Informer is a modern device for torture – personal views

In Serbia, the rhetoric of the authorities and its media trabs take on the outlines of such sadism. Not that impulsive, but a systematic, strategically used to provide resistance, destroy dignity and break the will to change. It’s not a more mere healing or audacious. It is sadism with a task.

In no one does he speak to the citizens to provide citizens important information, to lower tensions, encouraged, reconciled. His speech is not communication, but the dominance. His word serves to establish a hierarchy: he speaks, others listen, slide and kneel.

The oppositionists are « scum », journalists are « liars », professors are « non-working », victims or their neighbors are « abused » or « politically instrumentalized ». There is no natural human consideration, let alone sympathy.

Any emotional vulnerability of unconsistent, is the rebellious mockery, any doubt, « awkward » question, was declared an attack on the state and betrayal. Sadism is not only reflected in aggressiveness of tonnes, inacia, threatening and mocking addresses, but also in choosing targets. The sadistic urge is an instinct for power and therefore always, « shoots » those who sees as weaker. And those who ask « awkward » questions. They are not responsible for them, they are crucified.

Media sadism does not only produce false consensus, but also collective psychological paralysis. The rhetoric of sadism and media sadism is the poles of the rule based on fear and humiliation. These are not temperament outbursts (although we are witnesses). It is a power strategy.

Through the prism of sadism, more and more people give up. Not because they want it, but because they fear that they or their family members will become the next target. That effect is also a goal.

Informer represents a striking fist of media sadism in Serbia. The only goal of that quasimedia is to fabricate enemies, that it turns them in legitimate targets with radical dehumanization.

Informer is a modern device for torture: through public shame, mocking, sexualization, pathologization, mounted scandals. Everyone is on a nišan when it should be shown what happens when someone raises the voice. And in that continuous demonstration of raw, primitive forces, enjoys. It is sadism.

What makes this phenomenon especially dangerous is that it is not about excesses. It’s a system. The rhetoric of sadism and media sadism is not mistakes, but the message control tools: « If you rebel, you will be humiliated. If you cry, we will say to act. » In addition, the dose of dirty entertainment, cheap humor and adrenaline revenge. It is a form of political gladiation – violence with thundering applause.

The consequences of such violence are not only political and social, but also deeply psychological. The society that is constantly exposed to Sadist Rotoric develops chronic stress and anxiety, autocensure, empathy alienation (because when humiliations are different, depressive passivity (belief not only is not possible, but leads to even greater humiliation, but leads to an even greater humiliation, but leads to even greater humiliation, but leads to even greater humiliation.

It is no longer the public, society, community. It’s a collective under torture. Associates and regime subjects were abused, those who were reminded that leaders and foreigners owe everything – possessions, function, work, retirement or social assistance. Their dignity, although they were privileged, they also chosen, also, trained. And what is a man without dignity?

Why and how pretty much audience gladly accepts the sadistic performance of government and spore media? It is a serious psychological and sociological phenomenon. In some people, there may be sadistic features of personality, but the explanation is much wider and more complex than that. I stand out because of space only some elements. I mentioned already dehumanization of targets like « scum », « traitor », « foreign mercenaries », « drug addiction », « whore », « vulture », « sediment from the bottom of the cottage » etc.

The annulment of humanity of others is the most effective way of killing empathy, which allows you to enjoy their humiliation. Good, old mechanism of every repression: first dehumanize, and then hit. Enjoying someone else’s pain, not because of personal cruelty, but because that pain is perceived as « deserved » and « just », the psychology calls secondary sadism. That’s how it rationalizes: « Well, they deserve it! ».

There is also a dark form of identification. People see how power destroys others and subconsciously conclude, « If I don’t identify with the aggressor, I’m next. » Thus, from fear, not from personal cruelty, join violence to avoid being victims.

Also, in modes in which people feel helpless, public humiliation of others becomes a form of compensation. Enjoying someone being « broken », « destroyed » or « crucified » in the show or article gives the illusion that the power is « on our side ».

Of course, when such scenes are repeated every day, which is the case with us, they lose shocking. The boundaries move.

What used to be unacceptable is now normal. And then it happens most dangerous: people not only accept it, but expect. The humiliation of the other becomes part of the morning coffee. Sadism becomes a routine.

In contrast, students and citizens who support them, not even when threatening them, when they beat them, gauze, insult, contests, do not correspond to dehumanization.

Their words do not injure, do not abuse. Their struggle is not insulting. Their dignity is unwavering – and in that, the strength is why power, despite its noise and fury, fears their voice.

The author is a psychotherapist

The author’s attitudes in the dialogue not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Danas.