A serious curiosity derived from something I’ve noticed more and more often lately:
What the hell has happened to nuanced thought? It seems every day- more and more, it’s either this or that, with us or against us, black or white. What happened to the complexity of thought? Why have we come to be so polarized about every single thing that exists? And it seems it doesn’t matter the subject! The moment a topic is brought up. Sides are immediately taken in the War of Being Right.
It used to be that we considered things. We were rational. Logical. Contemplative.
Now? Everyone seems so quick to arrive at hastily constructed arguments that have to be either for or against- where no argument was necessary or even called for to being with!
It seems to me, that we need to relearn what was once so easily understood, and it’s that life exists between the boundaries of one and the other.
In my experience when I try to have a nuanced take, people (intentionally?) misinterpret my nuance and use it to put words in my mouth and build a straw man.
Also hot takes are just way more entertaining, and what is social media if not a new form of entertainment?
That’s exactly what happens to me! It’s as if people have no point to make until they rewrite yours.
If it’s purposeful. It’s a brilliant strategy. Keep people defending against shit they never said and not pressing them to back up their points? There’s no way to lose. And in their minds, that’s what conversation is- something to “win.”