Imagine the internet as an infinitely large pizza box. Still only about 2 inches high, but insanely wide.
Imagine looking through the side of the box at the contents inside. Any side, it won't matter.
No matter which 2-inch-tall "side" of the box you look through, you WILL see an infinite depth of supporting evidence.
This has unfortunate side effects.
Republicans are evil fascists? Sure, you could fill up a damn book with that evidence.
Democrats are totalitarian commies? Yup. Another book.
Immigrants? UFO's? Vaccines? Baseball jokes?
Vegan Mobster Chupacabras?
Infinite libraries filled with unread encyclopedias await your gaze in every possible direction.
The internet generates new content procedurally, faster than it can be consumed.
Whatever you turn your gaze upon will appear real.
New details appear as you approach.
I'm not kidding.
Whatever you turn your gaze upon WILL appear real.
"No way," you might say. "I'm SURE I'm right. I did extensive research."
"Right," Everyone else grins. "And I'm SURE I'm right too. Wanna read my latest dissertation?"
See the problem?
It's getting kind of urgent, isn’t it?
The algorithm rewards attention.
Instinct pulls your attention toward threats.
The algorithm notices, and shows you more threats.
Runaway radicalization ensues...
...unless we focus our attention on what we WANT to see more of:
Common humanity.
Not more divisive, endless, metastasizing rabbit-holes of procedurally generated us/them threats.
Common, thriving humanity.
Common humanity is our last, best defense against autogenerated runaway internet radicalism.
What’s more, it’s easier to find than you might think.
What if "those people" aren't stupid or evil at all?
What if they are making "best-available" decisions, same as you?
What if they are just being fed wildly different "facts?"
What if they feel just as threatened by YOU?
How would you talk to them differently, if that were the case?
The internet offers infinite support for every possible idea.
So use it!
Use your power.
Right now, start focusing on what YOU want to see more of.
"Humans are amazing, we have a lot in common, despite our many real (and imagined) differences"
"Tricks, tips, and techniques for de-escalating stuck debates across entrenched partisan divides"
As soon as you can, get yourself off the "I'm right, they're deranged" train!
The scenery is depressing, their pizza sucks, and I hear the last stop is a miserable dump.
Get yourself off that doomscrolling train. Let the other passengers glare!
Make your excuses and just leave.
Take that bold first step.
I guarantee you, the moment you step off that train, a better path begins writing itself into being under your very feet.
So take a breath of fresh air!
Focus on what YOU want to see more of.
And just start walking.
DISCLAIMER: no, this is not utopia! Winning arguments is more complicated than this.
I'm just sensitizing you to the possibility that (1) a defined batch of argument-winning, shared-problem-solving techniques exists, (2) it cannot be found by focusing on endless us/them divisions, and (3) continuing to look in the wrong place will guarantee the rapid destruction of civilization, through the very process of runaway auto-radicalization I described above in this post.
So start looking for common ground!
It's kind of important.
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