"The post-totalitarian system touches people at every step, but it does so with its ideological gloves on. This is why life in the system is so thoroughly permeated with hypocrisy and lies: government by bureaucracy is called popular government; the working class is enslaved in the name of the working class; the complete degradation of the individual is presented as his ultimate liberation; depriving people of information is called making it available; the use of power to manipulate is called the public control of power, and the arbitrary abuse of power is called observing the legal code; the repression of culture is called its development; the expansion of imperial influence is presented as support for the oppressed; the lack of free expression becomes the highest form of freedom; farcical elections become the highest form of democracy; banning independent thought becomes the most scientific of world views; military occupation becomes fraternal assistance. Because the regime is captive to its own lies, it must falsify everything. It falsifies the past. It falsifies the present, and it falsifies the future. It falsifies statistics. It pretends not to possess an omnipotent and unprincipled police apparatus. It pretends to respect human rights. It pretends to persecute no one. It pretends to fear nothing. It pretends to pretend nothing.
Individuals need not believe all these mystifications, but they must behave as though they did, or they must at least tolerate them in silence, or get along well with those who work with them. For this reason, however, they must live within a lie. They need not accept the lie. It is enough for them to have accepted their life with it and in it. For by this very fact, individuals confirm the system, fulfill the system, make the system, are the system."
This LeBron phenomenon is no different than the NASA lie phenomenon. There are multiple dozens of videos and images that show they're faking and lying a lot. For years I compiled many of the NASA source documents/videos showing this in order to "convince" people.
The one thing I have learned over the years with the documentaries that I have made is that I have quit trying to convince people, and I simply present the truth and then it's up to the person to decide whether they can accept the truth of what is before them.
Very few people go to any great extent to prove to themselves beyond a reasonable doubt that the things that they believe are actually true.
The few that do either become very lonely or they learn to live with and around those that still unknowingly live in a world of deception.
Amathia is a term derived from Ancient Greek that translates to "intelligent stupidity" or "willful ignorance." It refers to a conscious choice to remain ignorant or to ignore evidence despite having the ability to understand or learn better. Otherwise known as reality avoidance - a pretend cover-up - whatever you want to call it - appeasing our overlords - it's much worse than the crime - injecting experimental bio-weapons masquerading as vaccines - played God - changed the entire fucking human genome.
Detrick Bonhoeffer called it the "collective stupidity" of the masses, the "human defect" that prevents openness to reason or facts; "reality avoidance" is a good term to describe pre-Nazi and Nazi Germany, as is "appeasing our overlords" which opened the door to world-wide tyranny to this day...same strategies with different actors!
I was a HOA board member for a few months once in 2009 and resigned before my term was up as I was sick of dealing with the crazy neighbors. I could have written a book on my negative experiences. I told myself never again. On 2 subsequent HOAs since I have completely ignored them and no longer attend annual meetings and such. One HOA said storm doors are not allowed and I ignored them and installed a full length glass one that matched the trim color of the home so it looked nice and like it was done as part of the new home build. Within 2 weeks 3 more neighbors installed storm doors on the same street. Never heard a thing from the HOA. I guess I was the trend setter.
About 4 years ago I replaced my roof and painted the exterior both of which require “approval” from the HOA board. This is a different neighborhood than the storm door incident. I did not seek approval and replaced the roof and painted the exterior and never heard from them. Granted I didn’t do green or red shingles which may cause some issues but I don’t need approval from a board who are not interior/exterior designers to tell me what is acceptable from a color palette perspective. I’m an anarchist and don’t want to be ruled over by anyone. Government and so called authority figures is not our ally and nearly always is our enemy.
that tactic is extended to aesthetic "code enforcement" in municipal corporations.
the whiny busybodies are to be pacified, per code, by a government enforcement agency with punitive financial powers levied through court and armed lackeys who will drag homeowners to jail if they refuse to participate in the City HOA farce.
After reading this exposure of LeBron James as a prime example of Epistemic deception in American popular culture it reminds me of Mark Twain's observation that "It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled."
To start with, I ditto the others here with accolades to the writer and this platform. I am pushing 73 yrs. and grew up immersed in all things sports. I remember as if yesterday 1961 and M&M boys battle to break Babe Ruth's home run record and the comradery between the two . I remember the NY Knicks of the early seventies and still consider them the greatest team in history. I had season tickets to the NY Islanders during their heyday and also attended the ABA games when Dr. J ruled. Such a wonderful time to be a sports fan. I was myself a ranked horseman who competed in some of the same venues. I could go on and on reminiscing about boxing and tennis greats etc. I have not for years now watched any sports except for The UCONN women's BB team as too many things to list here have ruined it all. I will admit to not watching the videos posted here as I can't stand watching Mr. James or the others of his ilk or listening to the lame ass ESPN shill commentators. Such a long, sad decline in both the sportsmanship and commentating and over the top hoopla in every genre of sport . Add to that the grandstanding for social and political ideologies by people who would not be making a living other than scoring points in a game is demeaning to the rest of us. If this sounds like the rantings of an old fart then I will have say you are correct and I am proud of it!
