Facts alone rarely penetrate this structure because facts are processed through the identity they threaten. The more politically useful the belief, the more psychologically defended it becomes.
Great essay. I would also add that for anybody wishing to end the conversation, in a quick and civilized way, I recommend asking "what should Israel have done?" That generally clears the room.
I am of the mind to NOT CARE WHAT THEY THINK. I refuse to defend. I refuse to apologize, I refuse to care as that would be a lie. I don’t care. Never have, never will. I switch the conversation to my favorite coffee. Yup that’s much I care.
Solid advice that I am incapable of following. My reaction to folk who spout the BS words in regard to Israel: genocide, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, colonization, is that I am dealing with a moron incapable of critical thinking. Their brain has been infected with the demon spawned Jew hatred worm. My response if I have the patience to listen to the BS is to respond, "What a bunch of BS. Lordy, you can't believe the BS you just spouted." If I engage a bit, I remind them hamas slaughtered 1200 in one day on October 7th, and pledged to make everyday October 7th. The only reason they have failed in doing so is Israel stopped the slaughter. It isn't for lack of trying. I then ask how come in 2.5 years of war Israel hasn't matched the one day death count hamas achieved on October 7th. Until they can answer that question, which they never can with intelligence, I am done with them.
I feel no need to convince them of anything. Their opinion means nothing to me. The one thing I do follow is I remain calm. I have dealt with many morons, some violent, in my 28 years of law enforcement. The important thing is to remain calm and have no fear, Hashem is with you.
Personally, my interactions have proved fruitless. Either they always ensure they outnumber you, or when you keep continuing them with their own twisted "logic", they refuse to continue talking and telling you "Well, this is just how I feel". When it's two three or four on one, it's impossible to counter every ridiculous position they take. When they confess that it's just how they feel, there's no arguing with them about their feelings.
Since October 7th, I've been unable to make any headway with anyone. They are effectively brainwashed.
The Jewish Exodus and our scattering to Asia and Europe as the Diaspora began with the Roman Emperor Hadrian’s destruction of Jerusalem, and the Expulsion of The Jews from Judea, and its compulsory renaming as Palestinia. This is where the Holocausts and Pogroms which have happened to us started. We would not have been in Europe and the Russian lands without the horror of The Roman Expulsions. This is Real History. Start here.
I think we need simple and concise questions that force certain acknowledgements of their own ignorance of hypocrisy... "Wasn't Jesus a Jew who lived and died there centuries before Islam?" "Aren't Arabs originally from Arabia?" "Doesn't Israel have a 20% Muslim population with full equal rights?" "How many Muslim countries are there?" "Aren't the 50+ Muslim countries religiously homogenous?" "Which Muslim countries allow for LGBT people to live openly and legally?" "Have there been any genocides that have also lead to population growth?" "When Palestine was named Palestine weren't all of the inhabitants Jewish over 400 years before Islam."
Mass Formation Psychosis lives. Maybe not in the current DSM 5 but it’s alive and well in the minds of Jew Haters everywhere. The article is a field guide for confronting it in the wild.
A wonderful “wish fulfillment “ essay. I, personally, loved it, less because I’m a clinician and more because of your clever use of snark. First smile of the day
I read this response from "rtiste212" after reading Thomas Friedman's opinion piece in today's NYT. I experience mixed messages and so many feelings. As an American, Netanyahu does not represent me (nor does tRump). Food for thought from: tiste212
New York · 10h ago
My father fought in Europe in WWII and came home with stories of the atrocities he'd seen on the part of the Germans. Since childhood, I heard the stories of family members and others who suffered during the Holocaust. I met victims who survived, but whose lives were ruined by their experiences. The loss to humanity seemed unbearable. I was as solid a supporter of Israel as could be.
Now we see atrocities that Netanyahu has ordered. I see things being done to the Palestinians that I thought no Jew could ever do. As much as it pains me, I cannot close my eyes to what I see. I have to say that I disagree with Mr. Friedman strongly and that Mayor Mamdani took the courageous, moral stance of a good man. I'm sorry for those good people in Israel who are now considered guilty by association. I'm even sorrier for those who have been killed or whose lives have been destroyed. Never again must mean that those things we all abhor will not be done to anyone, anywhere, ever again.
Mary McCarthy famous put down of Lilliane Hellman applies perfectly to Mayor Mamdani’s recent ill-advised screed against Prime Minister Netanyahu, every word he said is a lie including “and” and “the”.
When even the disgraced former ICC prosecutor Karim Kahn admits there’s no evidence of genocide, the game is truly up and Mamdani’s mendacity is there for all to see.
And if you think Netanyahu “ordered” atrocities or anything remotely like it, you simply show that you have no understanding of how the Israeli government and the IDF operate. And that makes it hard to take seriously anything you’ve written.
“Mayor Mamdani took the courageous, moral stance of a good man”??? Really?? I’m afraid you’re very mistaken and that you won’t recognize NYC after he gets done with it. If I were a Jew living in NYC, I would get out—NOW!
This is really good "user" manual for anybody that encounters "Free Palestine" specimen that is even able to shut up and retains ability to listen . Interlocutor of such specimen would need own therapist in tow to intervene before thoughts of hopelessness and futility of such discussions set in.
There is some good advice here. When Zionists start denying the rape of Palestinian prisoners I do wonder whether it's worth continuing the conversation. When Zionists start their narrative with "Well, in the Hebrew Bible, YHWH..." I do tend to yawn and phase out. And when they start trying to justify clear violations of international law I realise I might as well be trying to convince a criminal not to be what he already is.
