http://libcom.org/history/the-third-wave-1967-account-ron-jones
Note to other's who read this, you gotta read the whole thing. It's the in the end that the meaning actually becomes something inspiring instead of just click bait.
That said the idea that something like that lurks in all of us is definitely a scary idea. It's really crazy just how far people will go as part of a group being instructed from a person that they view to be in authority.
That was fascinating.
It was pretty interesting, but I fail to see that it actually proves the teacher's point. Apparently it was comparable to Nazi Germany? Sure, he convinced students to do some random stuff, but he didn't actually ask them to do anything which could be considered morally objectionable under any moral system I have seen or heard of.
His "rules that replaced reason" were in no way unreasonable: a salute to identify other members of the group allows, well, easy identification of other group members; discipline in the classroom led to a demonstrable increase in the quality of learning; better posture is generally believed to be good for one's health. Despite what was said in the speech at the end, there never was any "madness". The students didn't go to any absurd lengths to be part of the group. They may have done some ridiculous things as homework assignments, including spreading Third Wave idealism, creating Third Wave propaganda, etc., but it's extremely difficult to argue that that is in any way even close to turning in your Jewish neighbour to the gestapo. Saying that this is just one step further is definitely a bit of a
slippery slope.
Of course, some students took it upon themselves to act immorally in the name of the experiment, but surely the three girls in the back weren't the only ones who didn't bully others for not being a part of The Third Wave. There were several instances of 'tattletaling', which one might view as parallel to tipping off the gestapo; however, there was yet to be any evidence whatsoever of action being taken against those 'tattled' on. One might argue that in Nazi Germany, they weren't exactly open about what happened to the people who were 'tattled on' and subsequently taken away, but there's no way that the people who 'tattled' on them thought that literally nothing happened to them.
I suppose that the point was to show how easy it was to manipulate students into being a part of a totalitarian regime, but I don't understand why it is bad for students to follow ideals such as discipline, strength, and community. I'm not even certain that this could be considered manipulation.
[1]All in all, I think that this story is basically saying, "I instituted a fascist system in a school; therefore, the students involved were practically Nazis."
[2] I don't think that this is accurate at all. Instead, I would argue that this experiment showed that, with the correct leadership, fascism can actually accomplish a lot.
[3] After all, the teacher said that the students involved were all participating more in class, that the quality of answers was improving. If the teacher had responded to the problem of bullying by issuing an order to prevent attacks against those not part of the group, that would have almost certainly eliminated that problem. Really, I guess I just don't see what the problem was.
[1] ma·nip·u·late (məˈnipyəˌlāt/): control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously.
[2] In case anyone thinks that statement was a strawman, here's a quote from his speech at the end there: "Yes, we would all have made good Germans. We would have put on the uniform."
[3] Please note that this does not mean I am an advocate for fascism; to be clear, I do not support fascism.
Since I feel obligated to share a moment of terror in this thread, I have my first ever essay-writing assignment on Monday. I have no idea how I'm going to do on it.
Also, that wall o' text is terrifyingly long. Why did I spend an hour and a half writing that?