330 A Programmer’s Guide to the Mind
analyze it objectively and turn it into a syndrome with a long scientific
name. Thus we use technobabble to build pseudo-theories out of our
mutual back-patting. Our Mercy hurts are still there, but the pseudo-idea
now makes us feel better about the situation. Our pseudo-concept isn‟t that
great, but the academic weight of scientific talent that has analyzed our
Mercy hurt makes the explanation appear truly significant.
Objective pseudo-cultures and subjective pseudo-theories tend to
reinforce one another. On the one hand, the pseudo-culture of technology
improves our living conditions without touching the me of Mercy
identification—it avoids this me by remaining objective. Therefore, we
think that the same approach can be used in the subjective, and we try to
use the Teacher theorizing that underlies technology to improve our
internal feelings. But we do not alter the me of Mercy identification. This
leads to pseudo-theories—we give scientific sounding explanations to our
emotional hangups without going through the personal honesty that is
needed to put these theories upon a proper foundation.
On the other hand, pseudo-theories make us feel better by giving us
Teacher explanations which explain the me of Mercy identification
without threatening it. Therefore, we think that the same approach can be
used in the objective, and we use the Teacher based objects of technology
to improve our personal Mercy feelings. This leads to commercialism, as
we replace the deep Mercy feelings of culture with the trappings of
gadgetry. We gain the veneer of culture without the personal development
that alone can make us truly cultured.
Modern means of communication lead, in turn, to collisions between
overlapping and competing pseudo-cultures and pseudo-theories. On the
one hand, the development of mass media allows pseudo-cultures to extend
their reach through advertising: “You need our merchandise. You will love
our product. We can fulfill your fantasy. Visit our dream world.” The
product may be inferior, but when it is backed by a slick advertising
campaign, it has a good chance of becoming successful; the Teacher
feelings of professionalism provided by the media tend to balance Mercy
deficiencies in the product itself. Real objects which meet genuine needs
can of course improve our quality of life. But pseudo-objects created to
fulfill pseudo-needs come with no guarantee that Mercy thought will be
pleased with the results.
On the other hand, the advent of worldwide communication allows
pseudo-theories to extend beyond their natural physical borders. For
instance, the civil servants of a specific government agency may be located
within a certain building, but with electronic fingers they can reach far
beyond the limits of their physical „turf.‟ This leads to an overlapping of
jurisdictions. For example, the citizen of today can only conform to law
and order by simultaneously obeying the rules of his company, the laws of
the land, the local bylaws, the regulations of various environmental