Great essay. I would also add that for anybody wishing to end the conversation, in a quick and civilized way, I recommend asking "what should Israel have done?" That generally clears the room.
I am of the mind to NOT CARE WHAT THEY THINK. I refuse to defend. I refuse to apologize, I refuse to care as that would be a lie. I don’t care. Never have, never will. I switch the conversation to my favorite coffee. Yup that’s much I care.
Solid advice that I am incapable of following. My reaction to folk who spout the BS words in regard to Israel: genocide, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, colonization, is that I am dealing with a moron incapable of critical thinking. Their brain has been infected with the demon spawned Jew hatred worm. My response if I have the patience to listen to the BS is to respond, "What a bunch of BS. Lordy, you can't believe the BS you just spouted." If I engage a bit, I remind them hamas slaughtered 1200 in one day on October 7th, and pledged to make everyday October 7th. The only reason they have failed in doing so is Israel stopped the slaughter. It isn't for lack of trying. I then ask how come in 2.5 years of war Israel hasn't matched the one day death count hamas achieved on October 7th. Until they can answer that question, which they never can with intelligence, I am done with them.
I feel no need to convince them of anything. Their opinion means nothing to me. The one thing I do follow is I remain calm. I have dealt with many morons, some violent, in my 28 years of law enforcement. The important thing is to remain calm and have no fear, Hashem is with you.
Great response, Steve.
Personally, my interactions have proved fruitless. Either they always ensure they outnumber you, or when you keep continuing them with their own twisted "logic", they refuse to continue talking and telling you "Well, this is just how I feel". When it's two three or four on one, it's impossible to counter every ridiculous position they take. When they confess that it's just how they feel, there's no arguing with them about their feelings.
Since October 7th, I've been unable to make any headway with anyone. They are effectively brainwashed.
This is really good advice!
The Jewish Exodus and our scattering to Asia and Europe as the Diaspora began with the Roman Emperor Hadrian’s destruction of Jerusalem, and the Expulsion of The Jews from Judea, and its compulsory renaming as Palestinia. This is where the Holocausts and Pogroms which have happened to us started. We would not have been in Europe and the Russian lands without the horror of The Roman Expulsions. This is Real History. Start here.
I think we need simple and concise questions that force certain acknowledgements of their own ignorance of hypocrisy... "Wasn't Jesus a Jew who lived and died there centuries before Islam?" "Aren't Arabs originally from Arabia?" "Doesn't Israel have a 20% Muslim population with full equal rights?" "How many Muslim countries are there?" "Aren't the 50+ Muslim countries religiously homogenous?" "Which Muslim countries allow for LGBT people to live openly and legally?" "Have there been any genocides that have also lead to population growth?" "When Palestine was named Palestine weren't all of the inhabitants Jewish over 400 years before Islam."
Great article from an academic perspective. In reality I’ll save my breath.
Mass Formation Psychosis lives. Maybe not in the current DSM 5 but it’s alive and well in the minds of Jew Haters everywhere. The article is a field guide for confronting it in the wild.
A wonderful “wish fulfillment “ essay. I, personally, loved it, less because I’m a clinician and more because of your clever use of snark. First smile of the day
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/28/opinion/mamdani-netanyahu-stunt-israel.html
I read this response from "rtiste212" after reading Thomas Friedman's opinion piece in today's NYT. I experience mixed messages and so many feelings. As an American, Netanyahu does not represent me (nor does tRump). Food for thought from: tiste212
New York · 10h ago
My father fought in Europe in WWII and came home with stories of the atrocities he'd seen on the part of the Germans. Since childhood, I heard the stories of family members and others who suffered during the Holocaust. I met victims who survived, but whose lives were ruined by their experiences. The loss to humanity seemed unbearable. I was as solid a supporter of Israel as could be.
Now we see atrocities that Netanyahu has ordered. I see things being done to the Palestinians that I thought no Jew could ever do. As much as it pains me, I cannot close my eyes to what I see. I have to say that I disagree with Mr. Friedman strongly and that Mayor Mamdani took the courageous, moral stance of a good man. I'm sorry for those good people in Israel who are now considered guilty by association. I'm even sorrier for those who have been killed or whose lives have been destroyed. Never again must mean that those things we all abhor will not be done to anyone, anywhere, ever again.
Mary McCarthy famous put down of Lilliane Hellman applies perfectly to Mayor Mamdani’s recent ill-advised screed against Prime Minister Netanyahu, every word he said is a lie including “and” and “the”.
When even the disgraced former ICC prosecutor Karim Kahn admits there’s no evidence of genocide, the game is truly up and Mamdani’s mendacity is there for all to see.
And if you think Netanyahu “ordered” atrocities or anything remotely like it, you simply show that you have no understanding of how the Israeli government and the IDF operate. And that makes it hard to take seriously anything you’ve written.
“Mayor Mamdani took the courageous, moral stance of a good man”??? Really?? I’m afraid you’re very mistaken and that you won’t recognize NYC after he gets done with it. If I were a Jew living in NYC, I would get out—NOW!
This is really good "user" manual for anybody that encounters "Free Palestine" specimen that is even able to shut up and retains ability to listen . Interlocutor of such specimen would need own therapist in tow to intervene before thoughts of hopelessness and futility of such discussions set in.
There is some good advice here. When Zionists start denying the rape of Palestinian prisoners I do wonder whether it's worth continuing the conversation. When Zionists start their narrative with "Well, in the Hebrew Bible, YHWH..." I do tend to yawn and phase out. And when they start trying to justify clear violations of international law I realise I might as well be trying to convince a criminal not to be what he already is.
Mr Eriksson, do you admit there was the massacre against Jews on October 7th?