We, as Americans, cherish the freedom and right to disagree—which we do, often deeply about important issues that need resolution. But polarization undermines that freedom by tightening prejudices rather than opening thought, thus diminishing the chances for finding resolutions and moving forward. So while polarization may feel like a righteous champion of freedom and right, it is in fact just the opposite—a stick jammed in the spokes of the democratic discourse of freedom. Here are some of the common ways it does it:
- SEDUCES with loaded, heated language and childish name-calling that appeals more to emotion that reason.
- BLINKERS by using cherry-picked facts, and ignoring or mocking opposing arguments and evidence rather than actually addressing them.
- TRIVIALIZES by focusing on “straw-man” issues whose value in re-enforcing biases is clearly greater than their substance.
- BULLIES by making you feel like a dupe or a traitor if you even listen to the other side.
- FLATTERS with language and a tone that makes you feel like an insider, who, of course, agrees with them because you “get it” … just like they do.
- FRIGHTENS by portraying the other side as not just wrong, but a dangerous, evil enemy, replete with wicked hidden agendas.
- “CLANS,” that is, plays the “us vs. them” identity politics game of associating the other view with groups or people (implicitly) “inferior” to “us.”
- “TRIBES” by using the knowing winks and nods of sarcasm, coded language, words in quotes (suggesting they’re misleading) and innuendo which you, as a member of the tribe, of course, will understand without explanation or justification.
This week…was a good chance to see one of the dirty little secrets of the power of polarization in action. Polarizers win their game not by winning the debate but framing the debate. Polarization is a taunt, enticing you to respond in kind…to their topic. Game over. It doesn’t matter if the responses are stronger, more factual, more coherent, more logical because the goal of polarization is not to change minds but to close minds – not to win arguments but to energize the base. By defining the topic, polarizers win at the outset because they choose the topic that will excite their base. Facts be damned. So in some ways doesn’t matter who ”wins” the contest of the post-analysis of Muller’s investigation into Trump, or Trump’s slam against Baltimore. Because it’s not the dancers that matter. It’s the person playing the tune.
When reading these examples, check the above list and ask yourself: regardless of whether you agree or disagree, is this really advancing an intelligent resolution through the persuasive, rational arguments of advocacy…or simply fueling the fire of conflict through the divisive, emotional manipulations of polarization?
Here are just a few examples of the polarizing headlines, from the right and left, that dominate today’s political “thinking.”
Blue Headlines
Adam Schiff Ruins Trump’s Sunday With The Truth About Mueller Evidence
Republicans Scream No Collusion And Mueller Looks Them In The Eye And Shoots Them Down
Rachel Maddow Annihilates The GOP Lie That Mueller’s Testimony Was Great For Trump
Victor Blackwell’s Emotional Response To Trump’s Unchecked Racism Draws Cheers
Gaslighting Trump Is Now Pretending That He Said Nothing Racist About Elijah Cummings
Red Headlines
Mueller Crumbles Under Questioning
Mueller’s Testimony: A Complete Disaster for Liberals
Works Every Time: TRUMP Gets Democrats to Defend Rat-infested Baltimore Trash Dump
Avoid Democrat-Run Cities? 6 Ways To Protect Yourself From Unsafe Drinking Water
Why Do Democrats Run All Of The Dangerous And Rodent Infested Cities
1 thought on “Why Facts and Reason Don’t Matter”
With all due respect, facts do matter. In an age where integrity, truth, compassion, and compromise may be in short supply, suggesting that facts don’t matter untethers us from reality and an essential tool to understanding the world around us and addressing the important problems within it.
As an organization, Braver Angels is to be commended in successfully taking the first step in addressing the nation’s ills. The current crop of Workshops and Debates promote understanding and respect. This is huge.
That said, until those interacting in the public square are able to agree on facts and the news sources that report them, we will be forever mired in tribe approved info bubbles. In order to take the next step, BA needs to address facts and their sources. Doing otherwise is just whistling past the graveyard.