用法学习: 1. put stock in have a specified amount of belief or faith in. If you put stock in something that someone says or does, you have a high opinion of it: He's been wrong before, so I don't put much stock in what he says any more. "I don't put much stock in modern medicine". Speaking during a press conference at the White House, Mr Trump courted the support of those who put stock in the conspiracy theory (QAnon comspiracy theory), saying, "I heard that these are people that love our country" He insisted he had not heard much about the movement, "other than I understand they like me very much" and "it is gaining in popularity". These comments came on the same day Facebook announced it would restrict QAnon's reach on its social media platform. Facebook said it was banning groups and accounts associated with QAnon as well as a variety of US-based militia and anarchist groups that supported violence. But the company will continue to allow people to post material that supports these groups, as long as they do not violate policies against hate speech, abuse and other provocations. Usage notes: Chiefly used in the negative: "not to put much stock in". cynicism [sɪnɪsɪzəm] I. Cynicism is the belief that people always act selfishly. the belief that people care only about themselves and are not sincere or honest. I found Ben's cynicism wearing at times. II. Cynicism about something is the belief that it cannot be successful or that the people involved are not honourable. the belief that things will not be successful or useful. This talk betrays a certain cynicism about free trade. III. the attitude or behaviour of someone who is willing to let other people be harmed in order to get an advantage. cynical [sɪnɪkəl] adj. I. If you describe someone as cynical, you mean they believe that people always act selfishly. someone who is cynical believes that people care only about themselves and are not sincere or honest. ...his cynical view of the world. As one former customer said cynically, 'He's probably pocketed the difference!' II. 保持怀疑态度的. 不相信态度的. If you are cynical about something, you do not believe that it can be successful or that the people involved are honest. It's hard not to be cynical about reform. It has also made me more cynical about relationships. someone who is cynical expects things not to be successful or useful. cynical about: I know that some of you are very cynical about the proposals. 2. institutionalize I. If someone such as a sick, mentally ill, or old person is institutionalized, they are sent to stay in a special hospital or home, usually for a long period. She became seriously ill and had to be institutionalized for a lengthy period. ...institutionalized kids with medical problems. Institutionalization was necessary when his wife became both blind and violent. II. To institutionalize something means to establish it as part of a culture, social system, or organization. The goal is to institutionalize family planning into community life. In the first century there was no such thing as institutionalized religion. ...the institutionalization of social change. phone (something) in I. Literally, to make a telephone call in order to relay or transmit information to someone else. Make sure you phone the incident in immediately, or we could be held legally liable. We'll need to phone the order in at least two weeks in advance if we want to receive it on time. II. To perform a role or duty in a halfhearted, disinterested, and unprofessional manner. Everyone phones it in on the morning after a staff party, so don't worry if you don't feel able to give this report your all. You can tell the actor is phoning it in—I'm sure he got a good paycheck for the voiceover, but you'd think he could try a little bit harder. To do something in a perfunctory way or with little interest: One of the actors in the play was just phoning it in. perfunctory [pərˈfʌŋkt(ə)ri] adj. 心不在焉的, 简单的, 随随便便的, 满不在乎的, 不在意的 A perfunctory action is done quickly and carelessly, and shows a lack of interest in what you are doing. They give their new employees a day or two of perfunctory orientation. ...a one-day orientation session. She gave the list only a perfunctory glance 不认真的, 随便扫了一眼, 简单看了一眼(a cursory glance). ...a perfunctory handshake. Our interest was purely perfunctory. Melina was perfunctorily introduced to the men. done without much effort or interest. Officers made a perfunctory search of the room. She gave her mother a perfunctory kiss on the cheek. vocabulary: Perfunctory means done as part of a routine or duty 兴趣了了的, 只是习惯性的, 不经心的. If you give someone a gift and they look at it like it's roadkill and say nothing but a perfunctory "thank you," you might not be giving them another one anytime soon. (roadkill = road kill 路上被压死的小动物
an animal or bird that has been killed by a vehicle and is lying in the
road. Roadkill is the remains of an animal or animals that have been
killed on the road by cars or other vehicles. On average, two crocodiles a year end up as road kill on Florida's Highway 1. I don't feel good about seeing roadkill. ) A person who does something in a perfunctory way shows little enthusiasm or interest
in what they are doing. Many of our everyday greetings are perfunctory.
