Today's mob mentality politics: Just deny it, and keep moving

[EvilEyeFleegle]

This article hits the nail right on the head..sadly, as the article states..no one cares:

Today's mob mentality politics: Just deny it, and keep moving

We have no reason to expect an honest and thorough conversation about the kind of cultural degeneracy that may have led a white 17-year-old to cross state lines to patrol and fire shots at those protesting the shooting of a Black man in front of his children. We have no reason to expect an introspective conversation about the messaging that led hundreds to riot and loot in Minneapolis based on false information.
Notwithstanding Democratic nominee Joe Biden's speech last week, we should only expect deflection, denials and insults from conservative and progressive hardliners. Few will question their own tactics because publicly critiquing your tribe is considered treasonous. In this truth-deficient dialogue, facts and principles are inconveniences - unless they can be weaponized. Only the narrative seems to matter. Our pride and prejudices compel us to take sides and defend them, come hell or high water.
If one thing is clear about the American public discourse today, it's that we're totally ill-equipped or unwilling to engage in honest debate.

 

[Mac1958]

This article hits the nail right on the head..sadly, as the article states..no one cares:

Today's mob mentality politics: Just deny it, and keep moving

We have no reason to expect an honest and thorough conversation about the kind of cultural degeneracy that may have led a white 17-year-old to cross state lines to patrol and fire shots at those protesting the shooting of a Black man in front of his children. We have no reason to expect an introspective conversation about the messaging that led hundreds to riot and loot in Minneapolis based on false information.
Notwithstanding Democratic nominee Joe Biden's speech last week, we should only expect deflection, denials and insults from conservative and progressive hardliners. Few will question their own tactics because publicly critiquing your tribe is considered treasonous. In this truth-deficient dialogue, facts and principles are inconveniences - unless they can be weaponized. Only the narrative seems to matter. Our pride and prejudices compel us to take sides and defend them, come hell or high water.
If one thing is clear about the American public discourse today, it's that we're totally ill-equipped or unwilling to engage in honest debate.

Those who have a vested professional interest in keeping us angry and divided are winning. Or they're won. One of the two.

The two ends of the spectrum share many behaviors, and some of them are described above. Perhaps the worst shared behavior is the complete unwillingness to even admit that our tribe has any faults, much less being willing to hold our tribe accountable for them.

Ultimately, only we can fix this, but it's possible that we no longer have the capacity to do so.

 

[Wyatt earp]

Oh Jesus Christ the left has finnaly jumped the shark, they now want to make it legal for butt sex with a 14 year old boy, not to mention defunding cops who keep us normal people safe at night

Go to hell I will never go with this flow from the fascist left.

 

[Mac1958]

Oh Jesus Christ the left has finnaly jumped the shark, they now want to make it legal for butt sex with a 14 year old boy, not to mention defunding cops who keep us normal people safe at night

Go to hell I will never go with this flow from the fascist left.

And there ya go.

 

[Not2BSubjugated]

This article hits the nail right on the head..sadly, as the article states..no one cares:

Today's mob mentality politics: Just deny it, and keep moving

We have no reason to expect an honest and thorough conversation about the kind of cultural degeneracy that may have led a white 17-year-old to cross state lines to patrol and fire shots at those protesting the shooting of a Black man in front of his children. We have no reason to expect an introspective conversation about the messaging that led hundreds to riot and loot in Minneapolis based on false information.
Notwithstanding Democratic nominee Joe Biden's speech last week, we should only expect deflection, denials and insults from conservative and progressive hardliners. Few will question their own tactics because publicly critiquing your tribe is considered treasonous. In this truth-deficient dialogue, facts and principles are inconveniences - unless they can be weaponized. Only the narrative seems to matter. Our pride and prejudices compel us to take sides and defend them, come hell or high water.
If one thing is clear about the American public discourse today, it's that we're totally ill-equipped or unwilling to engage in honest debate.

