theupperman.in

Russell’s conjugation: The hidden language of news bias

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I am firm; you are obstinate; he is a pig-headed fool.

Russell’s conjugation, named after the British philosopher Bertrand Russell, is a rhetorical tactic in which a fact is modified with emotionally charged language to manipulate perceptions and opinions. This is the bread and butter of news media and politicians, but this article will focus on the news media.

News bias is often not about outright lying, but about framing identical actions using unequal language. Depending on which political side they want to support or oppose, media outlets can conveniently modify the presentation of facts using Russell’s conjugation. Allies are described with legitimizing terms (“reform,” “security,” “public interest”), while opponents are framed with delegitimizing ones (“agenda,” “crackdown,” “appeasement”). The same action is no longer merely interpreted differently; instead, it is pre-packaged in language that nudges the audience toward a specific moral judgment.

Rise against the mainstream

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Most people today understand the harmful effects of regularly consuming junk food. Social institutions and doctors worldwide have done a commendable job promoting this idea. What is rarely addressed, however, is the quality of our media consumption.

If food sustains the body, media sustains the mind. Just as junk food damages physical health, junk media - which in many forms the majority of mainstream media, poisons the mind. The definition of health includes both physical and mental well-being. Ignoring the latter is a recipe for disaster. Junk food delivers empty calories that spike blood sugar and clog arteries. In a similar way, much of mainstream media, delivers empty dopamine. It spikes anxiety, shrinks attention spans, and slowly erodes critical thinking.

WTF is Upperman?

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I teach you the Übermensch. Man is something that shall be overcome.

The name of this website - The Upperman - is a deliberate mistranslation of the concept of Übermensch from German philosopher Nietzsche’s work Thus Spoke Zarathustra. A more accurate English translation would be something like “Superman,” but that comes with the heavy baggage of the comic book character.

So, what is the Übermensch all about?

It can be thought of as an ideal of human development: an individual who rejects imposed social constructs and instead creates personal values based on strength, creativity, and mastery. According to Nietzsche, humanity is a transitional stage between animals and the Übermensch. Humans must overcome their limitations, fears, and dependence on inherited beliefs. The Übermensch embodies both the ability and the will to shape one’s own life according to self-created principles; this is something all of us should strive to become.

Contact

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Feel free to connect with me at:

Email: aravind_prakashan@tutamail.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aravind-prakashan
Telegram: @randomphilosopher

About

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

I am a polymer engineer with interests in technology, fitness, programming, and data analysis. I am currently working as a tire rubber compound developer.

Professional Interests

Polymer science and materials engineering
Data analysis and visualization
Programming with Python & R
Statistical thinking in industrial processes

Intellectual Interests

Culture and social change
Philosophy and scientific thinking
Evolutionary biology
Mental models
Technology and its social effects

Reading

I enjoy books and essays that explore history, society, and human behavior. Some authors whose work I have found particularly interesting include Yuval Noah Harari, Gurwinder Bhogal and Thomas Sowell.