For example, when we say "Hello" and "How are you?", we usually do so
out of habit. Perfunctory is from Latin perfunctus, from perfungi, "to
get through with, perform," formed from the Latin prefix per-,
"completely," plus fungi, "to perform." 3. Discreet [dɪˈskriːt] I. 不讲, 不说. 不告诉人. 不让人知道的. careful not to say anything that is secret or that could upset someone. If you are discreet about something you are doing, you do not tell
other people about it, in order to avoid being embarrassed or to gain an
advantage. We were very discreet about the romance. She's making a few discreet inquiries with her mother's friends. Everyone tried discreetly to find out more about him. She's very discreet and loyal. II. 低调, 不张扬. 不引人注意的. 不惹眼的. unlikely to attract attention. If you are discreet, you are polite and careful in what you do or say,
because you want to avoid embarrassing or offending someone. I took the phone, and she went discreetly into the living room. They were gossipy and not always discreet. They followed at a discreet distance. III. small and not very noticeable. If you describe something as discreet, you approve of it because it is small in size or degree, or not easily noticed. She wore discreet jewellery. discreet 低调的 不张扬的 gold earrings. ...stately houses, discreetly hidden behind great avenues of sturdy trees. The two rooms were relatively small and discreetly lit. stately [ˈsteɪtli] adj. Something or someone that is stately is impressive and graceful or dignified. stately movement is slow and steady. a stately person has an impressive appearance and moves in a slow steady manner. Instead of moving at his usual stately 不紧不慢的, 从容的 优雅的 pace, he was almost running. ...a stately mansion. discrete [dɪˈskriːt] 分离的, 分散的, 各自独立的 Discrete ideas or things are separate and distinct from each other. separate discrete categories/units. ...instruction manuals that break down jobs into scores of discrete steps. Why are people expecting powerful discrete graphics 独立显卡 from a thin and light 2 in 1. MS Surface Pro also has a discrete GPU. vocabulary: Discrete means separate or divided. A discrete unit is a separate part of something larger. A room is a discrete space within a house, just as the crankshaft is a discrete part of a car engine. Discreet [dɪˈskriːt] means on the down low, under the radar, careful, but discrete means individual or detached. They come from the same ultimate source, the Latin discrētus, for separated or distinct, but discreet has taken its own advice and quietly gone its separate way. If something is discrete, it has its own space. An ice cube comes from an ice tray, but it has its own discrete compartment. A student government might have discrete committees for different projects. Don't confuse discrete with its close cousin discreet, which means "appropriately private." Billionaire Bruce Wayne, for example, is very discreet about his secret life as Batman. You could say Batman is a discrete, or separate, part of Bruce Wayne's identity. Anything distinct and separated is discrete. 4. succulent [sʌkjʊlənt] adj. [approval] Succulent food 多汁的, 味美的, especially meat or vegetables, is juicy and good to eat. Cook pieces of succulent chicken with ample garlic and a little sherry. ...succulent early vegetables. noun. Succulents or succulent plants 多肉的, 叶子肉厚的 are types of plants which have thick, fleshy leaves. succulent plants have thick stems or leaves that store a lot of water. His potted succulents were looking parched. superfluous [suːˈpɜː(r)fluəs] 多此一举的, 多余的, 没必要的 not needed or wanted. Something that is superfluous is unnecessary or is no longer needed. not needed or wanted They were superfluous to requirements. My presence at the afternoon's proceedings was superfluous. I rid myself of many superfluous belongings and habits that bothered me. They were superfluous to requirements (=not required). cooped up 窝着, 圈起来, 窝在, 圈在 adj. If you say that someone is cooped up, you mean that they live or are kept in a place which is too small, or which does not allow them much freedom. He is cooped up in a cramped cell with 10 other inmates. It isn't good for her to be cooped up all the time. instructive giving useful information about something. Something that is instructive gives useful information. ...an entertaining and instructive documentary. I found the talk on healthy eating very instructive. informative [ɪnˈfɔːmətɪv] 提供有价值的信息, 信息量大的 adj. providing useful or interesting information. giving a lot of information in a helpful way an entertaining and informative documentary. "a thought-provoking, informative article" inform I. If you inform someone of something, you tell them about it. They would inform him of any progress they had made. My daughter informed me that she was pregnant. 