It's not right to ignore political violence.

Likewise, it's not right to ignore the precise details of the cases you cite. Characterizing Rittenhouse as a 17 year old that traveled across state lines to shoot at protesters ignores significant pieces of the story and asserts motive without evidence, perhaps even in spite of it. Can't have honest debate by characterizing events dishonestly, even if your motives are all Kumbaya.

 

[Mac1958]

Man, this guy really nails it. One great example:

Public discourse won't improve unless we take the time to listen with humility, rather than being dismissive and pridefully self-defensive. Most proponents of social justice aren't seeking to spark a Marxist revolution. We're tired of seeing people traumatized and murdered in a country that consistently has shown a lack of concern for Black people. Sensible people who dislike cancel culture aren't upset about groups not playing nicely with blatant racists and sexists. We're upset about the blacklisting of non-conforming voices based on an arbitrary and ever-expanding list of taboos - a list that's built not on American consensus, but on the white, Western sensibilities of cultural elites and academics.

 

[Confounding]

Those who have a vested professional interest in keeping us angry and divided are winning. Or they're won. One of the two.

The two ends of the spectrum share many behaviors, and some of them are described above. Perhaps the worst shared behavior is the complete unwillingness to even admit that our tribe has any faults, much less being willing to hold our tribe accountable for them.

Ultimately, only we can fix this, but it's possible that we no longer have the capacity to do so.

I'll never understand how so many can have such a lack of commitment to reason and truth. Is feeling like you're never wrong worth never growing? Does anybody really think one tribe has all of the answers? We need to put in a real effort to teach children that realizing you're wrong is an opportunity for growth, not something to be ashamed of. Stress testing your beliefs for weakness and being honest about the weaknesses you find is vital. We're all a lot more ignorant than we want to believe. The more you come to terms with that ignorance the further you'll go in this journey we call life.

 

[Mac1958]

Those who have a vested professional interest in keeping us angry and divided are winning. Or they're won. One of the two.

The two ends of the spectrum share many behaviors, and some of them are described above. Perhaps the worst shared behavior is the complete unwillingness to even admit that our tribe has any faults, much less being willing to hold our tribe accountable for them.

Ultimately, only we can fix this, but it's possible that we no longer have the capacity to do so.

I'll never understand how so many can have such a lack of commitment to reason and truth. Is feeling like you're never wrong worth never growing? Does anybody really think one tribe has all of the answers? We need to put in a real effort to teach children that realizing you're wrong is an opportunity for growth, not something to be ashamed of. Stress testing your beliefs for weakness and being honest about the weaknesses you find is vital. We're all a lot more ignorant than we want to believe. The more you come to terms with that ignorance the further you'll go in this journey we call life.

Tribalism encourages a suspension of all honest intellectual curiosity. Something like that feeds on itself.

It's possible that we have the capacity to grow beyond this, but I'm less confident of that as time goes by. It seems just as possible that we're actually regressing.

 

[Confounding]

Tribalism encourages a suspension of all honest intellectual curiosity. Something like that feeds on itself.

It's possible that we have the capacity to grow beyond this, but I'm less confident of that as time goes by. It seems just as possible that we're actually regressing.

Nah Mac. You're just looking at a small downward fluctuation on a data sheet that spans millenia. If you step back far enough you will see that we trend ever upward. Don't let the last 10 years push you to lose sight of how incredible our species is. We'll bounce back like we always do.

 

[Mac1958]

Tribalism encourages a suspension of all honest intellectual curiosity. Something like that feeds on itself.

It's possible that we have the capacity to grow beyond this, but I'm less confident of that as time goes by. It seems just as possible that we're actually regressing.

Nah Mac. You're just looking at a small downward fluctuation on a data sheet that spans millenia. If you step back far enough you will see that we trend ever upward. Don't let the last 10 years push you to lose sight of how incredible our species is. We'll bounce back like we always do.