Imo, pro sports is the deep state, bread and circus for the people. And they eat it up. I guess the ref's are scared to speak up, who wants to break the big money machine, right?
I'll watch the NHL but that's about it these days. That said, I couldn't care less if my team lost. At the end of the day, it's content to consume, but consume responsibly, and never let it completely distract you.
This is kind of off sport subject but, if you open your eyes, this has become chronic in everyday life. The fake rules that do not get enforced (at work) but are listed so just in case they want to use this rule (after maybe 20 times it is abused), or they just don't like you, are used as supreme power. Or we just don't have the backbone to correct the situation. So let everyone else pick up the slack while we enable your bad behavior.
Haha, it is a joke and it reminds me of how parents raise children now days. No structure and stability. Sports and other ruled deception have become spoiled brats. Who gives them this power? YOU DO. It's the come-along-get-along society. Don't push back or call anyone out on it, because you get shoved into the "Nope, we don't like you and we will destroy you" folder.
It truly has become, (i say become because it did not used to be this way) an upside down nasty place to be. It is dark dysfunctional control of others, instead of control of oneself for decency and humanity.
I quit watching or even wanting to watch this sport circus, ages ago when I noticed it had turned as corrupt as hollywood. Now, that's an even larger subject.
There is no entertainment value to any of it. TV is not really in my routine much, anymore.
Wow. I could not take my eyes off that incriminating video of LeBron James' intentional fouls that I'd categorize as assaults and his overall crybaby and/or threatening behavior.
He has no concept of respect, sportsmanship, or fair play. He's an ugly, 'roid raging, dirty, cheating thug.
Awards, as well are BS now days too. Woo-hoo, "ya got an award------for participating". Look at the noble peace prize! Barack Obama??? I think all of the awards are a set up for stupor spells, cast for who knows what reason. CRAZY TOWN right now.
I'm encouraged to see another person who choose us to look at situations as binary, yes or no. I have a long career as an engineer and I tend to simplify things much more than they probably should be torn apart. I also have the son who is a summa and philosophy and logic who keeps me straight as far as the ways I think about things and come to conclusions are concerned. I like your parallel with LeBron. A 6 ft 9 in Man attacking a referee makes no sense. I happen to have a friend who is an NBA referee. She has some interesting stories to tell.
Isn’t this strikingly similar to the Kobe Bryant case at the beginning of his career? Different facts, obviously, but the same institutional behavior. Kobe was initially arrested for rape. That part tends to get memory-holed now, but it happened. What followed was a rapid closing of ranks: the criminal case collapsed, a civil settlement followed, the accuser was publicly vilified, and the league, sponsors, and media moved swiftly to protect a generational asset.
What’s revealing isn’t just the outcome, but the shift in posture. Almost immediately, the question stopped being “what happened?” and became “how do we contain the damage?” Accountability didn’t vanish outright — it became negotiable. Rules remained on the books, but enforcement bent under the weight of money, legacy, and brand value.
That’s what this situation feels like too. Once an institution decides someone is its chosen face, scrutiny becomes selective. Silence appears where outrage would normally be automatic. Behavior that would trigger immediate consequences for others gets reframed, minimized, or ignored. No memo is required — referees, journalists, league officials, and sponsors all understand the incentive structure instinctively.
In both cases, greatness becomes a shield. Fans are encouraged to confuse athletic excellence with moral exemption, and anyone who points this out is treated as if they’re attacking the sport itself rather than questioning the system around it. It’s not that stars never do wrong — it’s that some stars are simply too expensive to hold fully accountable.
Different era, different player, different circumstances — same machine. Once you recognize the pattern, it’s hard not to see it operating everywhere power and money demand protection.
"The post-totalitarian system touches people at every step, but it does so with its ideological gloves on. This is why life in the system is so thoroughly permeated with hypocrisy and lies: government by bureaucracy is called popular government; the working class is enslaved in the name of the working class; the complete degradation of the individual is presented as his ultimate liberation; depriving people of information is called making it available; the use of power to manipulate is called the public control of power, and the arbitrary abuse of power is called observing the legal code; the repression of culture is called its development; the expansion of imperial influence is presented as support for the oppressed; the lack of free expression becomes the highest form of freedom; farcical elections become the highest form of democracy; banning independent thought becomes the most scientific of world views; military occupation becomes fraternal assistance. Because the regime is captive to its own lies, it must falsify everything. It falsifies the past. It falsifies the present, and it falsifies the future. It falsifies statistics. It pretends not to possess an omnipotent and unprincipled police apparatus. It pretends to respect human rights. It pretends to persecute no one. It pretends to fear nothing. It pretends to pretend nothing.
