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Progressophobia: behind the situational blindness (political community)

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Bill Maher (from video at bottom): "They have a bad case of progressophobia. That's the phrase coined by Steven Pinker to describe a brain disorder that strikes liberals and makes them incapable of recognizing progress. It's like situational blindness, only what you can't see is that your dorm in 2021 is better than the South before the Civil War. If you think America is more racist now than ever, more sexist than before women could vote, and more homophobic than when it was a felony, you have progressophobia. And should adjust your mask because it's covering your eyes."

Progressophobia vaguely echoes Philip K. Dick's The Roman Empire Never Ended theory. Wherein the world seems to have obviously changed over the last 2,000 years, but for those receiving enlightenment it is exposed as having remained static behind the appearances. In progressophobia context, the recipients of such an epiphany are leftangelicals. (A more accurate term than Maher's overly broad sneer of "liberal", which is supposed to be quaintly self-deprecating due to being construed as such himself).

But this "fear" of acknowledgment doesn't really arise from a cognitive filter that blocks out the changes in society. Or something akin to Zeno's paradox where progress is an illusion because of the proposal that there are an infinite number of increments between _A_ and _Z_.

Progressophobia is instead "true calling" insecurity.

Virtue posturing, opportunistic altruism, victimhood, oppression, and paternalist bigotry ("you can't help yourself, so let us take over and manage you") are a valuable, exploitive industry for white leftangelicals; as well as perhaps a few minority leaders. In terms of activity and fodder to preach about, the whole Establishment benefits (the entertainment industry, politicians/government, journalism, academia, social media, etc.)

If one's career and social status aren't heavily served via being a crusader in this age where self-righteousness is once again in vogue, then it's at least what an individual may consider a purpose or meaning to their life. Analogous to a secular replacement for missionary work.

So the last thing either a soapbox lecturer or an active militant on the street wants is to perceive and promote the idea of the US being a better place now than in the past (i.e., to have less to crusade for).


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