• NONE@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I seriously wonder if this guy actually believes what he’s saying or if he’s just saying it to fool the most gullible and naive investors.

    I don’t know which of the two possibilities is worse…

    • wjrii@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      It doesn’t get a lot of play, because it’s kind of obtuse, but he has extremely strong beliefs; they’re just ones that don’t preclude him saying this stuff to fool investors. There were a few pieces that have been written about it, and they flared up again after his weird antichrist lectures last year.

      The article hints at it it, but basically, he subscribes/contributes to an extreme variant of an obscure religion-adjacent philosophy that posits that the social stability benefits of an authoritarian Christian monoculture, preferably over the whole world due to some quirks of Christian theology, but certainly at least in the parts of the world where Christianity is a majority religion, are so amazing that they’re worth pretending that it’s all actually factually true, and that a surveillance state to preserve harmony (and, surprise side effect, it also locks in the power of the elites who establish it all!) is completely acceptable. Theoretically the Christianity part is optional, but there is a lot of risk inherent in not relying on the historical social glue.

      To him, seeking this is for the good of humankind. Anything that opposes any of it with any sort of sway, and especially from a Christian context, can be fairly called an antichrist. It’s some serious Leto II God Emperor of Dune shit.

      • bedwyr@piefed.ca
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        2 days ago

        Idk about that, he’s in a group that includes this Yarvin douchebag that is a thought leader amongst them.

        • wjrii@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          Mostly, I think he’s just so egotistical and so far up his own ass that he has completely conflated his own self-interest, instincts, hobbies, and ego with literally saving the world. Legitimately held beliefs are not necessarily legitimate beliefs.

          I do have to admit I enjoy his big-ackshully energy that reveals itself when people call him out on the Palantir name.

    • M137@lemmy.today
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      2 days ago

      “I don’t know which of the two possibilities is worse…”

      The theme of the 21st century.

    • RobMyBot@lemmy.ml
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      2 days ago

      The thing about lies is, if you tell them enough, you begin to genuinely believe them yourself.

    • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      He’s gay, talking about the antichrist and trying to discredit the pope.

      I think it’s propaganda.