Individuals need not believe all these mystifications, but they must behave as though they did, or they must at least tolerate them in silence, or get along well with those who work with them. For this reason, however, they must live within a lie. They need not accept the lie. It is enough for them to have accepted their life with it and in it. For by this very fact, individuals confirm the system, fulfill the system, make the system, are the system."
Václav Havel: The Power of the Powerless (1978)
WOW, that was it. Spot-On
Very astute Chris! this is a captured planet and we are loosh for the controllers.
Chris Weisdorf -wow!
Excellent - thank you
Havel knew and understood; very insightful quote and analysis!
This LeBron phenomenon is no different than the NASA lie phenomenon. There are multiple dozens of videos and images that show they're faking and lying a lot. For years I compiled many of the NASA source documents/videos showing this in order to "convince" people.
The one thing I have learned over the years with the documentaries that I have made is that I have quit trying to convince people, and I simply present the truth and then it's up to the person to decide whether they can accept the truth of what is before them.
Very few people go to any great extent to prove to themselves beyond a reasonable doubt that the things that they believe are actually true.
The few that do either become very lonely or they learn to live with and around those that still unknowingly live in a world of deception.
Great comment. Makes me think of this word:
Amathia is a term derived from Ancient Greek that translates to "intelligent stupidity" or "willful ignorance." It refers to a conscious choice to remain ignorant or to ignore evidence despite having the ability to understand or learn better. Otherwise known as reality avoidance - a pretend cover-up - whatever you want to call it - appeasing our overlords - it's much worse than the crime - injecting experimental bio-weapons masquerading as vaccines - played God - changed the entire fucking human genome.
Detrick Bonhoeffer called it the "collective stupidity" of the masses, the "human defect" that prevents openness to reason or facts; "reality avoidance" is a good term to describe pre-Nazi and Nazi Germany, as is "appeasing our overlords" which opened the door to world-wide tyranny to this day...same strategies with different actors!
It is all to absurd for most people to wrap their brains around so they just retreat.
The last paragraph is so fu__in true.. For me anyway...
Incredible writing.. one of the best and most important posts I've read on Substack, or anywhere for that matter! Excellent!!!!!
This same “machine” works in the lowly HOA (Home Owner Association) board - a failed experiment which attracts authoritarian bullies
I was a HOA board member for a few months once in 2009 and resigned before my term was up as I was sick of dealing with the crazy neighbors. I could have written a book on my negative experiences. I told myself never again. On 2 subsequent HOAs since I have completely ignored them and no longer attend annual meetings and such. One HOA said storm doors are not allowed and I ignored them and installed a full length glass one that matched the trim color of the home so it looked nice and like it was done as part of the new home build. Within 2 weeks 3 more neighbors installed storm doors on the same street. Never heard a thing from the HOA. I guess I was the trend setter.
About 4 years ago I replaced my roof and painted the exterior both of which require “approval” from the HOA board. This is a different neighborhood than the storm door incident. I did not seek approval and replaced the roof and painted the exterior and never heard from them. Granted I didn’t do green or red shingles which may cause some issues but I don’t need approval from a board who are not interior/exterior designers to tell me what is acceptable from a color palette perspective. I’m an anarchist and don’t want to be ruled over by anyone. Government and so called authority figures is not our ally and nearly always is our enemy.
Right Side - Love it!
Applaud you for your ability to be a non-conformist to the idiocy.
that tactic is extended to aesthetic "code enforcement" in municipal corporations.
the whiny busybodies are to be pacified, per code, by a government enforcement agency with punitive financial powers levied through court and armed lackeys who will drag homeowners to jail if they refuse to participate in the City HOA farce.
SAN , oh SAN sooooo true .
Great piece!
After reading this exposure of LeBron James as a prime example of Epistemic deception in American popular culture it reminds me of Mark Twain's observation that "It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled."
too true.