'I just added a little soy sauce,' he informs us. to officially tell someone something, or to give them information about something. We will inform you in writing if your application has been successful. inform someone of/about something: Please inform us of any changes in your circumstances. inform someone (that): Parents were informed that the school was closing. inform someone as to how/what/when etc: I haven't been informed as to whether he's coming or not. be reliably informed (=have information that you are sure is correct): I've been reliably informed that the delivery will arrive tomorrow. be fully informed (=be told all the details about something): The President has been fully informed of developments. keep sb informed Keep the project manager informed about any issue that might have an impact on a project's bottom line. II. If someone informs on a person 告发, 告密, they give information about the person to the police or another authority, which causes the person to be suspected or proved guilty of doing something bad. Somebody must have informed on us. Thousands of American citizens have informed on these organized crime syndicates. inform on/against someone to secretly give the police or someone in authority information about someone The rule has always been that you don't inform on a friend. III. If a situation or activity is informed by an idea or a quality, that idea or quality is very noticeable in it. All great songs are informed by a certain sadness and tension. The concept of the Rose continued to inform the poet's work. Sheldon: I've invented a science joke, would you like to hear it? Amy: Sure. Sheldon: How many Edisons does it take to screw in a light bulb? Amy: How many? Sheldon: Who cares? He stole the idea and doesn't deserve his own joke. Amy: Is that really true? Sheldon: Of course, that's how you know it's a good joke. It not only entertains, it informs. IV. to influence something such as an opinion, attitude, or style. to influence something such as an opinion or decision: inform sb's choices/behaviour/decisions There are many factors that inform consumer choices. The habits of individual employees are informed by the corporate culture in which they participate. His poetry is deeply informed by the experience of poverty. V. to give information or to teach someone about something: The news media has an enormous capacity to inform and educate. inform sb about sth There are many innovative ways to inform kids about the world they live in. 5. take/get a rise out of to annoy someone. to make someone react angrily by saying something that will annoy them Ignore him, he's just trying to get a rise out of you. Steve always manages to get a rise out of me with his racist jokes.
comic relief VS shock value VS for comic/dramatic effect 图一笑, 图个乐, 博得一笑, 博大家一笑, 喜剧效果, 戏剧效果: Leonard:
Uh, there's a thing called superfluid vacuum theory, where empty space
is imagined as a superfluid with all of its qualities, viscosity,
density, surface tension Penny: Hey, if you're pausing for dramatic effect,
I'd keep it moving. Leonard: No, no. People don't talk about surface
tension. If you imagine our three-space as the surface of an
N-dimensional superfluid bubble… This is exciting. This is really
exciting. I have to go find Sheldon. comic relief 搞笑担当, 负责搞笑的, 活跃气氛的 humorous A humorous or farcical (farce) interlude in a serious literary work or drama, especially a tragedy, intended to relieve the dramatic tension or heighten the emotional impact
by means of contrast. a. an amusing scene or incident in a serious or
tragic setting, as in a play, providing temporary relief from tension or
dramatic action. b. relief from tension caused by the introduction of a
comic element. a. content in a dramatic or literary work intended to offset more serious episodes. an amusing scene, incident, or speech introduced into serious or
tragic elements, as in a play, in order to provide temporary relief from
tension, or to intensify the dramatic action. The quick-witted servant, Lupo, provides hilarious comic relief 搞笑担当, 喜剧担当. something that is intended to make you laugh in a serious film, play, or situation. "between tragic stories are a few songs supplying comic relief". an amusing moment or element in a serious situation. It was a moment of comic relief after what had been a gut-wrenching 168-minute battle. b. a character or characters providing comic relief. relief from tension
caused by the introduction or occurrence of a comic element, as by an
amusing human foible. Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous
character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often
to relieve tension. Sometimes comic relief characters will appear in
fiction that is comic. This generally occurs when the work enters a dramatic moment, but the character continues to be comical regardless. "the archaeologist, who begins as oafish comic relief, exemplifies her gift for character drawing". comic effect 喜剧效果 She
pauses for comic effect and adds: 'Although he might.' It's all done
with great style and comic effect. Some of these scenes are dramatised
