Why History's Pacifists Got Slaughtered (And What That Teaches Us)

When 'Love Your Enemies' Gets You Killed: A Historical Reality Check! 

The Brutal Truth About Turning the Other Cheek 

4 min read

Jesus warned, ‘He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.’ We all know the phrase, along with the promoting peace, expressions like ‘turn the other cheek.’ Ironically, it was his apostles who were allegedly non-violent, they met violent deaths. Here's the brutal truth; it is the decision to do no violence that led to violent endings. Various historical examples of pacifism shows persecution. 

How Is The Alternative to Peace Often The Most Peaceful Solution? 

Those scripture-based beliefs and philosophies were not common among the Germanic Pagan tribes. In contrast, to non-violent ideologies such tribes valued loyalty to their warlord, honoured bravery in combat, and vengeance, for example. Piety to them was martial discipline and defending their people. They embraced war and readiness to fight became a deterrent. These people also enjoyed what money could bring instead of denying it and fortified themselves, eventually defeating their Roman oppressors they retained a peaceful way of life. 

The Alternative to Aggression Does Not Always Bring Peace

Christian forgiveness painted a target on their backs. Why? Romans saw Christian defiance as dangerous rebellion. Not only were Christians seen as weak by Rome for forgiving those who beat them, but also considered to be noncompliant sophists (possibly like insincere apologists of today). To Romans, this behavior was unnaturally weak. In Acts, Stephen prayed for those who stoned him. It isn't all religiously themed; non-Christian pacifists were murdered like the Greek Stoics and Pythagoreans.

Changing Perspectives From Vikings To Christian Crusaders

Why did pacifists make such tempting targets? However, on a practical level it is right to say that viking families did benefit from plundering gold enriched monasteries. Buildings of plunder guarded by peaceful, unarmed monks who preached against wealth; religious tension divided cultural beliefs! Later, the dynamics totally changed with Catholic Crusaders slaughtering thousands of Christian Cathars for heresy—how does that even follow? The Cathars refused to fight back. 'Kill them all; God will know his own,' yelled a leading crusader. 

Quite an Alien Way of Seeing Things. 

From the outside, pacifism looks like voluntary martyrdom. Let's be real, if making a sacrificial point wouldn't work against an over the top global threat like an alien fleet, why use it against aggressive human oppressors? 

Forget Romans, let's run with this: Imagine a sizable Avengers-style hostile alien invasion fleet is dominating your country. What's the most useful, appealling to their alien conscience with human non-violence and ideology or returning fire? 

In the end, didn't Christian warriors expose pacifism as not doable? Take Joan of Arc for example, or even Saint Derfel, are examples of Christians who killed in war, literally as contradictory as waterproof teabags or rainbow coloured camouflage. Is this just like sharing the Buddha's wisdom with football hooligans or rioters? 

A Harsh Point

Yes, living by the sword could result with death, as Jesus himself warned, but peaceful submission didn’t spare many either! The Gospels all simply imply we shouldn't kill each other, but does that work? How can we love our enemies if it is so unhealthy to do so? Unless enemy love meant something else altogether; a way of expressing a love for the challenges they hurl at you? Maybe it's showing value or genuine interest in the words of our enemies? I don't know. 

     A.) Because those very enemies early Christian disciples were expected to 'love' were not interested in Jesus preachings. They all held various cultures and perspectives, often speaking languages unfamiliar to Jewish Aramaic or Hebrew, as we saw with St. Thomas's Kali worshippers who brutally speared him to death in India.

     B.) Non-violence was not exclusively taught by Jesus Christ. It was commonly held by ancient Greek philosophers like Epictetus, Pythagorus and Socrates, as well as the previously mentioned Jewish groups, but also Romans like Cicero and Seneca.    

I Guess That's It! My Conclusion... 

In the end, very few appreciated the early pacifist. Over time, we reverted back to our warrior ideals that dominate to this day. Just turn on the news and see US and UK borders and military posturing shows that our reliance on the sword has not faded (well, it's all machine gun now). But, if none of us had resisted the Hitlers and Napoleons of this world it would have succumbed to cruel monstrous leaders many times over! Compelling champions like Charles Martel, the Hammer of the Moors, the RAF during the battle of Britain or the Ukrainians in their fight for their country: they all make the use of force a valid case!

What do you think? 

Why is Being Outdoors Important?

Why You Should Get Outside More in the UK: The Benefits of Nature

The Great Outdoors is Always There! 

6 min read

Spending time outside of the house isn’t just invigorating or cleansing—it’s good for you! Whether you’re taking a walk in the park, dogging, trying a challenging hike, or merely sitting in your backyard eavesdropping on your nosey neighbour, being outside can certainly improve your mood, boost your health, and make life a little better. Let’s break down why going outside is beneficial.

Fresh Air Is Good for Your Body

When you're outside, you breathe in fresh air—well, unless you live in smoggy Manchester, then it's probably nitrogen oxides and fried food! Good wholesome air is what's vital for your lungs and overall health. Fresh air helps to:

Improve Your Mood: No studies have ever warned us against the dangers of spending time outside! Why? Because being outside is vital! Ignore things like mountain rescue and air ambulance cases, as well as those XXL pit bully dogs or growing crime rates. Look, even all the religious books, from The Bible, to the Tao Te Ching emphasise nature. It doesn't really need selling does it? If we didn't have it, we'd go extinct . . . right? 

