[MortyAnvil]

Always good to give the warning signs of fascism a read.

POWERFUL AND CONTINUING NATIONALISM

DISDAIN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

IDENTIFICATION OF ENEMIES AS A UNIFYING CAUSE SUPREMACY OF THE MILITARY

RAMPANT SEXISM

CONTROLLED MASS MEDIA

OBSESSION WITH NATIONAL SECURITY

RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT INTERTWINED

CORPORATE POWER PROTECTED

LABOR POWER SUPPRESSED

DISDAIN FOR INTELLECTUALS & THE ARTS

OBSESSION WITH CRIME & PUNISHMENT

RAMPANT CRONYISM & CORRUPTION

FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS

[palmotea]

I went looking for a source for your list, as it definitely has a "polarized social media fever swamp" vibe. It appears that list was written by a little-known novelist who is often misrepresented as an academic, and gets things wrong: https://old.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5r5dai/are_t....

[riedel]

No need for warning signs: I think the problem about the facism diagnosis is only that comparison to historical figures like the infamous austrian painter is misleading. Just call it palingenetic ultranationalism and we probably really quickly get agreement.

[cluckindan]

Fascism, kakistocracy, what’s the difference?

[doener]

Elon Musk wants to save Western civilization from empathy

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/05/politics/elon-musk-rogan-...

[GolfPopper]

I think that was the single most horrific thing I've seen from him.

Since we're already discussing a novelist, I'll add some (spoken) lyrics[1], from "Sophia" by The Crüxshadows[2]:

"The human animal is a beautiful and terrible creature, capable of limitless compassion and unfathomable cruelty. If you wish to find that which becomes the dividing line between mankind and other biological classifications, it rests not in brain size, dominance, or even emotional capability. It lies within the innate capacity for human beings to reflect on their actions and show regret. It is most certainly the ability to empathize that gives them their position. All mammals understand love and affection, but only man shows a propensity to place himself in the shoes of another life-form. Losing this capability, among individuals of the species reduces them below their much heralded position and readies the climate for the likely fall of man. A fall from grace."

1. https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858623547/ 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPaUvYPRzrM