When “Community Respect” Becomes a Weapon: A Real-Time Lesson in Herd Mentality and Narrative Control
- Buz Deliere
- May 20
- 4 min read
There’s a line between respecting someone’s past contributions and blindly excusing their present behavior.
And I’ve just been reminded—loudly, publicly, and repeatedly—why most people won’t speak up when the truth gets uncomfortable. Right now, I’m living proof of what happens when you challenge the wrong narrative in the wrong echo chamber. Step into my last 24 hours.
The Situation
Recently, a well-known—let’s say 80-year-old—veteran and cannabis community figure went live on Facebook and launched a full-on attack against a local dispensary I’m familiar with. He made a long list of accusations, many of which kept changing with each new video:
That staff wanted to take a photo of his ID using a phone
That the manager cussed him out and physically assaulted him
That he was thrown out without being safely escorted
That the dispensary was a corporate-owned chain that shouldn't be supported
These are just some of the claims that surfaced—each time, the story got more dramatic, less consistent, and more inflammatory.
But here’s the truth: I know that store, and I’ve seen the footage. When I posted a clip of the incident (which didn’t have sound), it clearly showed that none of those things happened. He appeared to be the aggressor by his body language. There was no assault. And it wasn’t the manager who told him off—it was another patient who got tired of hearing him berate the staff over a simple policy.
Oh, and that supposed “corporate dispensary”? It’s actually a local, family-owned business.
But of course, people fixated on the lack of sound in the video. So, I decided to have a little fun. I teased a version of the clip “with audio,” tagged a few of the loudest critics… and dropped a classic Rickroll instead.
Let’s just say—they didn’t find it as funny as I did.
But it proved something important: These people aren’t looking for the truth. They’re looking for a reason to stay outraged.
The Herd is Loud, But That Doesn’t Make Them Right
The wildest part of all this?
It doesn’t matter how many facts you present. It doesn’t matter that the video contradicts their claims. It doesn’t even matter that the man’s story has changed multiple times.
What matters to them is protecting their narrative. They’ve built a character in their heads, a helpless elder veteran wronged by a corrupt system. And if anyone threatens that character arc with evidence, logic, or uncomfortable truths?
You become the villain.
I’ve been blocked, smeared, and mass-reported. I’ve had people talk about me on live videos I can’t even see. I’ve watched entire threads unfold where people validate each other’s emotional outrage, without a shred of interest in what actually happened.
And the irony? Most of them have no idea what the original situation even was. They’re not informed, they’re triggered.
Narrative Control Is the New Censorship
This wasn’t just a disagreement. It was an organized attempt to shut me up.
They didn’t debate the facts, they reported my page. They didn’t refute my post, they blocked me and talked behind walled-off threads. They didn’t stick to the story, they dragged in unrelated people just to widen the target.
This wasn’t about truth. It was about control.
They don’t want dialogue, they want obedience. And when they can’t control your message, they’ll try to erase your voice.
The irony? That kind of censorship doesn’t weaken me. It proves everything I’ve been saying.
People are losing faith in “community leaders” and “activists” not because they’re being unfairly judged, but because too many of them act like gatekeepers of the truth, not seekers of it.
And once you start behaving like a tyrant instead of a teacher, you lose the right to lead.
Collateral Damage… Even If You’re Not in the Fight
One of the more entertaining parts of this whole mess?
They dragged in someone I’m not even associated with. No collabs, no connection, no communication. Nothing. They just assumed she was “on my side” and decided she deserved the same treatment.
Now, to be fair, she’s not exactly an innocent bystander. She’s stirred up her own fair share of drama in the cannabis space and burned bridges with people who probably still have the receipts.
But here’s the kicker: She had absolutely nothing to do with this situation. The fact that they pulled her into the fire just because they felt like it shows how little this mob mentality cares about truth or relevance. It’s not personal, it’s just tribalism. If they think you might be in the wrong camp, you’re getting torched, no evidence required.
And I’ll admit, watching the mental gymnastics they used to connect those dots?Kind of comical.
What This Really Shows
This isn’t about cannabis. It’s not about veterans. And it’s definitely not about “respect.”
This is about how easily perception can be manipulated, and how fast truth dies when emotion takes over.
It’s a perfect example of why I wrote Wake The F@ck Up in the first place. To pull back the curtain on how narratives are controlled…How truth is replaced by volume…And how people will trade integrity for clout or comfort.
If You’re Watching This Unfold
Don’t be fooled. This isn’t a story of a helpless elder being attacked by internet bullies. This is the story of someone with influence using outrage and half-truths to harm others, Then hiding behind their reputation when challenged.
And it’s working. Because most people don’t care about what’s true. They care about what feels right to believe.
Final Thought
This isn’t a pity post. It’s a reminder of how fast truth gets buried when the crowd picks a hero and a villain. You can’t wake people up by whispering. Sometimes you’ve got to rattle the cage. And if calling out bulls**t makes me the bad guy? Then so be it.
Better to be the villain in their fairy tale than a coward in their circle.
👉 Want to understand how this kind of manipulation works—and how to break free from it?Read Wake The F@ck Up
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