within the play, to great comic effect. comic VS comedic [kəˈmidɪk]:
We won't go so far as to say that "comedic" is unnecessary. But it can
usually be replaced by "comic," a simpler and less academic-sounding
term. Of the two adjectives, "comedic" has a narrower meaning. Most dictionaries define it as having to do with comedy. But "comic" means that and something more—funny. For example, you could use either word here: "He prefers comic [or comedic] roles to tragic ones" … "Satire is just one element in the comic [or comedic] genre." But only "comic" will do when you're talking about something that makes you laugh: "The feud stemmed from a comic 搞笑的, 好笑的 misunderstanding" … "The dog provided comic relief." comedic [kəˈmidɪk] relating to or involving comedy: a comedic actor/actress 喜剧演员. His comedic timing is perfect. His comedic timing was flawless. This darkly comedic piece of theater should not be missed. a comedic monologue. comic adj [ˈkɑmɪk] I. funny. If you describe something as comic, you mean that it makes you laugh, and is often intended to make you laugh. Most of these trips had exciting or comic moments. The novel is comic and tragic. The play had comic moments. a. only before noun
relating to comedy. Comic is used to describe comedy as a form of
entertainment, and the actors and entertainers who perform it. Grodin is a fine comic actor. ...a comic opera. a comic actor 喜剧演员. noun. A comic is an entertainer who tells jokes in order to make people laugh. comical [ˈkɑmɪk(ə)l] 搞笑的
something that is comical makes you laugh because it is so strange or
silly. If you describe something as comical, you mean that it makes you
want to laugh because it seems funny or silly. Her expression is almost comical. Events took a comical turn. She raised her eyebrows comically. The display of prehistoric monsters is comically naive. Shock value 为了吓人而吓人的 I don't like that thriller, it's only gory for shock value. Shock advertising or Shockvertising is a type of advertising generally regarded as one that "deliberately, rather than inadvertently, startles and offends its audience by violating norms for social values and personal ideals.
绑架: 1. co-opt I. 招安. If you co-opt someone, you persuade them to help or support you. Mr Wallace tries to co-opt rather than defeat his critics. Sofia Petrovna co-opted Natasha as her assistant. to try to control someone or stop them from harming you by bringing them into your own group or organization. Democrats will need to co-opt six Republicans to achieve a majority. II. 接纳. 吸收. If someone is co-opted into a group, they are asked by that group to become a member, rather than joining or being elected in the normal way. He was posted to Malta, where he was co-opted into MI5. He's been authorised to co-opt anyone he wants to join him. if a committee, group, etc. co-opts someone, they agree to make that person a member. Up to four additional members can be co-opted onto the Council to fulfill specific requirements. III. 占为己有. 据为己有. 绑架. If a group or political party co-opts a slogan or policy, they take it, often from another group or political party, and use it themselves. He co-opted many nationalist slogans and cultivated a populist image. to take someone's idea or plan and use it as if it were your own. The President co-opted welfare reform from the Republicans. She's naive. A little girl playing with matches 玩火而不自知. Anarchists? Doesn't take many. Reading between the lines, Twitter, Reddit... they've already co-opted her cause. She just doesn't know it yet. 2. hijack I. If someone hijacks a plane or other vehicle, they illegally take control of it by force while it is travelling from one place to another. ...a plot to hijack an airliner. A chemical tanker with 26 crew was hijacked by pirates on Monday. The hijacked plane exploded in a ball of fire. Every minute during the hijack seemed like a week. Car hijackings are running at a rate of nearly 50 a day. II. If you say that someone has hijacked something, you disapprove of the way in which they have taken control of it when they had no right to do so. A peaceful demonstration had been hijacked by anarchists intent on causing trouble. Three keys to regaining control after someone hijacks your meeting. Subsequently, people can act out and, all of a sudden, a meeting goes of course and you struggle to get things back on track. If this has happened to you, it is most likely that you have been the victim of a meeting hijack. Meeting hijacks are not always intentional. Most of my experience suggests that certain conditions usually trigger a meeting hijack such as not enough support for items and actions raised in the meeting. Most frequently, from what I have observed, meeting hijacks can occur when participants in the meeting feel that their needs are not being met. As a result, they begin to force their point of view on the meeting, usually bringing up matters unrelated to the agenda items as things spiral out of control.