To start with, I ditto the others here with accolades to the writer and this platform. I am pushing 73 yrs. and grew up immersed in all things sports. I remember as if yesterday 1961 and M&M boys battle to break Babe Ruth's home run record and the comradery between the two . I remember the NY Knicks of the early seventies and still consider them the greatest team in history. I had season tickets to the NY Islanders during their heyday and also attended the ABA games when Dr. J ruled. Such a wonderful time to be a sports fan. I was myself a ranked horseman who competed in some of the same venues. I could go on and on reminiscing about boxing and tennis greats etc. I have not for years now watched any sports except for The UCONN women's BB team as too many things to list here have ruined it all. I will admit to not watching the videos posted here as I can't stand watching Mr. James or the others of his ilk or listening to the lame ass ESPN shill commentators. Such a long, sad decline in both the sportsmanship and commentating and over the top hoopla in every genre of sport . Add to that the grandstanding for social and political ideologies by people who would not be making a living other than scoring points in a game is demeaning to the rest of us. If this sounds like the rantings of an old fart then I will have say you are correct and I am proud of it!
College wrestling and college XC might be the only ones left untainted.
Imo, pro sports is the deep state, bread and circus for the people. And they eat it up. I guess the ref's are scared to speak up, who wants to break the big money machine, right?
It's all theatrics. They are all part of it.
I'll watch the NHL but that's about it these days. That said, I couldn't care less if my team lost. At the end of the day, it's content to consume, but consume responsibly, and never let it completely distract you.
This is kind of off sport subject but, if you open your eyes, this has become chronic in everyday life. The fake rules that do not get enforced (at work) but are listed so just in case they want to use this rule (after maybe 20 times it is abused), or they just don't like you, are used as supreme power. Or we just don't have the backbone to correct the situation. So let everyone else pick up the slack while we enable your bad behavior.
Haha, it is a joke and it reminds me of how parents raise children now days. No structure and stability. Sports and other ruled deception have become spoiled brats. Who gives them this power? YOU DO. It's the come-along-get-along society. Don't push back or call anyone out on it, because you get shoved into the "Nope, we don't like you and we will destroy you" folder.
It truly has become, (i say become because it did not used to be this way) an upside down nasty place to be. It is dark dysfunctional control of others, instead of control of oneself for decency and humanity.
I quit watching or even wanting to watch this sport circus, ages ago when I noticed it had turned as corrupt as hollywood. Now, that's an even larger subject.
There is no entertainment value to any of it. TV is not really in my routine much, anymore.
Stay sane and stay busy.
Merry Christ-mas Ya'll.
Wow. I could not take my eyes off that incriminating video of LeBron James' intentional fouls that I'd categorize as assaults and his overall crybaby and/or threatening behavior.
He has no concept of respect, sportsmanship, or fair play. He's an ugly, 'roid raging, dirty, cheating thug.
Awards, as well are BS now days too. Woo-hoo, "ya got an award------for participating". Look at the noble peace prize! Barack Obama??? I think all of the awards are a set up for stupor spells, cast for who knows what reason. CRAZY TOWN right now.
And its like screaming into a hurricane if you say anything different than what you are supposed to say.
Wow wow wow
I'm encouraged to see another person who choose us to look at situations as binary, yes or no. I have a long career as an engineer and I tend to simplify things much more than they probably should be torn apart. I also have the son who is a summa and philosophy and logic who keeps me straight as far as the ways I think about things and come to conclusions are concerned. I like your parallel with LeBron. A 6 ft 9 in Man attacking a referee makes no sense. I happen to have a friend who is an NBA referee. She has some interesting stories to tell.
Agree with Tao Jones…. Brilliant piece, as all of your posts seem to be! Upgrading to paid…. Just adore the insight and clarity in your writing!
Excellent analysis!
Isn’t this strikingly similar to the Kobe Bryant case at the beginning of his career? Different facts, obviously, but the same institutional behavior. Kobe was initially arrested for rape. That part tends to get memory-holed now, but it happened. What followed was a rapid closing of ranks: the criminal case collapsed, a civil settlement followed, the accuser was publicly vilified, and the league, sponsors, and media moved swiftly to protect a generational asset.
What’s revealing isn’t just the outcome, but the shift in posture. Almost immediately, the question stopped being “what happened?” and became “how do we contain the damage?” Accountability didn’t vanish outright — it became negotiable. Rules remained on the books, but enforcement bent under the weight of money, legacy, and brand value.
That’s what this situation feels like too. Once an institution decides someone is its chosen face, scrutiny becomes selective. Silence appears where outrage would normally be automatic. Behavior that would trigger immediate consequences for others gets reframed, minimized, or ignored. No memo is required — referees, journalists, league officials, and sponsors all understand the incentive structure instinctively.
In both cases, greatness becomes a shield. Fans are encouraged to confuse athletic excellence with moral exemption, and anyone who points this out is treated as if they’re attacking the sport itself rather than questioning the system around it. It’s not that stars never do wrong — it’s that some stars are simply too expensive to hold fully accountable.
Different era, different player, different circumstances — same machine. Once you recognize the pattern, it’s hard not to see it operating everywhere power and money demand protection.