I actually think you may be on to something, but disagree about the "know exactly what they are doing" part.
I think that for complex reasons, our dominant culture does seems to want children to be fearful and obedient. But I don't think that (most of) the people in charge of tormenting kids with muzzles and social isolation and bizarre rules are conscious of what they are doing. I think the great majority sincerely believe it's for the greater good and that they are doing the right thing in "protecting" children.
The real question is why they have convinced themselves that this bizarre narrative is true, and the response appropriate. There is something that is driving this at a much deeper, unconscious level. The adults themselves are fearful and obedient, and not even aware of how abnormal their behavior is. It's less that most people deliberately set out to hurt kids and render them fearful and obedient, and more like we're entered a strange alternate universe where fair is foul and foul is fair and most people can't see through the fog.
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branchandroot
Re: Forbes article on the effects of Covid restrictions on schoolchildren.
Date: 2021-09-09 11:33 am (UTC)I think that for complex reasons, our dominant culture does seems to want children to be fearful and obedient. But I don't think that (most of) the people in charge of tormenting kids with muzzles and social isolation and bizarre rules are conscious of what they are doing. I think the great majority sincerely believe it's for the greater good and that they are doing the right thing in "protecting" children.
The real question is why they have convinced themselves that this bizarre narrative is true, and the response appropriate. There is something that is driving this at a much deeper, unconscious level. The adults themselves are fearful and obedient, and not even aware of how abnormal their behavior is. It's less that most people deliberately set out to hurt kids and render them fearful and obedient, and more like we're entered a strange alternate universe where fair is foul and foul is fair and most people can't see through the fog.