That's a great way to start the week!

 

[EvilEyeFleegle]

Oh Jesus Christ the left has finnaly jumped the shark, they now want to make it legal for butt sex with a 14 year old boy, not to mention defunding cops who keep us normal people safe at night

Go to hell I will never go with this flow from the fascist left.

I don't suppose you actually have a reliable link for that allegation? I missed that one...maybe in the file where every Dem is a Pedo..or perhaps behind the 9/11 conspiracy file!

 

[EvilEyeFleegle]

This article hits the nail right on the head..sadly, as the article states..no one cares:

Today's mob mentality politics: Just deny it, and keep moving

We have no reason to expect an honest and thorough conversation about the kind of cultural degeneracy that may have led a white 17-year-old to cross state lines to patrol and fire shots at those protesting the shooting of a Black man in front of his children. We have no reason to expect an introspective conversation about the messaging that led hundreds to riot and loot in Minneapolis based on false information.
Notwithstanding Democratic nominee Joe Biden's speech last week, we should only expect deflection, denials and insults from conservative and progressive hardliners. Few will question their own tactics because publicly critiquing your tribe is considered treasonous. In this truth-deficient dialogue, facts and principles are inconveniences - unless they can be weaponized. Only the narrative seems to matter. Our pride and prejudices compel us to take sides and defend them, come hell or high water.
If one thing is clear about the American public discourse today, it's that we're totally ill-equipped or unwilling to engage in honest debate.

It's not right to ignore political violence.

Likewise, it's not right to ignore the precise details of the cases you cite. Characterizing Rittenhouse as a 17 year old that traveled across state lines to shoot at protesters ignores significant pieces of the story and asserts motive without evidence, perhaps even in spite of it. Can't have honest debate by characterizing events dishonestly, even if your motives are all Kumbaya.

Because you disagree with the characterization does not mean that it is false..just sayin'. Rittenhouse is a tragedy--no matter the final outcome. I can't help but notice that you have no comment at all about the protestors..or any of the circumstances. It cannot be denied that if Kyle had stayed home...told the fool that asked for his help, "no thanks"--that things would have turned out better...but the haters have gotten a hold of the narrative..and away we go.

Significant pieces of the story seems to depend on which narrative you buy into

 

[candycorn]

We have no reason to expect an introspective conversation about the messaging that led hundreds to riot and loot in Minneapolis based on false information.

What false information?

 

[Mac1958]

This article hits the nail right on the head..sadly, as the article states..no one cares:

Today's mob mentality politics: Just deny it, and keep moving

We have no reason to expect an honest and thorough conversation about the kind of cultural degeneracy that may have led a white 17-year-old to cross state lines to patrol and fire shots at those protesting the shooting of a Black man in front of his children. We have no reason to expect an introspective conversation about the messaging that led hundreds to riot and loot in Minneapolis based on false information.
Notwithstanding Democratic nominee Joe Biden's speech last week, we should only expect deflection, denials and insults from conservative and progressive hardliners. Few will question their own tactics because publicly critiquing your tribe is considered treasonous. In this truth-deficient dialogue, facts and principles are inconveniences - unless they can be weaponized. Only the narrative seems to matter. Our pride and prejudices compel us to take sides and defend them, come hell or high water.
If one thing is clear about the American public discourse today, it's that we're totally ill-equipped or unwilling to engage in honest debate.

It's not right to ignore political violence.

Likewise, it's not right to ignore the precise details of the cases you cite. Characterizing Rittenhouse as a 17 year old that traveled across state lines to shoot at protesters ignores significant pieces of the story and asserts motive without evidence, perhaps even in spite of it. Can't have honest debate by characterizing events dishonestly, even if your motives are all Kumbaya.

