Manipulation, Moral Decay, and Strategic Isolation: Insights from Dr. Robert Malone and Col. John R. Boyd
OODA Loop Manipulation at Scale
In our recent No Way Out conversation,
explores themes of psychological warfare, leadership integrity, manipulation through misinformation, and the moral implications of collective social behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.Drawing from John Boyd's principles in The Strategic Game of Interaction and Isolation, pertinent parallels can be seen, particularly in the moral degradation and corrupt tactics observed within contemporary socio-political landscapes.1
Dr. Malone reflects on how various governments and organizations may have intentionally manipulated public perception for political or economic gain. This ties back to Boyd’s idea of moral isolation, wherein individuals or groups violate their professed codes of conduct, alienating their allies and the uncommitted, causing disruption and societal collapse.
Misinformation was any information which differed from the official narrative of that point in time [...] Malinformation is defined as anything that is true or false [...] but it causes the hearer to distrust the government.
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This quote emphasizes the moral ambiguity and potential for corruption when controlling narratives, illustrating Boyd's assertion that when standards of behavior are compromised for personal or collective gain, it inevitably leads to moral and social disintegration.
Key Malone-Boyd Insights:
1. Moral Fiber and Social Integrity: Malone and Boyd both stress that society's stability depends on adhering to moral standards. The deviation from these standards, as seen in the manipulation during the pandemic, leads to societal disorientation and chaos.
2. Concepts of Evil and Corruption: Boyd’s definitions of evil and corruption—where individuals embrace and then violate their codes for self-gain—resonate with Malone’s descriptions of how public narratives were controlled to mislead and manipulate for political and economic benefits.
3. Isolation as a Strategy: Both Malone and Boyd discuss the impact of isolating individuals or groups to control or influence outcomes. In Boyd's strategic terms, this often means disrupting adversary's mental and social cohesion, leading to societal decay.
4. Leadership and Ethical Failures: Malone’s depiction of leadership failures during the pandemic aligns with Boyd’s views on poor leadership. When leaders fail to inspire genuine cooperation and ethical action, distrust and societal fragmentation follow.
The two-hour-long "No Way Out" conversation with Dr. Malone provides an analysis that exemplifies many of Boyd’s theoretical perspectives on human nature, moral conduct, and the consequences of their degradation.
Our No Way Out conversation with Dr. Malone will drop in early October on your favorite platform and is available now here on "The Whirl of ReOrientation."
-Brian ‘Ponch” Rivera
Boyd, J. (1987). The Strategic Game of ? and ?