Participant results taken from proper research, published in an old magazine called, 'Environmental Health Perspectives' also show that the great outdoors is good. I have no links. Also, Jesus, Buddha, Ramana Maharshi, Adi Shankara, Thich Nhat Hanh and Ralph Waldo Emerson and all the other spiritual types spoke well of nature — they were not participants in the study. Being in nature will lower anxiety, stress and increase well-being, unless you end up lost in some desert somewhere while on holiday! 

Exposure to the countryside can toughen your immune system! It’s supported by irrefutable proof here. All this rural exposure won't suddenly put you off your favourite shopping centre and turn you into a woollen clad red faced country bumpkin, no! But it will expose your body to diverse healthy microbes! It will lower cortisol and help you develop vitamin D. 

Sunlight and Vitamin D

As I just said, sunlight helps your body produce vitamin D. This vitamin is essential for:

Healthy Bones: This vitamin helps us to absorb calcium, the stuff in milk that keeps our bones strong. Vitamin D can prevent osteoporosis and communism. 

Better Mood: Sunlight makes us feel happy because it boosts serotonin levels! Well. . . maybe not if you're as red as a Keir Starmer during a public response, or able to cook your own breakfast on your chest. Research published in psychiatric journals and psychology websites that state the obvious with a professional finesse, tend to say: exposure to sunlight correlates with reduced depressive symptoms. Our UK sun is as elusive as an uber eats driver delivering a vanilla milkshake meal; it's absorbed into your very bones like your skeleton begs for it, but it isn't safe. Self-cookery isn't really, it's the annual human slow roast en-mass, a gamble with our summer skin cancer lottery. 

Exercise Made Easy

On the other hand, being outside often means being active instead of sizzling your skin. Activity reduces your chances of being a sedentary chubber, like me. Whether you’re hiking, biking, or just walking, you’re getting exercise without really worrying about it. Here’s why that’s a bonus:

It can be better than staying indoors in the warm, dry confines of where you live. Regular physical activity is linked to lower risks of diseases such as heart disease, and diabetes. Just 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week can radically improve health outcomes. The health benefits of robust housework, DIY and indoor exercise regimes should be the subject of the next blog. 

Connect with Yourself or Your Ancestors

We all bugger off to some beautiful natural place to find ourselves! We've all seen those stock images, and tv ads showing some kind of spiritual enlightened meditator on a cliff. It’s a thing! But, is it really always like that in Britain with barking dogs and the smell of cow shit? 

Conclusion: Get Outside Today! (Weather Permitting)

So, the next time you feel stressed or just need a break, consider stepping outside. The benefits are clear: fresh air, cold wind, rain, hail, exercise, snow and a chance to connect with nature. It doesn’t have to be complicated—just find a spot outdoors and dither in the snow, while you try to find your 'self'. Occasionally, we do have sunshine.

Getting outside can be a simple character building way of boosting your mood! Go and grab a friend, head to your nearest park, and freeze your bollocks off swimming in a lake because instagram says its good for you, that's a trend now isn't it? Test yourselves, go and find out how much of the British outdoors you can soldier before catching hypothermia like a boss! 

Or just stay in. I prefer being inside watching a screen or something. 

The Real Story Behind Fallen Angels

What They Don't Want You to Know About Angels!

10 min read

Rephrasing the Same Themes Across Time and Culture

After researching this esoteric stuff for months, I can't unsee what I've discovered. The idea of immaterial spiritual beings watching us has roots in quite a few ancient cultures! Even while pulling incredibly stupid faces at myself in the mirror, that sudden thought of an invisible observer stops me in my tracks. I mean, can our dead family members see us goofing around like neanderthals?

These Characterisations Shape Us

Imagine Prometheus, Odin, or fallen angels like Lucifer—these characters have all played a part in shaping the Western and European psyche. We all have some of it in us, most likely stemming from pagan hand-me-down traditions and folklore, but yes, to be fair they could just as much be our own thought-forms, but that'll be a blog post for a different day. 

Overlap, Connections and Influence

This blog post will centre around the overlaps. Just ask yourself, how have people from different times and cultures described the same type of non-physical entity? Let's have a butcher's at the Akkadian Igigi and the Grigori (or Watchers) from the Book of Enoch.

The Igigi and the Watchers: Exploring Ancient Mesopotamia:

These entities appear in texts that predate every major religion, before any questionable history or theology down the park! Found in the Atrahasis epic, dating back around 3,800 years. Atra-Hasis had a very believable and pretty ordinary coracle type boat, unlike the later embellished developments with Noah (which is a nickname) who built a sodding-cruise-ship-sized-zoo! We are talking about pre-flood times which is roughly around 7000 years ago. 

Jobs or Divine Duty? 

Originally, Igigi were overseers of nature. Not like foremen or stockroom assistants down the local warehouse, but subordinates to the higher divinities. Basically, these winged watchmen were given tasks of ‘doing the weather’ and mundane earth palaver. It was an Akkadian explanation for what we call natural forces today. Anyway, as the story goes, they wanted to get rid of their labour, and so, seeking the same freedom their masters enjoyed, they staged the first rebellion! 

This Was Early Workplace Competition

The creation of us humans came as a result of a particular god's life energy: the word for the energy coincidentally translates into the ancient word for word 'rib' cool isn't it? Yes, Adamu was given life blood from the first female. So, anyway, we relieved the Igigi of their burdens, which ultimately diminished their status; ambition reduced them to lesser spirits like sprites or something. 

Another Perspective 

At some point, we must have been sacked and lost our divine role in the world. None of us can command the weather now can we? Unless what ancients meant by our domination of the world, our knowledge to build kingdoms, cultivate and farm, grow institutions of learning?