ravage VS savage VS salvage: ravage [ˈrævɪdʒ] 肆虐, 破坏, 毁坏 (ravish) to destroy something or damage it very badly. A town, country, or economy that has been ravaged is one that has been damaged so much that it is almost completely destroyed. For two decades the country has been ravaged by civil war and foreign intervention. The camerawork makes the ravaged streets of New Orleans look exquisite. ...Nicaragua's ravaged economy. savage [sævɪdʒ] adj. 野蛮的, 蛮荒的. vb. 疯狂攻击, 狂咬; 狠批, 痛批; adj. I. Someone or something that is savage is extremely cruel, violent, and uncontrolled. cruel and unpleasant or violent. a savage attack/beating/murder. A savage look flitted across his face. She took a savage pleasure in pointing out their mistakes. This was a savage attack on a defenceless young girl. ...the savage wave of violence that swept the country in November 1987. ...a savage dog lunging at the end of a chain. He was savagely beaten. II. a savage animal is likely to attack you. III. extremely severe savage cuts in public services. Losing his job had been a savage blow. IV. criticizing someone or something very much. She wrote a savage review of the book. a savage attack on the government's policies. V. old-fashioned 野蛮的. 蛮荒的. an insulting way of describing someone or something from a culture that is not considered to be advanced. This is now considered offensive. noun. [disapproval] If you refer to people as savages, you dislike them because you think that they do not have an advanced society and are violent. ...their conviction that the area was a frozen desert peopled with uncouth savages. verb. I. 疯狂攻击. 狂咬. If someone is savaged by a dog or other animal, the animal attacks them violently. if an animal savages someone, it attacks them and injures or kills them A jogger was savaged by two Rottweilers yesterday. The animal then turned on him and he was savaged to death. II. 痛批, 狠批. If someone or something that they have done is savaged by another person, that person criticizes them severely. to criticize someone or something severely Smith's play was savaged by the critics. The show had already been savaged by critics. Speakers called for clearer direction and savaged the Chancellor. salvage [ˈsælvɪdʒ] 挽回 ( situation 挽回局势, 挽回颓势, 挽回败局), 挽救, 挽回名声, 脸面, 面子 (pride/reputation), 救出 (器械, 财产) I. to save property or possessions from a building that has been damaged or destroyed in a fire, flood etc. If something is salvaged, someone manages to save it, for example from a ship that has sunk, or from a building that has been damaged. The team's first task was to decide what equipment could be salvaged. The investigators studied flight recorders salvaged from the wreckage. Terrified residents tried desperately to salvage 救出 belongings from their devastated homes. a. to save a ship or the things that it is carrying when it has been damaged or sunk. II. to succeed in achieving something in a situation or action that has been a failure. If you manage to salvage a difficult situation, you manage to get something useful from it so that it is not a complete failure. Officials tried to salvage the situation 挽回局势, 挽回颓势, 挽回败局. Diplomats are still hoping to salvage something from the meeting. He had put a lot of effort into trying to salvage 挽救 their relationship. salvage your pride ( reputation ) 挽回脸面, 名声 (= remain proud by achieving something despite many failures): If you salvage something such as your pride or your reputation, you manage to keep it even though it seems likely you will lose it, or you get it back after losing it. We definitely wanted to salvage some pride for British tennis. She was lucky to be able to salvage her career. France salvaged some pride with a victory over Ireland in Paris. noun. I. the action of saving property or possessions from being destroyed in a fire, flood etc. Salvage is the act of salvaging things from somewhere such as a damaged ship or building. The salvage operation went on. ...the cost of salvage. The salvage operation cannot begin for several months. II. property that has been saved from being destroyed or damaged. The salvage from somewhere such as a damaged ship or building is the things that are saved from it. They climbed up on the rock with their salvage.
