I was recently involved in a discussion with a few blue pill acquaintances, that highlighted some of the clear distinctions between a blue pill and a red pill framework. While the red pill can on occasion step into the domain of extremist cynicism, the blue pill in many ways depart from reality in profound ways. This lead me to consult “Future of an Illusion“ by Sigmund Freud, that deals with the illusions that humanity accept in order to avoid seeing reality.
One of the definitions for “illusion” by Merriam-Webster is:
“perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature (2) : hallucination” [1]
The red pill metaphor that we utilize to illustrate a person’s awakening from the hallucination, aims to draw a distinction between the framework for interpreting reality that most men in the Western World are educated in throughout their childhood as part of socialization and the true nature of reality. In this manner, the term “Red Pill” is often co-opted by other groups, for instance the recent use of the term to signify a person’s awakening to the various narratives within our society that shape our perception of reality. A person has been “red pilled” when they start to question and reject the narrative that seeks to influence and control their behavior. Continue reading