Related Gods and Crossovers

Crossover between the pagan plural and the monotheist singular are quite striking. It's as if the children of El and the Gods are almost related? Strange. Look, I'm not calling for talk show DNA paternity! I mean, have you noticed how most angel names end with E and L? Raphael, Gabriel or Michael for example, even Angel! Why? El was the chief God, that’s why. Angels are believed to be based on pre-monotheistic gods. 

Priest classes of Israel merged EL with their God Yahweh leading to some theological cross pollination. Angels, like the older Igigi were seen as hidden influences, coincidence? Fair enough, Akkadian culture integrated across to the Jewish-Babylonians! It's a whopper how El is derived from Enlil, the Akkadian prime god: Angels and Igigi share historical roots!

Spooky Supernatural Ties to Culture and Belief:

We’ve all seen the horror films where a demonic force might molest a woman, like that old 70s movie ‘the Entity’—based on a true story! This kind of thing happened in William Friedkin’s Exorcist which was also inspired by true events and coincidentally, incorporated an Akkadian demon called Pazuzu!

You know that feeling when you walk into those certain places and something feels wrong? Well. . . in antiquity, they would've been seen as some kind of evil spirit. All depicted as nefarious winged people, giants, and so on, to be precise, ‘invisible presences’ fits the religio-cultural standard more accurately. Since when have police arrested horned, hooved, black winged demons? Imagine the ‘unfair mythologically profiling’ accusations coming from the do-gooders!

The Watchers of the Book of Enoch:

In the story of the watchers, Azazel and Samyaza convinced two hundred watchers into a pact to corrupt humanity through sleeping with women, and teaching their following generations all kinds of forbidden knowledge—a bit of a Promethean gift. Here's what most people completely miss. This wasn't literally angels fornicating, it's the same spiritual thing as discussed earlier. You can't expect to corrupt an already corrupt humanity by introducing vigorous sex practices, if that was the case, the mass media would be elite special forces in this spiritual war!



Carnal activity in this context represents a profound unity of the fallen spirit and the human. It's reflecting the Catholic idea of possession where the body can serve as a vessel. The fall of the angels is purely ignorance and self for those beings. Possession is supposed to be like having your worst impulses amplified by an outside force. The people made forbidden unions with lesser beings, angels. 

'So, Mum, Dad, this is Azrael, Angel of Death!’

The watchers tried to dominate us all by sabotaging the natural order and becoming lords of humanity. A bit like sabotaging your teachers class by introducing weed and truancy to the kids. These effects are still observable with our world leaders, especially Ant and Dec, or Celebrity Big Brother!

The Limit of Human Knowledge:

The philosophy of mind is golden! It often collaborates with quantum physics and neuroscience and Intelligent Integration Theory, but it's hit a huge wall: none of them can tell us what a unit of consciousness even looks like, nevermind prove it as an actual thing! We are all conscious, it's quite silly. Modern academics have suggested consciousness might be part of the quantum field. Ancient hellenic and semitic minds often held beliefs of it emanating from a higher source or a spiritual domain. Even though we are still looking for a way to correctly define what consciousness is, new and old perspectives both hold valid philosophy on the subject. 

Words and Meanings Across Text:

𒀭𒄑𒉡

The above word is Igigi in Akkadian cuneiform. It also means watchers as well as referring to divine overseers.

ἐγρήγοροι

This word means egrigori in Old Greek, also meaning watchers.

עִירִין (Irīn)

This word for watchers is Aramaic because the original Book of Enoch, was written in this language. It can also mean 'those who are awake'.

In Genesis, the Hebrew term for the serpent is nachash. Dr. Michael Heiser’s research argues the serpent of the garden of eden was not a literal snake, but rather a fallen rebellious six winged fiery angel called a Seraph.

Giants of an Evil Seed? 

The Nephilim were the descendants of those toxic, parasitic family relationships. The fathers are incorporeal low lives with axes to grind. Nephilim means giants or fallen ones, common enthusiasts tend to indirectly hint at giants or Nephilim being present in mesopotamian tablets and art. That's more aligned with ancient alien stuff. This is a pre-flood era legend. Nephilim for me are men of renown and called giants because of their reputation! 

Let's face it Canaan was full of such men at that time, but was that because they suckled on the nipples of demon milk as babies? Could the ruinous essence of a fallen angel seep into the mammary based nutrition of offspring? We could ask science or philosophy. I wouldn't because, these people were more than likely demonised by other human beings. 

But Are You Sure They Weren't Really Giants? 

If they're not literally ridiculously tall, then what? Not one legitimate giant skeleton has ever surfaced without a mysterious disappearance story! However, some ancient humans in particular enjoyed the unfair advantage of so-called 'celestial knowledge,' including metal works and weaponry. The bible says the Nephilim became men of renown. Look at Goliath, he was a giant bloke, but a more conservative scriptural measurement of 6’5” has been found. Relatively six-five was huge back then given the average man has been more like 5'6" for centuries! 

It begs the question: do tall populations of people exist? Yes, we can see many noticeably tall individual in the Netherlands and especially with the African Dinka people. They don't hold fallen angel, or Nephilim connotations because no one ascribed such things to these groups. The ancients had biased in their narratives geared up against other ancient groups which housed numerous tall or renowned people. This might put the matter to bed for some of you.

Giant Correlations of Renown

The early bronze age began in the Middle East in 3300 to 2000 BCE, which is exactly the time Azazel taught the local warrior people near Mt Herman, (Canaanites) how to make metal weapons! If we add this to the fact that Scientists have estimated 2900 to 2500 BCE as an accurate date for a legitimate flood event of the area it shows the theme that inspired the creation of these religio-political narratives! 