Surface laptop 3 review: Microsoft's top-quality laptop is now in its third generation, with new ports, new processors and a slight redesign, with the option to ditch the unique Alcantara for plain old aluminium. For the most part that's the same as everyone else, with traditional aluminium body, glass-covered screen and hinge that does not rotate all the way round to the back. The craftsmanship 做工, 制造工艺, 手工艺 of the Surface Laptop 3 is top notch, as it should be for a premium 高级电脑 machine. The aluminium lid is smooth and stylish, fitting exactly on to the deck with solid-feeling clunk ( noun. 啪嗒声. 咔哒声. a low sound made when one hard heavy object hits another. A clunk is a sound made by a heavy object hitting something hard. Something fell to the floor with a clunk. verb. If a heavy object clunks on or against something, it hits it and makes a dull sound. His feet clunked on the wooden steps. ...a slight clunking noise. ), and opening up again with one hand without tipping over backwards. The screen, too, is crisp 鲜亮的, bright and gorgeous, rivalling the best. The aluminium deck is smooth and well finished, but isn't as unique or characterful as the Alcantara alternative. Battery life is good, but not class-leading 领先的, 顶级的. It lasts through an eight-hour work day with the brightness set to 70%, and recommended battery settings, using Chrome, Windows Mail, Evernote, NextGen Reader, Typora and several messaging apps open, plus some image editing in Affinity Photo, finishing with under 10% battery left.
Why did QAnon make it to Australia? What is QAnon? QAnon's followers broadly believe that US President Donald Trump is waging a secret war against corrupt and child-abusing elites, including parts of government (dubbed the "deep state") and A-list celebrities. One supporter, a newly nominated Republican candidate, is reported to have called the enemy in this war a "worldwide cabal ( [kəˈbæl] a small group of people who secretly work together to get power for themselves. If you refer to a group of politicians or other people as a cabal, you are criticizing them because they meet and decide things secretly. He had been chosen by a cabal of fellow senators. ...a secret government cabal.) of Satan-worshiping paedophiles". And QAnon theorists follow an anonymous figure called "Q", who leaves cryptic clues in internet forums about Trump's next moves in the "war". The internet-driven conspiracy theory is becoming harder to ignore amid the fear and economic disruption caused by the pandemic. QAnon's reach extends beyond the US, with a growing number of Australians being pulled into QAnon's orbit — leaving friends and family wondering why their loved ones find this vision of the world so comforting and persuasive. At first glance, QAnon would seem to have little to do with Australia. Centred on 围绕着 Donald Trump — who has appeared to tacitly embrace 点赞 the conspiracy theory — its anxiety about the reach of government has a deeply American flavour. But the conspiracy is astonishingly malleable ( [ˈmæliəb(ə)l] I. a malleable metal or substance is easy to press into different shapes. A substance that is malleable is soft and can easily be made into different shapes. Silver is the most malleable of all metals. ...using clay, plasticine or another malleable material. II. a malleable person is easy to persuade or influence. If you say that someone is malleable, you mean that they are easily influenced or controlled by other people. She was young enough to be malleable. ). All kinds of local networks, including anti-vaccination and sovereign citizen groups, have been quickly folded into its hierarchy. Some of the most active Australian supporters of conspiracy theories, once ignored by all but a committed few, have opportunistically jumped on the QAnon trend, becoming stars off the back of Facebook Live broadcasts in which they assert COVID-19 is a hoax and pronounce their faith in a coming intervention by Mr Trump. "A whole lot of the various conspiracy spot fires 星星之火, 零星小火 have all joined up into one massive fire front," said Kaz Ross, a lecturer in humanities at the University of Tasmania, who monitors online extremism. That rings true for NSW Central Coast resident James* who noticed his mother's growing interest in QAnon around April this year, just as the COVID-19 lockdown went into effect. Since then James says his mother and parts of his extended family have "gone down the rabbit hole," and this has driven a wedge between him and them, as well as putting