Has anyone seen the movie Zeitgeist?

[newbold]

I like Zeitgeist because it gives me a good litmus test to judge people by. If someone tells me they like the movie, then I know that I should probably stop talking to them and that they are not someone I would enjoy spending time with. For that, I must think the writers and producers of Zeitgeist, I don't know where I'd be without it.

I do the exact same yet opposite thing.

If someone suggests that they're averse to its message then I know that as much as we might have in common and as much as we might really get along and have a lot to share and learn from one another, I should find a way to drive them away from me because when the tanks start rolling in and the army marches past, I don't want any of those soldiers knocking on my door on a tip from some backwards *******.

 

[AlphaMale]

Hrmm.... not sure about using Zeitgeist as a litmus test. It pleases me to see people engage in questioning what they've been told. If watching such films helps that along, that's a good thing, IMO. But I certainly wouldn't want the questioning to stop there, and would hope that a search for better answers would take place afterwards.

But Zeitgeist doesn't teach people to question anything it tells you to disbelieve and believe certain things, not question.

 

[12bass]

But Zeitgeist doesn't teach people to question anything it tells you to disbelieve and believe certain things, not question.

It presents viewpoints which challenge orthodoxy and that tends to lead to questioning in viewers. I'm not one for conspiracy theories and agree that it could have been much more scientific in its methods. Still, I think opening the door to challenging established thinking can be a good way to start on the road to thinking critically. First crack open the ideas for inspection, then learn how to engage critically....

 

[GregC]

I agree with you on this. I've seen many well educated people who have developed the reflex to question anything they read on mainstream media and understand how, for instance, a newspaper can be affiliated with a certain political party, yet they tend to be more gullible with what they read on the Internet, especially if the information comes from an alleged independent source. In that respect, I think that our societies have still not adapted to the sensible use of the Web as an information hub.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] People seem to think that there's always an agenda and there is little or no difference between fact and opinion. Fact: Zeitgeist is false and full of blatant lies and wrong qotes.

It is not the case that every opinion and every thought has validity and we should consider both sides. Completely insane opinions such as those expounded in the Zeitgeist trash, Holocaust denial, 911 Truth, JFK conspiracy nonsense etc, deserve to be derided and debunked. It's an intellectual disservice to yourself to offer respect to both sides of "issues" like these.

This is so true, particularly Phil's point about a lack of critical thinking. One of the insidious things about the Internet is that people seem to judge the validity of sources not on their credentials or the research used to support their statements, but whether those sources say what they wish to believe. I think there's something to AlphaMale's point about the appeal of rebelliousness--people want to be seen on the cutting edge sometimes, to show that they oppose the "official story", never mind the facts. I find it funny and said when people are so gullible as to unquestioningly swallow up tripe such as 911 Truth, then have the nerve to call those who question its validity "sheeple". Some people need a mirror.

being "Intellectual" would be to consider and respect everyone, then make your own conclusion,
as well as just opening up and seeing truth around us everyday, not just reading about it or watching it...

No, it isn't. As Phil said, you need to think critically and evaluate each source on its merits, rather than giving equal weight to a story supported by extensive reporting and an assertion made by Joe the Blogger from his basement.

Yes, one should certainly consider sources outside of CNN and Fox. But if they regularly put out material as poorly researched, biased and full of misleading nonsense as Zeitgiest, they'd be out of business within days.

 

[AlphaMale]

It presents viewpoints which challenge orthodoxy and that tends to lead to questioning in viewers. I'm not one for conspiracy theories and agree that it could have been much more scientific in its methods. Still, I think opening the door to challenging established thinking can be a good way to start on the road to thinking critically. First crack open the ideas for inspection, then learn how to engage critically....

I don't think being told what to think teaches anyone to think critically.

 

[unclekebm]

No, it isn't. As Phil said, you need to think critically and evaluate each source on its merits, rather than giving equal weight to a story supported by extensive reporting and an assertion made by Joe the Blogger from his basement.

Yes, one should certainly consider sources outside of CNN and Fox. But if they regularly put out material as poorly researched, biased and full of misleading nonsense as Zeitgiest, they'd be out of business within days.

I agree, but how do you trust the merits of any story when we as a nation have been duped since day one..

I never said "equal weight", I said respect to what everyone has to say,
then you can be critical and evaluate...
better yet, the only way to truly understand truth, is to experience for yourself.
but if one just dismisses whatever doesn't fit in to their perception, based on their education and life experience,
that's one sided and not always the truth to the rest of the world...not to mention delusional.
by considering what everyone has to say, openly, and not necessarily with "equal weight", then one has a better chance at the truth..

 

[12bass]

I don't think being told what to think teaches anyone to think critically.

What I got from Zeitgeist was a number of reasons to doubt orthodoxy. Sure, they weren't good reasons; but it serves to create doubt, and hopefully to stir questioning. And a questioning attitude is one of the foundational requirements to begin critical thinking. Somehow I doubt that many people would take the movie's answers at face value without any further research... that would be rather unfortunate.