We can safely say these Canaanite people were most likely always depicted as the Nephilim! I mean, a lot of these writings are just bad mouthing the neighbours!

My Conclusion...

There’s a ton of these 'fall from grace' stories from ancient themes; many hold little resemblance to how we modern folk think or see the world. That is not a claim that there's nothing supernatural surrounding us in the aether, the war offices, in those high places. There is still a spiritual malignance in this world. 

Maybe it's that dark unwelcoming threshold you don't want to walk through in that creepy house? I guess it us quite like that old meme of having a good and bad angel persuading your head from each shoulder: it comes down to how we align ourselves. 

Real or not, we do borrow from these sources to create modern stereotypes and tropes emulated in the form of Darth Vader, Count Dracula, and so on, because the darkness shapes defines our protagonist in our literature and movies. It brings us the compelling characters who champion the darkness for our entertainment and reflection. 

Hidden in Plain Sight: Psychopaths

When Do Dangerous Traits Become Leadership Skills? 

An Evaluation of the Psychopath 

6 min read

When you hear the word 'psychopath,' you probably picture Jack The Ripper, Ted Bundy or Anthony Hopkins doing his famous fava beans scene. But what if I told you that psychopathy doesn’t always fit that image? In fact, high-functioning psychopaths are all around us—teaching in classrooms, running companies, leading congregations, and even playing heroes on screen or being heroes on the battlefield. 

More often than not these individuals exhibit traits like charm, fearlessness, and emotional detachment, which make them uniquely suited for leadership. When people with psychopathic traits are diagnosed it's usually with antisocial personality disorder because it covers sociopathic and psychopathic behaviours. But still, the question is, why do we trust them so easily?

The Charm of High-Functioning Psychopaths

Psychopathy exists on a spectrum. At one end, you’ve got violent offenders. At the other, you’ve got individuals who can navigate society without breaking the law while seeming to maintain strong emotional intelligence or insight. They know themselves.

According to psychologist Robert Hare (1991), psychopathy is characterized by traits like superficial charm, manipulativeness, and a lack of empathy. These traits sound sinister, but in the right context, they can look a lot like admirable qualities.

Take the business world. Studies show that 4-12% of CEOs exhibit psychopathic traits, compared to just 1% of the general population (Boddy, 2011). Why? Because the same traits that make psychopaths dangerous—boldness, risk-taking, and the ability to stay calm under pressure—are exactly what corporate boards look for in a leader.

Think about it, who better to make tough decisions or navigate high-stakes environments than someone who doesn’t feel the weight of emotional consequences? This is where the chips fall in society.

Psychopaths in the Classroom, Church, and Boardroom

It’s not just CEOs who benefit from such psychopathologies. You’ll find these individuals attracted to education, religion, law enforcement, and even entertainment like everyone else:

1. Education

Senior teaching staff, particularly in competitive institutions, often operate in environments that reward ambition and control. A study by Gliebe and Moss (2019) found that manipulative and assertive behaviors are easily mistaken for leadership in academia. These traits help some rise to the top—but they also create toxic power dynamics.

2. Clergy

Religious leaders wield immense trust and influence, which can be exploited by individuals with psychopathic tendencies. The Catholic Church abuse scandals revealed how some clergy members used their positions to manipulate and exploit others (Doyle, 2018). A façade of morality can mask a darker reality. 

However, it must be said that paedophilia and psychopathy are totally different things; paedophilia is a sexual attraction to children of a certain age. Realistically, we know overlaps exist, such as the paedophilic murderers of innocent children like Ian Huntley. 

3. Law Enforcement and Military

Professions like policing and the military attract people with sought after fearlessness type traits and an ability to detach. While these qualities are essential in high-pressure scenarios, studies show that law enforcement professionals are twice as likely to exhibit psychopathic traits compared to the general population (Krakowski, 2019).

4. Celebrity Culture

Actors, musicians, and influencers thrive on attention. Psychopathic traits like charm and narcissism blend right in with the kind of industries where charisma is currency. Hollywood scandals, from the 'casting couch' to PR cover-ups, are rife with examples of power being abused by those who can effortlessly manipulate public perception (Glenn & Raine, 2014).

Why Do We Trust Them?

So, why do we fall for psychopathic people? The answer lies in human psychology. Studies show that we’re wired to trust confidence and charisma (Hogan & Kaiser, 2005). High-functioning psychopaths excel at projecting these traits, making them appear capable—even when their actions say otherwise.

As Jon Ronson explores in The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry (2011), our society regularly confuses psychopathic traits for ambition, resilience, or leadership. 

Ronson interviews psychologists and explores case studies, revealing how traits like charm and fearlessness make these individuals seem like natural leaders—despite their darker tendencies. The following years after Ronson's book was released in the UK, terrestrial television produced shows on the same subject with online psychopath tests for the public to take. The psychopathic character could suddenly make a great protagonist in fiction once more.

Stanley Milgram’s famous obedience experiment (1963) uncovered something more frightening than the anti social personality. Participants in his experiment were instructed by a figure of authority (a researcher in a lab coat) to turn a handle to administer painful electric shocks to another person (an actor pretending to be in distress) which was set up to gradually increase throughout the experiment.

Despite clear displays of the human suffering (screaming, yelling, pleading) most participants continued to comply with the cruel instruction of the authority figure, shocking the person to perceived dangerous levels. This showed an inherent tendency of regular people to trust and obey authority figures, even when doing so to hurt people! 

