06-21-2024, 04:40 PM
(06-21-2024, 12:38 PM)JustWinBaby Wrote: I think the critical distinction is, depending on one's political leaning, some disinformation is acceptable (even admirable) while other is a "clear and present danger".
A huge issue is our entire political discourse is catered to the lazy and focus-challenged. Even the talking heads have to boil down complex topics to 30 second sound bites. Spin and gaslighting can often be indistinguishable from an honest effort to dumb things down in a concise summary, which nevertheless creates fertile ground for critics to mine.
I think if people were honest about how little they understand, about pretty much everything, they'd be much less passionate and self-assured in their partisan positions.
Also, whatever we're teaching these days in civics in school we are failing the country massively.
being informed is not considered important, having the correct opinions, and not diverting from them, is what's important. A good example being the ignorant children protesting the war in Gaza. Most of them can't identify what river or sea is being mentioned in their chant. Most have no idea that Hamas' charter calls for the extermination of the Jewish people. Most have no idea that Hamas is rabidly anti LGBTQ. All they know is that this is the current correct thing and they're on board.
If we actually started ridiculing people who are wholly ignorant, regardless of whether they're on "our side" or not we might start making some headway. A little social shaming can be a good thing.