strain on his own mental health. His mother has had a long interest in alternative medicine and spiritual healing, as well as financial content on YouTube such as how to invest in cryptocurrencies. James thinks the video platform may have led her to this more extreme content, but the "exact catalyst" for her new views remains unclear. "My mother is also the type of person who influences the people around her … which is why a lot of immediate family members share her beliefs," he said. If someone believes in a conspiracy theory, they do tend to entertain more than one, according to Karen Douglas, a professor of social psychology at the University of Kent. "These sorts of beliefs can start to fit together 合为一体," she said. "You probably feel like you're piecing together parts of a puzzle." Marc-André Argentino, a QAnon researcher at Concordia University in Canada, said Australia could be considered part of a "five eyes" of QAnon — a reference to the intelligence sharing network between Australia, the UK, US, Canada and New Zealand. All five countries are majority English-speaking, allowing messages to flow easily online. All share a similar political vocabulary, and all are experiencing the turmoil of a global pandemic. And by its very nature 本质上, QAnon is participatory, Mr Argentino suggested, taking clues from pop culture and news clips of Mr Trump. Anyone can offer input and play the game, no matter where they're based or what language they speak. Meanwhile, Paul believes the sheer spectacle of the US in Australia's news cycle plays a role. "It's entertaining, it's theatrical. Can you imagine an Australian politician carrying on like Donald Trump? It's probably the only place you can see a show like that," he said. Can people be talked out of QAnon? James has discussed QAnon with his family but said he can't convince them to give it up. He's now contemplating a move out of home for his own mental health. "I can't refute them on anything ( refute [rɪˈfjuːt] I. 否认. 不承认. to say that a statement is not true or accurate without giving proof. If you refute an argument or accusation, you say that it is not true. Isabelle is quick to refute any suggestion of intellectual snobbery. The police said he was drunk, a claim refuted by his attorney. II. to prove that a statement is false. If you refute an argument, accusation, or theory 证伪, you prove that it is wrong or untrue. It was the kind of rumour that it is impossible to refute. The evidence refutes all claims that the student loan scheme is not working. ) as they usually claim anything I say that isn't from their conspiratorial sources, aka the "mainstream media," is false, and any peer-reviewed scientific documents are false," he said. "I don't want to entrench their beliefs by trying to refute them." Likewise, Paul doesn't want to lose his friend Antony and has turned to works by Mick West, a science writer who has written about how to debunk conspiracy theories, for clues about how to be there for his friend. "To prioritise the relationship above all else and not end up in a squabble ( squabble 无谓的争吵. 为不重要的事口角, 为小事争吵 [ˈskwɒb(ə)l] verb. to argue with someone about something that is not important. When people squabble, they quarrel about something that is not really important. They are devoted to each other although they squabble all the time. The children were squabbling over the remote-control gadget for the television. My four-year-old squabbles with his friends. In recent months its government has been paralysed by political squabbling. noun. an argument with someone about something unimportant. There is very little discussion and petty squabbles are frequent. squabble over: The movie is basically about a family squabble over money and power. ) that is going to degenerate ( [dɪˈdʒenəreɪt] verb. ( adj noun. [dɪˈdʒen(ə)rət] ) 恶化, 变坏, 变差 to become worse. If you say that someone or something degenerates, you mean that they become worse in some way, for example weaker, lower in quality, or more dangerous. Inactivity can make your joints stiff, and the bones may begin to degenerate. From then on the whole tone of the campaign began to degenerate. ...a very serious humanitarian crisis which could degenerate into a catastrophe. ...various forms of physical and mental degeneration. ...the degeneration of our political system. The demonstration soon degenerated into violence. adj. [dɪˈdʒen(ə)rət] [disapproval] I. immoral. 没有道德观念的. 没有是非观念的. 