So, who was being sadistic here, there authority or the ones who applied the electric shocks? What does that say about regular people?

The Double-Edged Sword of Psychopathy

Not all psychopathic traits are bad. In fact, some can be assets. Bravery and focus under pressure can save lives in the military. Charisma can inspire action in business or politics. But when left unchecked, these traits can turn toxic. The key is awareness. By understanding how psychopathy manifests in trusted roles, we can better evaluate leaders and hold them accountable. After all, the line between a trusted leader and a manipulative exploiter can be dangerously thin. 

If we take the case of the child nurse, Lucy Letby, for example, who was found guilty for killing infants. We can see how arduous it was to reach a guilty verdict: however many flaws were uncovered in the trial and the medical evidence was questionable by a body of highly educated medics. Lucy Letby's psychiatric assessments showed she was not ASPD or psychopathic, but stressed from her dire circumstances.

Final Thoughts

Anyone, regardless of being deemed a psychopath or not can do terrible things. We know high-functioning psychopaths aren’t always the villains we imagine. In many cases, people high on the psychopathic spectrum are people we admire most — authority figures like our bosses, celebrities, teachers and pastors. 

But their success can come at a cost of having less empathy as opposed to raw cognitive intelligence. Understanding the roles psychopathy play in leadership can help us ask the right questions: Are these people in high places leading us, or manipulating us? Are we trusting them for the right reasons? So, the next time you admire a bold political leader, ask questions, are you seeing resilience or manipulation? 

Are your religious figures showing leadership or is it narcissism? Is everyone in your local authority showing guidance when you seek help or is there dominance? Do any people in your life enjoy the suffering of others?

References

Babiak, P, and Hare, R.D, (2006) Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work. New York: HarperCollins.

Boddy, C.R, (2011) Corporate Psychopaths: Organisational Destroyers. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Doyle, T.P, (2018) Clergy Sexual Abuse Scandals and the Culture of Denial. Jefferson: McFarland & Company.

Glenn, A.L, and Raine, A, (2014) Psychopathy and Instrumental Aggression. In: K.A. Kiehl and W.P. Sinnott-Armstrong, eds. Handbook on Psychopathy and Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.145-161.

Gliebe, S, and Moss, K, (2019) Toxic Leadership in Academia. The Journal of Leadership Education, 18(2), pp.1-9.

Hare, R.D, (1991) The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). 2nd ed. Toronto: Multi-Health Systems.

Hogan, R, and Kaiser, R.B, (2005) What We Know About Leadership. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), pp.169-180.

Krakowski, M, (2019) Psychopathy and Law Enforcement. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 30(3), pp.383-398.

Milgram, S, (1963) Behavioral Study of Obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(4), pp.371-378.

Ronson, J, (2011) The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry. London: Picador.

Evaluating UK Politics is Funny

An Amateur Cartoonist's Take on Our Wonderfully Weird World... 

2 min read

The Beautiful Chaos of Modern Identity

Politics these days feels like watching an creative improv show, where everyone's shit at it and up the rules as they go along. I mean, honestly? Sometimes that's kind of fascinating.

Take the whole identity conversation we've been having in the western world in recent years. We've gone from 'you are what you are' to 'you are what you feel you are' to 'actually, maybe we're all just souls having a human experience?' It's like spiritualist social media, Reddit philosophy and pro mental wellness colliding: 'Your ancestors say don't forget to eat good mood food, it improves wellbeing making it a functional material remedy!' 

I overheard a local political community enthusiast talking about people's right to identify however they want. On TV last month, a news report said someone wanted to identify as a llama! Now, I'm not entirely sure that's practical for tax purposes, is it? Either way, there's something wonderfully human about our endless creativity; we are literally always reinventing ourselves! The only constant is change.

The Economics of Feeling Good

Then there's the de-growth movement, which basically says 'Hey, maybe we don't need to make everything bigger and better all the time.' It's like the economic equivalent of declutter your home show - does this GDP spark joy? I used to get wound up by this, but I am much better now. 

I understand why traditionalists fear progression and new ideas. What's tried and tested is valid. Sometimes it does feel like we're on a treadmill that keeps speeding up, and I'm quite the portly gentleman it's not my exercise! But then again, I really do like my smartphone and the fact that we can cure diseases that would have killed our grandparents, if they weren't already dead. Yes, growth offers us promises too. Maybe the trick isn't stopping growth, but growing in smarter directions? 

My Own Ridiculous Philosophy Experiment

Speaking of ridiculous directions, I had this thought experiment: What if we all just stopped using "I" and "you" and called everyone "XP" instead? Like, "XP thinks this is a good idea, what does XP think?" 

It would either be wonderfully zen or drive us all completely bonkers within a week. Probably both.

The Pronoun Adventure

The whole pronoun thing is genuinely interesting from purely a linguistic perspective. That really is before we dive into it. Language is always evolving - it always has, always will. 'You' used to be formal (like 'tu' vs 'vous' in French), and now it's just... you. 

Some of the newer identity categories do make me scowl at the ceiling as I scratch my gruff chin. I'm not totally savvy about what legal recognition looks like in practice for a degree educated unicorn who drives a ford puma. Would there be special parking spaces? Tax breaks? It should work out our legal system assumes everyone fits into a neat little box.

Finding the Middle Ground

Here's the thing - I'm probably what you'd call a social libertarian. In my mind people should be free to live their lives however makes them happy, as long as they're not hurting anyone else. I've lost track on these issues before, fallen into being the angry political prick. God help me. Want to identify as a dragon? Go for it. Want to use unusual pronouns? Sure, I'll do my best to remember them, just don't get upset with me if I drop the ball. 

