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Ruth Neese

@morrigan6.bsky.social

270 followers 250 following 320 posts

Crone tired of BS. ED night nurse now a doctorally-prepared educator. Strong supporter of public health & addressing SDOH. Wildlife rehabilitator in my “spare” time. #PersonalIsPolitical #DecolonizeNursing #SaveWildlife #HumanRights #feminism #LGBTQIA+ 💙

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Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 10h

And pictures, usually incorrect anatomically at this point, but very colorful.

Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 10h

No doubt!

Reposted by Ruth Neese

Retired-Librarian @retired-librarian.bsky.social · 12h

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of 1984 by George Orwell #Read1984 #BookSky

Explain "doublethink" as if you are talking to someone who has not read 1984. What purpose did it serve?

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Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 11h

Doublethink is holding 2 contradictory beliefs in your mind at the same time and believing both are true. For example, believing “Portland is war ravaged” and that peaceful, costumed protestors are proof of that. Party slogan “war is peace” is another example. Teaches people to believe overt lies.

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Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 1d

If you’re speaking of “dead inside” in the sense of hopelessness and learned helplessness, then definitely not in the cards.

Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 1d

I don’t think total thought control is possible. Curtailing of critical thinking by limiting access to a variety of perspectives? Yes. Tailoring behavior using Skinner’s methods (or worse)? Yes. Keeping a populace ignorant for control? Yes.

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Reposted by Ruth Neese

Retired-Librarian @retired-librarian.bsky.social · 1d

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of 1984 by George Orwell #Read1984 #BookSky

Talk about Big Brother. Do you think he was ever a real person or a concept created by the party? Explain.

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Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 1d

Big Brother may have once been a live human, like Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky, Tito, etc. The live human was then subsumed by the much larger totalitarian machine and became a symbol of control, seemingly eternal. Like the “blessed martyrs” in Persepolis.

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Reposted by Ruth Neese

Retired-Librarian @retired-librarian.bsky.social · 2d

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of 1984 by George Orwell #Read1984 #BookSky

How was George Orwell prescient with regards to technology? Which current technological innovations remind you of any described in the book 1984?

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Reposted by Ruth Neese

Retired-Librarian @retired-librarian.bsky.social · 2d

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of 1984 by George Orwell #Read1984 #BookSky

Do you think it's possible for a government to widely control individual thought to the extent portrayed in the book 1984? Explain.

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Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 2d

The speakwrite. Its equivalent is in use in healthcare right now for medical dictation.

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Reposted by Ruth Neese

Retired-Librarian @retired-librarian.bsky.social · 2d

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of 1984 by George Orwell #Read1984 #BookSky

Why do you think 1984 is an iconic and influential work?

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Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 2d

The book was published in 1949, when the horrors of the authoritarian Nazi regime were still fresh and the repressive onslaught of Stalin’s vision were just coming into focus. It has served as a warning since then.

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Reposted by Ruth Neese

Retired-Librarian @retired-librarian.bsky.social · 3d

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of 1984 by George Orwell #Read1984 #BookSky

Is Winston a likeable character? Why or why not?

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Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 2d

Winston is a pathetic character. He aspires to rebellion, yet is so fatalistic, his being caught was a relief for me. The constant agonizing over every decision stopped. Perhaps that was Orwell’s intent, to demonstrate the effects of self-inflicted misery.

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Reposted by Ruth Neese

Retired-Librarian @retired-librarian.bsky.social · 3d

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of 1984 by George Orwell #Read1984 #BookSky

In the book 1984, what parallels did you see with current events or past events (or both)?

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Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 3d

The first time I read this, I saw parallels to the Soviet bloc and Pinochet’s Chile. Now? What is happening in the US and our struggle against fascist oligarchy.

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Reposted by Ruth Neese

Retired-Librarian @retired-librarian.bsky.social · 3d

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of 1984 by George Orwell #Read1984 #BookSky

I've sent out talking points to start the discussion of 1984. I'll send out more periodically for the next two weeks or so.

To join check the hashtags or pin/like the feed (go to link; click on 3 dots).

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Reposted by Ruth Neese

Retired-Librarian @retired-librarian.bsky.social · 3d

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of 1984 by George Orwell #Read1984 #BookSky

Talk about the often quoted:

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command”

…and what it means to you, within the context of having read the book, 1984.

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Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 3d

I just think of any utterance by the current political party in power in the US. Shining examples of the quote above, especially missives from NIH, the EPA, and the Offal Office.

Reposted by Ruth Neese

Retired-Librarian @retired-librarian.bsky.social · 3d

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of 1984 by George Orwell #Read1984 #BookSky

Why do you think 1984 has been banned or challenged numerous times?

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Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 3d

The sex (or pornography as it’s usually listed in the challenges) and the oppression of white people by Big Brother.

Reposted by Ruth Neese

Retired-Librarian @retired-librarian.bsky.social · 3d

#BannedBookSkyClub discussion of 1984 by George Orwell #Read1984 #BookSky

Is this your first read of 1984 or have you read before? If it's your first read, what is your key takeaway? If a re-read, what did you gain from revisiting?

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Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 3d

It is my second read. I didn’t find it nearly as frightening the first time. Of course, that read was in the 1970s.

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Ruth Neese @morrigan6.bsky.social · 3d

Orwell was as misogynist as the average man in his time. Misogyny was like breathing air, it was just “the natural order.” His female characters reflect that, like the cringing, helpless, nearly faceless female neighbor.