Because you disagree with the characterization does not mean that it is false..just sayin'. Rittenhouse is a tragedy--no matter the final outcome. I can't help but notice that you have no comment at all about the protestors..or any of the circumstances. It cannot be denied that if Kyle had stayed home...told the fool that asked for his help, "no thanks"--that things would have turned out better...but the haters have gotten a hold of the narrative..and away we go.

Significant pieces of the story seems to depend on which narrative you buy into

Well, this is part of the problem.

The most destructive feature of this intense tribalism is that we are now literally working under different realities. There is "news" and "facts" and "information" that fully supports both tribes, and it purposely avoids and distorts all contrary news, facts and information.

We can't fix our problems if we can't communicate. We can't communicate if we exist in different realities.

 

[Confounding]

This article hits the nail right on the head..sadly, as the article states..no one cares:

Today's mob mentality politics: Just deny it, and keep moving

We have no reason to expect an honest and thorough conversation about the kind of cultural degeneracy that may have led a white 17-year-old to cross state lines to patrol and fire shots at those protesting the shooting of a Black man in front of his children. We have no reason to expect an introspective conversation about the messaging that led hundreds to riot and loot in Minneapolis based on false information.
Notwithstanding Democratic nominee Joe Biden's speech last week, we should only expect deflection, denials and insults from conservative and progressive hardliners. Few will question their own tactics because publicly critiquing your tribe is considered treasonous. In this truth-deficient dialogue, facts and principles are inconveniences - unless they can be weaponized. Only the narrative seems to matter. Our pride and prejudices compel us to take sides and defend them, come hell or high water.
If one thing is clear about the American public discourse today, it's that we're totally ill-equipped or unwilling to engage in honest debate.

It's not right to ignore political violence.

Likewise, it's not right to ignore the precise details of the cases you cite. Characterizing Rittenhouse as a 17 year old that traveled across state lines to shoot at protesters ignores significant pieces of the story and asserts motive without evidence, perhaps even in spite of it. Can't have honest debate by characterizing events dishonestly, even if your motives are all Kumbaya.

Because you disagree with the characterization does not mean that it is false..just sayin'. Rittenhouse is a tragedy--no matter the final outcome. I can't help but notice that you have no comment at all about the protestors..or any of the circumstances. It cannot be denied that if Kyle had stayed home...told the fool that asked for his help, "no thanks"--that things would have turned out better...but the haters have gotten a hold of the narrative..and away we go.

Significant pieces of the story seems to depend on which narrative you buy into

Well, this is part of the problem.

The most destructive feature of this intense tribalism is that we are now literally working under different realities. There is "news" and "facts" and "information" that fully supports both tribes, and it purposely avoids and distorts all contrary news, facts and information.

We can't fix our problems if we can't communicate. We can't communicate if we exist in different realities.

We're also not open-minded to any information from the opposition source even if it's plainly true. Rather than entertaining the ideas put forth by the opposition for the sake of conversation we get offended by them and stubbornly refuse to give them any ground even if it's warranted. It's like a game to people. All that matters is winning. I'll drop this quote that I love because I believe it's relevant.

"As soon as men decide that all means are permitted to fight an evil, then their good becomes indistinguishable from the evil that they set out to destroy."

If you turn into a monster to fight a monster you have missed the point. Being better and truer was the point.

 

[Mac1958]

This article hits the nail right on the head..sadly, as the article states..no one cares:

Today's mob mentality politics: Just deny it, and keep moving

We have no reason to expect an honest and thorough conversation about the kind of cultural degeneracy that may have led a white 17-year-old to cross state lines to patrol and fire shots at those protesting the shooting of a Black man in front of his children. We have no reason to expect an introspective conversation about the messaging that led hundreds to riot and loot in Minneapolis based on false information.
Notwithstanding Democratic nominee Joe Biden's speech last week, we should only expect deflection, denials and insults from conservative and progressive hardliners. Few will question their own tactics because publicly critiquing your tribe is considered treasonous. In this truth-deficient dialogue, facts and principles are inconveniences - unless they can be weaponized. Only the narrative seems to matter. Our pride and prejudices compel us to take sides and defend them, come hell or high water.
If one thing is clear about the American public discourse today, it's that we're totally ill-equipped or unwilling to engage in honest debate.