But I also think we need to be practical. Society needs some shared frameworks to function. Admittedly, we need to be able to disagree without assuming the worst about each other. It's easily done! You tosser. 

The Real Challenge

The trickiest part isn't the policies or the pronouns - it's keeping a sense of humour about it all. Politics has turned so much more serious, so angry, so high-stakes! But maybe that's exactly when we need to step back and remember that we're all just humans trying to figure stuff out? 

We're living through a murky quagmire, an age to make the future cringe. The old certainties are dissolving and new ones aren't quite there yet. That's uncomfortable living, especially if you agree with people across the political spectrum, but can't ever seem to settle on anything grounded. Ignoring that, it is also sort of exciting. We get to participate in shaping what comes next no matter how politically inept we might be. 

My Conclusion... 

From now on I think I'm going to assume that most people, even when they're saying things that sound completely bonkers to me, are genuinely hoping to make the world better. That deserves respectful disagree at best, no demonizing. 

From now on, I will try to laugh at the stupid shit without laughing at people. Wish me luck.

The Great Information Experiment

Censorship Is ****

5 Min Read

Calling Out Deceptive 'Fake News' to Contrast Your Own Idea of Truth

Once upon a time, the internet was going to make information free! We could all have access to everything, and the best ideas would get nudged up to the top. It was going to be beautiful until people began to conspire. 

Instead, we got. . . well, this bollocks. A world where screaming 'fake news' became a political tactic! Now almost every major event comes with a hundred and eighty different versions of what actually happened. Nowadays it's controversial to say, 'do your own research' because if you do, you'll be seen as another of those 'crazy conspiracy theorists'. 

The Irony Fest

Here's what's genuinely fascinating: those who spent years telling us to 'not trust authority' now expect us to entrust them with what information we're allowed. Meanwhile, the people who used to be the authority frantically want us to believe they're the rebels.

It's like cringing at a wacky game of musical chairs, except the music is 'Welcome to the Monkey House!' I can just see the presidents, prime ministers, business tycoons all dancing around the last seat signposted '100% Prime Truth,' — it's asking for trouble. 

The whole thing kicked off properly after Brexit and Trump's 'fake news' catchphrase. Since then, we've had a parade of fancy conferences with celebrities, former presidents, and senators all evangelizing about social media conspiracy theories. They all try to sell us this half-baked notion that we need the internet controlled for our own good. They call it 'protecting democracy' - but nothing says freedom like censorship, right? 

The Pattern Recognition Game

Let's be honest - misinformation isn't new. People have been spinning stories since the alphabet was first scratched on wet clay. Power and authority continue to strut around town with the same swagger because they hold on to the narrative. Then the internet appeared. 

What's new is the scale and speed. A rumor that used to take weeks to travel from village to village now circles the globe in minutes! 

But here's where it gets interesting: some of yesterday's 'conspiracy theories' turned out to be front-page news. The lab leak theory, government surveillance programs, corporate influence on research - these all followed the same pattern from 'fringe theory' to 'legitimate concern' to 'well, actually...'

Maybe if we stopped calling-out 'conspiracy theory' for simply doubting the official story, things might improve? It's quite simple when you think about it.

Who's Watching the Watchers?

This is where things get properly complicated. If we need someone to filter information for us, who chooses the filters? If we need fact-checkers, who fact-checks the fact-checkers? 

The media moguls are in on this too, weaving their news stories tighter than a Hollywood plastic surgeon's booking schedule. Then we have the humble PR company, whose doors are banged by the likes of Harvey Weinstein and other tarnished people who want their reputations polished. Who will decide what's true? Spoiler alert: not you!

The Trust Deficit and Control Games

The real problem isn't that people believe weird things - people have always believed weird things. The problem is that trust in institutions has plummeted, and the more control the powerful try to take for themselves, the more they erode the very democracy they claim to defend! Stupid, isn't it? 

When we lose trust in the mainstream media, we will obviously go looking elsewhere. When we don't trust government statements, some of us will start asking uncomfortable questions. Currently I am at a point of doubting political experts, like others I've also become my own expert.

You can't really blame people like me, can you? How many times have we been told something was absolutely, definitely true, only to find out later it was more complicated and total nonsense?

Look at how the story is controlled in various reports and even historically. After George Floyd's death, we saw massive global movements, politicians taking knees, crowds chanting - but pretty much everyone got called racist at some point, including our own royalty and country. So who really controlled that one?

The Goldilocks Problem

So we're stuck in this weird middle ground. Too much control, and you get authoritarianism. Too little, and you get chaos. We need something that's 'just right' - but who decides what that looks like?

Some people welcome the best tech companies to moderate the major social apps more aggressively. Others will fend those companies off. It's the same with government oversight. I prefer a smaller government and more economic growth and freedom. 

Final Thought

Here's the same old cliché advice - we need to doubt the news sources and social commentators who so gracefully impart wisdom upon us. They'll sit on your forehead and tell you that you're wearing a Norman helmet.

The world seems simple, because those who explain it to us are trying to make it simple. However, those at the top are quite complicated. It really is an age of critical thinking.

What do you think? Are we heading toward a more informed society, or are we just getting better at disagreeing with each other?

VSBattle Starwars vs Joe Rogan

A Combat Blog Post based on the VSBattle Tiering System.

