According to the left, Trump is about to go to prison. According to the right, Hillary is about to go to prison. I feel like very few are aware of both possibilities.

submitted by magnora7 from self.C_S_T

Just goes to show how polarized the media has become. I feel like there are two entirely different media ecosystems going on, and each is talking right past the other. Each hating the strawman of the other's side, and cherry-picking the best of their own side. Tribalism in a nutshell.

But I worry about the breakdown in honest communication when it seems like we have to parallel timelines going on in the news. It's getting harder and harder to distill what the central objective truth is because of the bias on both sides of the media reporting (and the memes associated with each side, as well).

Does anyone else see this happening? It's getting emotionally exhausting because people are getting more and more emotional and refusing to see the truths that the other side realizes are real. Each seeing half the truth, but thinking they're fully correct. Furthermore, the media is keeping people divided and conquered so they refuse to entertain the ideas of the other half, thus blinding everyone to at least half of the truths out there, because they refuse to entertain them because they associate those ideas with the opposite side.

It's very worrying though to see the "heads" of both parties trying to openly jail the other. But it's also understandable when nearly all of them have committed crimes... it's a spy vs spy blackmail situation, like a mexican stand-off. Each trying to have a strong offence as their main defense.

I don't like the two parallel media worlds, because it makes people hate each other. It creates a situation where if you can find any attribute of that person that casts them as a proponent of the side you don't like, then you may stop being friends with them or worse. The media is trying to goad people in to this way of thinking. "Oh she's pro-gay, she must be a Hillary/DNC supporter" or "Oh he likes guns, he must be a Trump/RNC supporter" and it makes us oversimplify each other, just like our news is oversimplified. And then we turn to hate out of frustration (and because the media are pushing our emotional buttons) as we "simply can't understand" why person on the other side would be on that side... we begin assuming they must be dumb, or even worse sub-human or evil. This attitude, multiplied across millions of people (via a media network) is exactly what causes a civil war.

So if we truly wish to avoid war, we must constantly work to overcome this top-down messaging system that takes advantage of our natural emotional responses to things, in order to shape our behaviors to further empower those who already have power.

I feel like people are sleepwalking right in to doom. But I also think the media wants me to think that, so I'm not sure how true it actually is. Can anyone relate?

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[–]an-arkhos 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

I don't understand why 300 million people would all pick sides in this political sitcom around 2 main actors who have never even been nominated for a Oscar, seriously the production value of this political theatre is absolutely shit, and the budget is huge.

[–][deleted] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

the production value of this political theatre is absolutely shit, and the budget is huge

Such a good point. I feel like politicians and their financial backers live in an alternate economy. The budgets of just the campaigns are completely mind boggling. The production value may seems like shit to us, but I would guess it is spot on from the perspective of those at the top.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Does anyone else see this happening? Yes. I do. And believe me, I am emotionally exhausted. I'm pretty sure my "liberal" democrat friends think I am a closet Trump supporter because I don't join in on their mindless gossip. And I couldn't even guess what my "conservative" friends think of me.

Honestly, a lot of stuff around me doesn't seem real anymore, and I sometimes think I am losing my grip on reality. But my wife is kind enough to reassure me I'm still sane, and these things really are happening. The thing that keeps me level headed the most right now, though, is small day to day interactions with acquaintances or even strangers. We chat about the weather or local events, rather than national affairs. At this level of conversation everyone gets along and is pleasant.

[–]magnora7[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Glad to hear I'm not the only one seeing all this craziness. Just keep trying to reach out, I guess. Although a lot of times it's not worth it, but sometimes it is. It can be hard to judge on-the-fly when it'll be appreciated and when it won't be.

Onward and upward, friend.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

On and up, indeed. I have been really hoping this site can draw more of the people with similar attitudes towards conversation. With the ability to follow that hierarchy of disagreement. Any chance of doing a sort of "State of the Site" post? The meta posts in the main AE sub haven't been commented on in over a week. It might be good to try to keep the conversation going about how to improve the site and how to draw some good content and conversations.

[–]magnora7[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yeah, I've been thinking of doing a "State of the site" post, I should really do that.

We're basically overwhelmed at the moment, so it's just going to be a while as we start resolving the 100+ bugs that came up after we went live. So I expect things to basically slowly improve over the next few months, then maybe we can get out of Alpha mode and start inviting more users.

[–]magnora7[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Done and done. https://antiextremes.com/r/AntiExtremes/comments/97/state_of_the_website_antiextremescom_updates/

[–][deleted]  (1 child)

[deleted]

    [–]magnora7[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Hm that's a very interesting thought.

    I would be genuinely shocked if any of them go to jail though. They can all buy and pardon their way out of anything, it seems. If both go to jail, I wouldn't know what to think, honestly. I would be speechless.

    [–]Vaxthrul 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    I believe that there is a particular level of critical thinking that is required, however what the school system has become doesn't allow for the time nor energy to put into this, as testing has become the focus.

    These people who think more with emotion have grown up doing exactly the same thing they're doing now, and it's worked for them, otherwise they would have to adapt.

    Think about participation trophies, the kids that get benched still get a trophy. That teaches them that even if they try, it's a good job. Extrapolate that to politics, and it's not so bewildering that we're at where we are.

    Think about anonymity, where you have few if any consequences for what you do. Get banned? Make a new account, "haha, I that looser can't keep me out!" Then they go post this biased post about what happens and here comes the echo chamber to validate your feelings. Reinforcing this victimization is really negative when you think about it - who would honestly want a bunch of Buster Bluths?

    One thing you'll notice that I harp on is that I see a lack of personal accountability. There's a fuck up, blame someone down the chain. Policies you've passed encourages police to abuse citizens? "There's a few bad apples, we'll take care of it, promise." Or how about Iran-Contra? "I cannot recall."

    All public servants should report to us, but during congressional hearings they keep secret as much as they can behind closed doors. I take this as a fuck you, because we are the ones that generate wealth that allow them to be employed as public servants, and they should be beholden to our wants, not their special interests.