If there’s one thing tyrants and dictators despise, it is people who think. Those hungry for power and control prefer individuals they can manipulate, but true thinkers resist control. True thinkers question authority, demand evidence, and seek reason. Their skepticism disrupts blind compliance, compelling them to ask: Where is this information from? Has due diligence been done in gathering it?
This resistance makes true thinkers dangerous. Dangerous to the status quo, dangerous to manipulation, and dangerous to the usual games of politics. They challenge politically correct (PC) narratives, fake news, and even the philosophy of “Woke” culture.
Are You a True Thinker?
Here’s a litmus test: Do people often tell you, “Relax, you think too much!” or “Stop asking so many questions—it’s impolite”? If so, you may be on the path to becoming a true thinker.
Abraham Maslow observed that self-actualized individuals are true thinkers because they constantly question and seek understanding. This aligns with the long-term goal of Neuro-Semantics: transforming the way people think—enabling clarity, critical analysis, and creativity. As Maslow said:
“People who know too much are likely to rebel.” (1968, p. 62)
True thinkers rebel against dehumanizing forces and advocate for greater humanity.
The Pitfall of Borrowed Thinking
William James astutely noted:
“A great many people think they are ‘thinking’ when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.”
Borrowed thinking happens when you parrot someone else’s bullet points without engaging deeply. This superficiality leaves many as “strangers to their own minds” (Think Like a Genius, 1996, p. 2). Such individuals don’t understand how their own mind works, how to create or analyze information, or how to think independently.
Learning to think truly and independently isn’t innate—it’s learned. What comes naturally is biased thinking, cognitive distortions, and logical fallacies. Primitive cultures remain so precisely because of these immature thought patterns, collectively referred to as Cognitive Distortions.
The Power and Danger of Critical Thinking
Critical thinking refuses to accept information at face value. It resists all forms of brainwashing, manipulation, and misinformation. To think critically, one must adopt a beginner’s mindset, asking simple yet profound questions.
Such thinking is not only dangerous to societal biases but also to our own prejudices. This, however, is a risk worth taking if we are truly committed to truth—no matter the consequences.
Freedom of Thought vs. Control
Since true thinkers threaten those who control narratives, such individuals often attempt to limit freedom of speech. Labeling opposing ideas as “misinformation” or “disinformation” implies an assumption: that people are too weak to think for themselves.
In Neuro-Semantics, we reject this assumption. We believe everyone can learn to think critically, clearly, and creatively. Through tools like the Meta-Model of language, Brain Camps, and works like Thinking for Humans, we empower individuals to reclaim their intellectual freedom.
Becoming a Dangerous Thinker
Here’s to you becoming a dangerous thinker—someone who thinks independently, asks questions fearlessly, and pursues truth relentlessly. In doing so, you will not only liberate your own mind but also inspire others to challenge the forces that dehumanize and control.
Curated by Danielle Tan.
Reference:
- [Neurons] 2024 Neurons #53 TRUE THINKERS ARE DANGEROUS by L. Michael Hall, Ph.D. Executive Director, ISNS.