It's not right to ignore political violence.

Likewise, it's not right to ignore the precise details of the cases you cite. Characterizing Rittenhouse as a 17 year old that traveled across state lines to shoot at protesters ignores significant pieces of the story and asserts motive without evidence, perhaps even in spite of it. Can't have honest debate by characterizing events dishonestly, even if your motives are all Kumbaya.

Because you disagree with the characterization does not mean that it is false..just sayin'. Rittenhouse is a tragedy--no matter the final outcome. I can't help but notice that you have no comment at all about the protestors..or any of the circumstances. It cannot be denied that if Kyle had stayed home...told the fool that asked for his help, "no thanks"--that things would have turned out better...but the haters have gotten a hold of the narrative..and away we go.

Significant pieces of the story seems to depend on which narrative you buy into

Well, this is part of the problem.

The most destructive feature of this intense tribalism is that we are now literally working under different realities. There is "news" and "facts" and "information" that fully supports both tribes, and it purposely avoids and distorts all contrary news, facts and information.

We can't fix our problems if we can't communicate. We can't communicate if we exist in different realities.

We're also not open-minded to any information from the opposition source even if it's plainly true. Rather than entertaining the ideas put forth by the opposition for the sake of conversation we get offended by them and stubbornly refuse to give them any ground even if it's warranted. It's like a game to people. All that matters is winning. I'll drop this quote that I love because I believe it's relevant.

"As soon as men decide that all means are permitted to fight an evil, then their good becomes indistinguishable from the evil that they set out to destroy."

If you turn into a monster to fight a monster you have missed the point. Being better and truer was the point.

Yeah, it's worse than just lacking curiosity, as bad as that is. It's aggressively dismissing reality, something right in front of your nose.

I've said it a zillion times: I'm in awe of the power of ideology.

 

[Not2BSubjugated]

This article hits the nail right on the head..sadly, as the article states..no one cares:

Today's mob mentality politics: Just deny it, and keep moving

We have no reason to expect an honest and thorough conversation about the kind of cultural degeneracy that may have led a white 17-year-old to cross state lines to patrol and fire shots at those protesting the shooting of a Black man in front of his children. We have no reason to expect an introspective conversation about the messaging that led hundreds to riot and loot in Minneapolis based on false information.
Notwithstanding Democratic nominee Joe Biden's speech last week, we should only expect deflection, denials and insults from conservative and progressive hardliners. Few will question their own tactics because publicly critiquing your tribe is considered treasonous. In this truth-deficient dialogue, facts and principles are inconveniences - unless they can be weaponized. Only the narrative seems to matter. Our pride and prejudices compel us to take sides and defend them, come hell or high water.
If one thing is clear about the American public discourse today, it's that we're totally ill-equipped or unwilling to engage in honest debate.

It's not right to ignore political violence.

Likewise, it's not right to ignore the precise details of the cases you cite. Characterizing Rittenhouse as a 17 year old that traveled across state lines to shoot at protesters ignores significant pieces of the story and asserts motive without evidence, perhaps even in spite of it. Can't have honest debate by characterizing events dishonestly, even if your motives are all Kumbaya.

Because you disagree with the characterization does not mean that it is false..just sayin'. Rittenhouse is a tragedy--no matter the final outcome. I can't help but notice that you have no comment at all about the protestors..or any of the circumstances. It cannot be denied that if Kyle had stayed home...told the fool that asked for his help, "no thanks"--that things would have turned out better...but the haters have gotten a hold of the narrative..and away we go.

Significant pieces of the story seems to depend on which narrative you buy into

It doesn't matter if it's false. It's unproven. Pushing unproven opinion as fact and omitting detail in order to do it is no basis for honest debate. Rather, it's a dishonest way of trying to push an equivocation.