Joe Rogan vs. Doctor Cornelius Evazan & Ponda Baba: Fight Breakdown

8 min read

The VSBattle Tier System catalogues characters from all areas of fact and fiction from everyday people to beings considered to be god level, as well as cartoon, stop motion to puppet based characters like Popeye or the recent Youtube kids horror characters, for example. The stats and data enable people to eestablish the most powerful and the highest ranked fighters. Click here to read about transitional characters and how fictional  archetypes mirror and even shape us as people.

The Setting: 

The fight takes place in Keanes Saloon in Red Dead Redemption 2, quickly losing custom save for the several shady patrons necking liquor as they watched a bug guy and an angry pigman at the bar. There was no chatter in the air, no mirth, just uneasy fingers on triggers. Out of the blue, another stranger strolled in. Dressed like a man from the wrong time, with more ink on him than a squid, as bald as a cue ball and as muscular as an ox—Joe Rogan.

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Character Profiles and Tiers:

Joe Rogan (Human)

Tier: 10-A (Peak human)

Powers and Abilities:

Martial Arts Mastery: Joe Rogan is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Taekwondo. He is skilled at precise powerful strikes and manipulating opponents using joint locks, throws, and chokeholds.

Strength: Rogan is stronger than most regular humans because he does gym workouts and has regularly conditioned himself over recent decades in combat sport.

Durability: While not invulnerable, Rogan’s extensive fight experience allows him to take punches and recover well.

Speed: Joe's reflexes are exceptional for a human. Evading attacks from fast opponents is central to his discipline. 

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Doctor Cornelius Evazan (Human, but a seasoned criminal and thug) 

Tier: 10-B (Average human)

Powers and Abilities:

Experienced in the use of blasters. 

Combat Experience: Cornelius Evazan is underhanded, quick to take advantage of any situation.

Pain Tolerance: A hardened criminal, Evazan is capable of enduring pain and continuing to fight.

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Ponda Baba (Aqualish, muscular and enhanced by cybernetic arm after an altercation with a Jedi) 

Tier: 9-C (Peak level enhanced hominid)

Powers and Abilities:

Stronger than a human: Ponda Baba's species and his  upgraded arm make him a formidable opponent, capable of overpowering regular humans.

Enhanced Durability: His Aqualish physiology and robotic enhancements grant him a higher tolerance for damage.

Combat Experience: While he’s not a trained martial artist, his natural strength and aggression make him dangerous.

Resistance to Pain: Due to his alien physiology, Ponda Baba is more resistant to injury than a typical human.

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The Fight:

The scene is set. Joe Rogan enters the wooden saloon, his frantic eyes scanning the room in disbelief. He immediately spotted Doctor Cornelius Evazan, a notorious disfigured criminal, sat at the bar next to his companion, the black eyed and green skinned Ponda Baba. Both were swaggering boisterously as onlookers remained silent. 

Joe stood there, wide-eyed and slapping his head repeatedly, as the absurdity of his situation sank in. ‘No way, man. . . this isn't real,’ he muttered to himself, his busy mind desperate to process the chaotic mix of Red Dead Redemption and the unmistakable presence of Ponda Baba in that iconic orange pilot jacket he wore in Mos Eisley. The Aqualish rose to his feet — a strangely imposing childhood action figure alive in the flesh. 'Star Wars characters?' He asked himself smiling with bewilderment. His logical mind, wondered if some part of his tripped out mind had leaked into his video games console. But before he could even begin to form an answer, a voice cut through the confusion.

‘Star Wars, what?’ sneered the grotesque man, who sat beside Ponda Baba. It was Dr. Cornelius Evazan, the infamous snouted accomplice, but Joe couldn't remember the guy's name. He studied him as the swine-like man peered over his shoulder at him. ‘I’m more than just a character, friend! We’re wanted in twelve systems. You’d be wise to calm yourself!’

'Now boys,' asserted a barman, his unkempt antique facial growth wildly reached out in every direction. 'We don't want any trouble.' 

Covering his open mouth, Rogan spoke to himself, unable to shake his disbelief, 'what the fuck? Alec Guiness diced this motherfucker!' The podcaster felt his brain overfiring and secretly vowed never to touch DMT ever again. Hands on his forehead and circle eyed, Joe secretly hoped to wake up back in his own real-life Kansas. 

Ponda Baba made a deep gutteral sound like a walrus, as though he was supporting the threat. The celebrity took a step back, tattooed hands raised defensively, while playing along with whatever was happening. Maybe he had woken up on a new Mandalorean film set, he thought. 

Evazan’s ugly grin only widened before firing a blast of laser fire from his pistol, killing the barman instantly. Two authentic looking cowboy's ran away. Rogan realised he had zoned out, unsure whether to run away or not. The saloon was clearly about to erupt into a shootout. Bang! Wood splintered, people died, screamed out in pain. Ponda Baba and Dr. Evazan murdered innocent patrons without hesitation.

Joe Rogan regretted the hero role he had thrust himself into as he charged headlong at Dr. Cornelius Evazan. He had to save whoever he could! A glint of genuine malice behind that afflicted porky countenance. 'You're in the wrong place,' he sneered, taking aim with his smoking blaster. His companion, Ponda Baba, moved into Rogans periphery, clearly eager to watch him die.

Round 1: Opening Shots

Joe Rogan hurled a stool at Evazan and then booted him in-between the legs lifting him up to to crash down, the thug, curled up automatically fired his blaster as a result. The shot accidentally scraped Joe's right shoulder but, he was fast enough to roll with it somewhat. He moved swiftly, disarming the folded up, whimpering doctor, before aiming the weapon at Ponda Baba’s head. 'C' mon drop your weapon, dude!' 

