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Trauma Matrix | Emma Lyons's avatar

A note on replies: I don't use comments or direct messages for personal processing. This space is for grounded reflection. If you'd like to work with me, please apply via the link above.

Sol Luckman's avatar

This is a statement article, Emma. Thank you so much for it. May people tune into this message and begin to change ... fundamentally. Loved every bit of it, but this cuts to the chase: “Shame hijacks perception. It turns disagreement into threat, questions into attacks, exposure into danger. Once shame is activated, logic and empathy go out the window. This is why arguing never works. You cannot reason with a nervous system that believes it’s under attack. Social media just gives these swarms a megaphone, but this is not limited to the internet.”

Trauma Matrix | Emma Lyons's avatar

Thank you so much Sol. I truly appreciate your positive feedback.

E.A.T.'s avatar

I've been traveling this realm of alchemy for some time now and I love this articulate wording! Incredibly helpful to face our fear of shame and I thought if I just hold it by the hand and say to it, "Hi there, LET'S GO" that I can play in this 'field' and learn so much. Wonderful thinking work here! Thank you, Emma.

Trauma Matrix | Emma Lyons's avatar

Thank you E.A.T. Yes no one else that I've heard is articulating how extremely toxic and pervasive shame is every time it is used.. and proposing a pathway out of our shaming culture, both individually and ultimately as a collective.

Sol Luckman and I are doing a live tomorrow at 5pm NYT where we'll be sharing more about this. Come join us if you can make it.

Tirlagh Ó hEireamhóin's avatar

As they deployed during the lockdowns, targeting the youth who were potentially killing their grandparents.

Trauma Matrix | Emma Lyons's avatar

Exactly. That was pure unadulterated shaming manipulation.

Trauma Matrix | Emma Lyons's avatar

Also... Shame is always manipulation.

Laurie's avatar

Very interesting topic with good information but it is getting harder and harder to read AI-assisted work because once you see the syntactic pattern you can't unsee it and it detracts from the work itself. The pattern is now ubiquitous. Writing that has not been fed through Chat GPT retains the life force which can be felt by the reader.

George Cervenka's avatar

Interesting article, thank you for the recommendation, Emma!