 

[Not2BSubjugated]

This article hits the nail right on the head..sadly, as the article states..no one cares:

Today's mob mentality politics: Just deny it, and keep moving

We have no reason to expect an honest and thorough conversation about the kind of cultural degeneracy that may have led a white 17-year-old to cross state lines to patrol and fire shots at those protesting the shooting of a Black man in front of his children. We have no reason to expect an introspective conversation about the messaging that led hundreds to riot and loot in Minneapolis based on false information.
Notwithstanding Democratic nominee Joe Biden's speech last week, we should only expect deflection, denials and insults from conservative and progressive hardliners. Few will question their own tactics because publicly critiquing your tribe is considered treasonous. In this truth-deficient dialogue, facts and principles are inconveniences - unless they can be weaponized. Only the narrative seems to matter. Our pride and prejudices compel us to take sides and defend them, come hell or high water.
If one thing is clear about the American public discourse today, it's that we're totally ill-equipped or unwilling to engage in honest debate.

It's not right to ignore political violence.

Likewise, it's not right to ignore the precise details of the cases you cite. Characterizing Rittenhouse as a 17 year old that traveled across state lines to shoot at protesters ignores significant pieces of the story and asserts motive without evidence, perhaps even in spite of it. Can't have honest debate by characterizing events dishonestly, even if your motives are all Kumbaya.

Because you disagree with the characterization does not mean that it is false..just sayin'. Rittenhouse is a tragedy--no matter the final outcome. I can't help but notice that you have no comment at all about the protestors..or any of the circumstances. It cannot be denied that if Kyle had stayed home...told the fool that asked for his help, "no thanks"--that things would have turned out better...but the haters have gotten a hold of the narrative..and away we go.

Significant pieces of the story seems to depend on which narrative you buy into

Well, this is part of the problem.

The most destructive feature of this intense tribalism is that we are now literally working under different realities. There is "news" and "facts" and "information" that fully supports both tribes, and it purposely avoids and distorts all contrary news, facts and information.

We can't fix our problems if we can't communicate. We can't communicate if we exist in different realities.

You're illustrating the problem. I tell you that what you've highlighted amounts to omission and unproven assertion, and you imply that I'm living in a different reality.

Yeah, maybe. My reality requires that evidence not be left out of the conversation before fact is determined. Call me crazy.

And maybe the major cause for the increasing divide is that so many people are pushing these one-sided narratives rather than acknowledging facts. Maybe spreading narratives about how evil people are without a basis of proof is pushing us further away from that peaceful dialogue.

 

[Mac1958]

This article hits the nail right on the head..sadly, as the article states..no one cares:

Today's mob mentality politics: Just deny it, and keep moving

We have no reason to expect an honest and thorough conversation about the kind of cultural degeneracy that may have led a white 17-year-old to cross state lines to patrol and fire shots at those protesting the shooting of a Black man in front of his children. We have no reason to expect an introspective conversation about the messaging that led hundreds to riot and loot in Minneapolis based on false information.
Notwithstanding Democratic nominee Joe Biden's speech last week, we should only expect deflection, denials and insults from conservative and progressive hardliners. Few will question their own tactics because publicly critiquing your tribe is considered treasonous. In this truth-deficient dialogue, facts and principles are inconveniences - unless they can be weaponized. Only the narrative seems to matter. Our pride and prejudices compel us to take sides and defend them, come hell or high water.
If one thing is clear about the American public discourse today, it's that we're totally ill-equipped or unwilling to engage in honest debate.

It's not right to ignore political violence.

Likewise, it's not right to ignore the precise details of the cases you cite. Characterizing Rittenhouse as a 17 year old that traveled across state lines to shoot at protesters ignores significant pieces of the story and asserts motive without evidence, perhaps even in spite of it. Can't have honest debate by characterizing events dishonestly, even if your motives are all Kumbaya.

