In these threads (as opposed to cross-posted articles from other writers or my own original posted writings) I generally restrict myself to updates, quick thoughts, and advice about how to think and talk about politics and culture.
Many people have strong opinions about some of our more inflamed areas of public controversy. Many of them don’t actually know anything definite about these issues. Ask them WHY the believe what they believe and you’ll get a jumble of half-formed impressions, assumptions, an anecdote, and perhaps a misleadingly simplified statistic or two… and plenty of emotion.
No one without training or expertise pretends to have useful ideas about computer programming or air conditioner repair but topics like sociology and economics - while equally (exceedingly?) complex - attract hasty opinions like ants to honey.
Righteous indignation can be a deeply satisfying emotion but it tends to corrode on a deep spiritual level, especially when it comes at the expense of a large and I’ll-defined category of your fellows.
Remember that for any well-subscribed position in contemporary America most believers are decent and well-intentioned people.
Keeping that in mind, I want to assign a homework assignment: Seek out an issue on which you have strong feelings and find a good representative of the opposing side (this will inevitably happen on social media today-there are pages and posts devoted to issues, and many online news articles have public comments sections). A random and unassociated person would probably be best. So not your boss or your professor. They should show signs of avoiding obnoxious or irrational ideas (conspiracy theorists are out for this one) but can have emotional commitments or misapprehensions. Message them, avoiding walls if possible, and ask them to explain their position and why they hold it. Validate their comments (the valid parts, anyway). Then explain your position and why YOU hold it. This isn’t an argument - it’s a friendly exchange of different points of view.
You may be accused of beliefs you don’t hold or confronted with anger or insults but I think it more likely (based on my own vast experience with this exercise) that you will emerge with a positive mood and a friendly disposition towards many people who you might normally belittle and dismiss to yourself.
Everyone has a perspective and everyone has reasons that personally feel right and meaningful for their opinions. If you don’t want to confront or consider others’ you might explore the possibility that yours are perhaps brittler and less certain than you initially thought.
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Homework assignment #1
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In these threads (as opposed to cross-posted articles from other writers or my own original posted writings) I generally restrict myself to updates, quick thoughts, and advice about how to think and talk about politics and culture.
Many people have strong opinions about some of our more inflamed areas of public controversy. Many of them don’t actually know anything definite about these issues. Ask them WHY the believe what they believe and you’ll get a jumble of half-formed impressions, assumptions, an anecdote, and perhaps a misleadingly simplified statistic or two… and plenty of emotion.
No one without training or expertise pretends to have useful ideas about computer programming or air conditioner repair but topics like sociology and economics - while equally (exceedingly?) complex - attract hasty opinions like ants to honey.
Righteous indignation can be a deeply satisfying emotion but it tends to corrode on a deep spiritual level, especially when it comes at the expense of a large and I’ll-defined category of your fellows.
Remember that for any well-subscribed position in contemporary America most believers are decent and well-intentioned people.
Keeping that in mind, I want to assign a homework assignment: Seek out an issue on which you have strong feelings and find a good representative of the opposing side (this will inevitably happen on social media today-there are pages and posts devoted to issues, and many online news articles have public comments sections). A random and unassociated person would probably be best. So not your boss or your professor. They should show signs of avoiding obnoxious or irrational ideas (conspiracy theorists are out for this one) but can have emotional commitments or misapprehensions. Message them, avoiding walls if possible, and ask them to explain their position and why they hold it. Validate their comments (the valid parts, anyway). Then explain your position and why YOU hold it. This isn’t an argument - it’s a friendly exchange of different points of view.
You may be accused of beliefs you don’t hold or confronted with anger or insults but I think it more likely (based on my own vast experience with this exercise) that you will emerge with a positive mood and a friendly disposition towards many people who you might normally belittle and dismiss to yourself.
Everyone has a perspective and everyone has reasons that personally feel right and meaningful for their opinions. If you don’t want to confront or consider others’ you might explore the possibility that yours are perhaps brittler and less certain than you initially thought.