable health plans.”
https://www.regulations.gov/document/CDC-2022-0111-0001
This is all SOP, folks!!!! CDC, with the advisory board, have been doing this for years!!!!
Let me provide examples of this miserable groupthink going on right now among the MAGA crowd on FB in Maryland. It would be laughable if it weren’t so egregious. They don’t even stop to research. They don’t even stop when folks tell them what is going on. They don’t even stop when experts tell them what is going on.
Watch how rapid it spread last evening.
Next, and a nurse, to boot! She should know better!
I will not even name the Groupthinker below:
For all the talk that Gordana provides around “critical thinking”, she has jumped on the MAGA groupthink bandwagon yet again with vaccines.
It would have taken 30 minutes of research to determine what this meeting is all about. Let me provide some easy-to-find experts who tell us what is happening.
Folks, there is nothing going on here. This is SOP!!! CDC has been doing this for years. STOP making everything a conspiracy!!!! Instead of putting groupthink on steroids, STOP and research and think critically!
A quote from a research article entitled “Conservatives’ Susceptibility to Political Misperceptions”:
Conservatives displayed a slightly faster increase in their propensity to label all claims false as the proportion of falsehoods harming the ingroup grew.
In sum, American conservatives in the early 21st century are uniquely likely to hold political misperceptions. . . while viral falsehoods most often promote conservative interests. “ https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abf1234
Time to stop the groupthink and try some critical thinking. And I end with the words of a pediatrician.
!!
Please ignore the fear-mongering vaccine dis-information crowd.