Ponda Baba, vociferous and basal grunts suggested something unfriendly. The green alien furiously charged at Rogan hastily, hoping to take his weapon, but failed. Instead he swung a heavy punch aimed at Rogan’s head. Joe fired Evazan' s blaster nonetheless. It caught the orange arm of the aliens coat. Joe Rogan didn't want to kill anyone, but Ponda Baba would not relent — his arm was made of metal and clearly bionic! He would not have felt a thing. 

The bug headed alien made another haymaker swing at the podcaster, Joe blocked, but his left arm almost snapped sending the blaster smashing into bottles of alcohol behind the bar. The comic cried out in anger and pain but opted to retaliate quickly with a Muay Thai clinch to grab Baba’s neck. His deadened arm faltered thought he successfully planted a hard knee central onto Ponda Baba's hard tusks. The hit connected with an audible crack. Dazed, Ponda slowly collapsed to his knees. Joe staggered back. 

Round 2: Close Combat

Evazan motioned closer to grab the celebrity, but he quickly evaded him. Rogan, sweating and determined rushed into striking distance, instead of punching, he grabbed Evazan’s hand and twisted it with a fluid motion. The Doctor fell to the wooden floor with anger, to which Rogan responded like an anaconda, coiling himself around his prey, snapping bone and crunching joints. It was his golden opportunity to practice his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at full capacity. 

Bending limbs the wrong way seemed wrong; all that crunching, cracking, snapping was cruel and the criminals pleas for mercy re-enforced it. Suddenly, a powerful clean kick thudded into Rogans chest. It sent him sliding across the whisky scented floor, tainted with chewing tobacco. The pain was insufferable, cardiac, danderous. 

Ponda Baba's tusks still hurt and his anger had increased to rage. His voice boomed. It was unclear whether he was focused on saving his friend or killing his new enemy. However, Baba began to ground and pound the bald comedian who quarded his face and skull with his beefy tattooed forearms. The green bug-eyed walrus lifted the muscular entertainer by his throat using his robotic arm. Joe Rogan was suspended off the ground like a child. The only thing he could do was furiously kick his legs to force himself free. So he tried his best. 

As soon as Rogan felt his feet touch down in front of the Aqualish, he side kicked his opponents left knee, tilting his stance just enough to take his neck for a merciless rear choke.

Round 3: Turning the Tide

Rogan now knew that it wasn't just about raw power, but using his techniques to survive. He was a grappler, and he knew how to handle larger opponents. He was putting a nasty squeeze on Ponda Baba, then he used his Jiu-Jitsu to force Baba to the ground. However, the entertainer was hurt, and the alien was taking longer that any human to go to sleep.

Evazan recovered from his earlier torturous beating and climbed to his feet. He wanted blood and produced his concealed blaster. Damaged bones and joints kill accuracy, he had to focus on his shaking hand and trigger finger to stop them shaking. Rogan heard that iconic Star Wars blaster noise just as the unprecedented heat of a laser pierced his side, like a red hot metal rod stabbing through his lower abdomen! In agony, he rolled behind his unconscious tusk faced opponent, letting his body serve as a shield. A second shot burnt into Ponda Baba's chest ensuring a permanence to his stillness. 

At a serious disadvantage, Joe Rogan knew he had to focus on Evazan again. He was leaning on the bar. Shocked at the fatal wound he inflicted on his Aquilish partner in crime. Joe knew he had to close the distance, execute some monstrous pain to put the ugly son of a bitch down! But reality was unkind, Joe could not walk without pain. He slithered silently behind the bar next to the dead bartender, planning on outflanking the last crook. Foraging frantically under the bar counter for something to weaponise, right side down in splintered wood, strong spirits, broken glass, Joe Rogan knew this was possibly the final moments of his life. 

Dr. Evazan was making noise, moving slowly, struggling to maintain his footing, but getting nearer. 'I warned you,' he bellowed. He leant on the bar to support himself as he slid around, while pointing his blaster down at the  hairless muscle man who killed his best friend. The tough guy was very hurt now and Evazan enjoyed watching him slowly squirm up, wriggling onto his knees, tired, beaten. He lifted his face, and his expression conveyed something, 'I know who you are!' 

'Go on,' said Dr. Evazan, an air of curious pride. 'C'mon!!' 

'Even here in this out of time pocket universe they know you!' said Rogan, before pointing toward the saloon doors with his eyes. 'Even that asshole knows you!' 

As Dr Cornilius Evazan looked towards the empty saloon door, realising that he had been played. In that very millisecond of his functioning eye turned away, Joe Rogan aimed the blaster that was sent hurtling behind the bar moments ago. Before he fired the weapon, just for a finite moment Dr. Evazan cringed expectantly. The celebrity repeatedly fired making sure he was done. 

Conclusion:

Joe Rogan stands victorious. Why? Both Ponda Baba and Doctor Evazan were found dead on the floor of Keanes Saloon in Red Dead Redemption. It was the years of disciplined striking combat experience, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and quick thinking that led Joe Rogan to victory, despite the odds being stacked against him. His training was just enough to manage his two assailants methodically. These villains relied on their blasters and thuggery more than their own martial prowess or intellect. 

Tiers Breakdown (VSBattle Tiering System):

Joe Rogan: 10-A (Peak Human level, enhanced through martial arts mastery)

Doctor Cornelius Evazan: 10-B (Average Human, skilled in blaster combat)

Ponda Baba: 9-C (Peak Walrus faced Aqualish with a robotic arm)