 

[mfgl]

Just because someone likes something doesnt mean they believe it so i probably wouldnt use it to judge people too critically. I like watching the news but i dont believe everything it says. I like reading the new york times, but i dont believe anything it says. Since when is it a newspapers job to give opinions instead of just reporting facts and letting us decide..... I think Perry Farrell said it best ..."and the news is just another show"

 

[AlphaMale]

What I got from Zeitgeist was a number of reasons to doubt orthodoxy. Sure, they weren't good reasons; but it serves to create doubt, and hopefully to stir questioning. And a questioning attitude is one of the foundational requirements to begin critical thinking. Somehow I doubt that many people would take the movie's answers at face value without any further research... that would be rather unfortunate.

Really? thats interesting because honestly of all the people that I have met that watched it or planned to watch it accept/accepted it as true. One guy described it to me as "Free online enlightenment"

 

[12bass]

Really? thats interesting because honestly of all the people that I have met that watched it or planned to watch it accept/accepted it as true. One guy described it to me as "Free online enlightenment"

As I said, that's unfortunate. The people I know who have seen it and said they enjoyed it are still actively seeking better answers. I don't know how anyone could accept such claims as true.... just not enough evidence to justify that.

FYI, I'm a proponent of skeptical, scientific reasoning.

 

[Philbiker]

I like Zeitgeist because it gives me a good litmus test to judge people by. If someone tells me they like the movie, then I know that I should probably stop talking to them and that they are not someone I would enjoy spending time with. For that, I must think the writers and producers of Zeitgeist, I don't know where I'd be without it.

+100 Same goes for all kinds of nutty conspiracy zanyness. Bring up anything like that and I know that it's safe to discount just about everything you say.

 

[unclekebm]

I'm not trying to defend Zeitgeist here...
but maybe it's so one sided to balance out the one-sided thinking of Mainstream news & religion...
which IMO rest their "merits" on the lies they've been feeding us for generations that have just become truth because of relentless repetition...

 

[unclekebm]

I like Zeitgeist because it gives me a good litmus test to judge people by. If someone tells me they like the movie, then I know that I should probably stop talking to them and that they are not someone I would enjoy spending time with. For that, I must think the writers and producers of Zeitgeist, I don't know where I'd be without it.

funny and sad...

so what does someone have to talk about to fit into your little world?

 

[Visirale]

funny and sad...

so what does someone have to talk about to fit into your little world?

Not BS conspiracy theories. It's really quite easy.

 

[unclekebm]

I'd like to see "actual proof"
that 911 wasn't an inside job and
that Religion isn't used to control peoples (not to mention raise billions in tax free $$)
that WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraq weren't all planned
that Mainstream Media isn't closely regulated
that the New World Order isn't being planned & executed by the "elites"

please someone show me this backed by the undeniable merit of the source...
otherwise it's Just BS theory...

 

[Visirale]

I'd like to see "actual proof"
that 911 wasn't an inside job and
that Religion isn't used to control peoples (not to mention raise billions in tax free $$)
that WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraq weren't all planned
that Mainstream Media isn't closely regulated
that the New World Order isn't being planned & executed by the "elites"

please someone show me this backed by the undeniable merit of the source...
otherwise it's Just BS theory...

I believe the burden of proof is on you, not us.

 

[unclekebm]

I remember when i was a kid listening to Led Zeppelin...
people used to say "that's the devil conspiring against the people"
"if you listen to that you'll go to hell" and the mainstream believed it...
when in fact they where just mystical, spiritual seekers

30 years later the truth shows more clearly...
we will see about all this "conspiracy theory" stuff in the future

all I know is if we look around closely at reality we see alot of truths that where once "conspiracy theorys" Zeitgeist or not

IMO it's all theory....

 

[Philbiker]

I'd like to see "actual proof"
that 911 wasn't an inside job and
that Religion isn't used to control peoples (not to mention raise billions in tax free $$)
that WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraq weren't all planned
that Mainstream Media isn't closely regulated
that the New World Order isn't being planned & executed by the "elites"

please someone show me this backed by the undeniable merit of the source...
otherwise it's Just BS theory...

You can't prove a negative. I'd suggest starting by studying basic logic. There's a lot of wisdom to be found in understanding logical fallacy.

 

[unclekebm]

I believe the burden of proof is on you, not us.

why, because Mainstream Media coverage is true?..
the "burden" is there is no "truth" being told to the people

yet everyone chooses to believe the "mainstream"
then anything that goes against it truth or not, carries the "burden of proof"

 

[unclekebm]

You can't prove a negative. I'd suggest starting by studying basic logic. There's a lot of wisdom to be found in understanding logical fallacy.

OK let me state it this way, show me that what Zeitgeist says about the Pentagon isn't true, show me a picture (non photoshop) of a jet airplane sitting in the hole at the Pentagon on 911...
or go to southeast New Mexico and tell me they haven't started building a super highway that crosses through the US from Mexico to Canada...
show me where AIG puts all that $$ they collect from policy holders, blah, blah...
where's the "logic" in war? poor sick people dying because they don't have insurance? electoral vote? the worlds largest "super power" going bankrupt? corporate dominance? and on and on
I believe in thinking logically but to much creates "dogma"