Because you disagree with the characterization does not mean that it is false..just sayin'. Rittenhouse is a tragedy--no matter the final outcome. I can't help but notice that you have no comment at all about the protestors..or any of the circumstances. It cannot be denied that if Kyle had stayed home...told the fool that asked for his help, "no thanks"--that things would have turned out better...but the haters have gotten a hold of the narrative..and away we go.

Significant pieces of the story seems to depend on which narrative you buy into

Well, this is part of the problem.

The most destructive feature of this intense tribalism is that we are now literally working under different realities. There is "news" and "facts" and "information" that fully supports both tribes, and it purposely avoids and distorts all contrary news, facts and information.

We can't fix our problems if we can't communicate. We can't communicate if we exist in different realities.

You're illustrating the problem. I tell you that what you've highlighted amounts to omission and unproven assertion, and you imply that I'm living in a different reality.

Yeah, maybe. My reality requires that evidence not be left out of the conversation before fact is determined. Call me crazy.

I'm not implying it, I'm saying it. There are now two identifiable "news" and "information" realities.

However, I did not single you out, nor was I thinking about you personally when I wrote it. I'm not very familiar with you.

 

[Not2BSubjugated]

This article hits the nail right on the head..sadly, as the article states..no one cares:

Today's mob mentality politics: Just deny it, and keep moving

We have no reason to expect an honest and thorough conversation about the kind of cultural degeneracy that may have led a white 17-year-old to cross state lines to patrol and fire shots at those protesting the shooting of a Black man in front of his children. We have no reason to expect an introspective conversation about the messaging that led hundreds to riot and loot in Minneapolis based on false information.
Notwithstanding Democratic nominee Joe Biden's speech last week, we should only expect deflection, denials and insults from conservative and progressive hardliners. Few will question their own tactics because publicly critiquing your tribe is considered treasonous. In this truth-deficient dialogue, facts and principles are inconveniences - unless they can be weaponized. Only the narrative seems to matter. Our pride and prejudices compel us to take sides and defend them, come hell or high water.
If one thing is clear about the American public discourse today, it's that we're totally ill-equipped or unwilling to engage in honest debate.

It's not right to ignore political violence.

Likewise, it's not right to ignore the precise details of the cases you cite. Characterizing Rittenhouse as a 17 year old that traveled across state lines to shoot at protesters ignores significant pieces of the story and asserts motive without evidence, perhaps even in spite of it. Can't have honest debate by characterizing events dishonestly, even if your motives are all Kumbaya.

Because you disagree with the characterization does not mean that it is false..just sayin'. Rittenhouse is a tragedy--no matter the final outcome. I can't help but notice that you have no comment at all about the protestors..or any of the circumstances. It cannot be denied that if Kyle had stayed home...told the fool that asked for his help, "no thanks"--that things would have turned out better...but the haters have gotten a hold of the narrative..and away we go.

Significant pieces of the story seems to depend on which narrative you buy into

Well, this is part of the problem.

The most destructive feature of this intense tribalism is that we are now literally working under different realities. There is "news" and "facts" and "information" that fully supports both tribes, and it purposely avoids and distorts all contrary news, facts and information.

We can't fix our problems if we can't communicate. We can't communicate if we exist in different realities.

You're illustrating the problem. I tell you that what you've highlighted amounts to omission and unproven assertion, and you imply that I'm living in a different reality.

Yeah, maybe. My reality requires that evidence not be left out of the conversation before fact is determined. Call me crazy.

I'm not implying it, I'm saying it. There are now two identifiable "news" and "information" realities.

However, I did not single you out, nor was I thinking about you personally when I wrote it. I'm not very familiar with you.

Fair enough if you aren't referring to my response above.

The point stands, however, that accepting one of those two "realities" as the truth and then couching that assertion within a frame of trying to encourage people to listen to the other side is laughably self oblivious at best.