General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Rob Reiner ftw! [View all]Sympthsical
(9,073 posts)(He didn't break the law. See?)
I don't know what it is about this case. Just the proud display of, "I know nothing about this topic, but I have very strong feelings about it!" just pinged something.
My research final this semester in social psychology is also about polarization and political media. So, I spend a lot of time offline on this stuff as well. Just that pride, to not want to know facts or consider evidence. Part of polarization is when the political becomes the identity. And I think the refusal to acknowledge basic reality when it threatens political narrative is really driven by how deeply tied identity can be for some people and their politics. If their politics don't fit with what a reality is based on objective fact, the brain short circuits, and the denial of facts begins and perpetuates and becomes more violently insistent.
So I've just been watching this over and over. It's totally fascinating to observe.
I'm not partisan, my politics aren't my identity. Things are true or not. The end.
So I feel like I'm like full Dian Fossey with this case. Just watching all the gears click click.
We're either a reality-based community or we're not. And I'm going to argue for that, even as polarization pushes us farther away.