道德败坏的. If you describe a person or their behaviour as degenerate, you disapprove of them because you think they have low standards of behaviour or morality. ...a group of degenerate computer hackers. ...the degenerate attitudes he found among some of his fellow officers. a degenerate lifestyle. II. formal in a worse state than before. noun. [dɪˈdʒen(ə)rət] [disapproval] someone whose behaviour is considered shocking or immoral. If you refer to someone as a degenerate, you disapprove of them because you think they have low standards of behaviour or morality. )," he said. "You can't reason with fact. They'll take it personally as a challenge." If someone is committed to 完全相信 a conspiracy theory and it becomes part of their identity, it can be very difficult to talk them out of it. The role of evidence is completely altered, according to Stephan Lewandowsky, a professor of cognitive science at the University of Bristol. It's a self-sealing belief ( self-sealing adj. (esp of an envelope) designed to become sealed with the application of pressure only. capable of sealing itself automatically or without the application of adhesive, glue, or moisture: a self-sealing automobile tire; self-sealing envelopes. ) system. Whatever evidence there is or isn't will be taken to confirm the theory. "The absence of evidence is reinterpreted as evidence without batting an eyelid 眼睛都不眨一下的," he said. Before attempting to talk to someone about their conspiratorial beliefs, Dr Lewandowsky said it's important to understand how far they've gone "into that tunnel" 陷得多深, 陷入多少. "If they are all the way down 全身心投入, you're trying to deprogram 劝说, 劝服 ( rehabilitate. to free (someone) from the effects of indoctrination, esp by a religious cult or political group. Allied forces in Pakistan want to deprogramme the Taliban. ) someone who is in a cult. It's like deprogramming a terrorist," he said. Establishing a rapport with the person is vital, as is showing empathy 表示理解( Use empathy if you're looking for a noun meaning "the ability to identify with another's feelings." When Bill Clinton famously told people "I feel your pain" during his 1992 election campaign, some praised and others ridiculed him for displaying empathy, the sharing or understanding of feelings. Empathy is different from sympathy, which is pity or sorrow for others' misfortunes. They share a common root in -pathy, from the Greek pathos, "feeling." Where they differ is in their prefixes: sym- means "with," while em- means "in." If you can empathize with someone, it's because you have been in their place: you've "walked a mile in their shoes," as the saying goes. empathy / sympathy Empathy is heartbreaking — you experience other people's pain and joy. Sympathy is easier because you just have to feel sorry for someone. Send a sympathy card if someone's cat died; feel empathy if your cat died, too. If you're feeling empathy, you're in (em) the feeling. If it's sympathy, you're feeling sorry for someone. ). Affirming the positive value of scepticism can also become a potential entry point for conversation. QAnon's vision of Donald Trump as a saviour would seem to have little to do with Australia, but the belief has proven adaptable 应对力强的, 适时而变的. You're dealing with someone who feels alienated and different from other people, Dr Douglas said. "Strategies like going in hard with hostile arguments or making fun of the person, ridiculing them, is not going to help." Dr Lewandowsky also cautioned that in general, the number of people who subscribe wholly to conspiratorial beliefs 阴谋论 is small. Conspiracy theorists 阴谋论者 often overestimate the number of fellow travellers, so we must be careful not to do the same. And while the social media platforms have played a significant role in spreading QAnon regardless of national borders, Mr Argentino believes the spread of the theory into countries like Australia is ultimately a very human problem. "It's a response to human insecurity," he said. "Regular sources of comfort and information aren't enough for these people, or they aren't available." QAnon feeds off the internet, but at its core 在其核心 it is still patched together 连接在一起 from ancient, often anti-Semitic tropes of scapegoats and saviours that inevitably flare up during times of disruption. Perhaps it's comforting to believe that someone somewhere must be responsible for our pain. To contain this, we must change the politics and give people back a "sense of stability", agreed Dr Lewandowsky. "You've got have a better picture for the future, but that's where the challenge is."
