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Why We Clash on Social Media and in Real Life
Whether it’s about politics, masks, vaccines, race, social justice or anything really, comments on social media look like violent collisions. Why do we clash like this and what can we do about it?
I go on Twitter to check reactions to headlines or statements by key people. I find it fascinating how predictable they are, from both opposite sides. Many substantiate their comments with facts and righteousness or fake news and insults. You can almost touch the disdain or the hate. There is no dialogue as everyone thinks their own opinion is the only truth. Everyone is on their high horses.
What’s going on?
When we look at the exchanges with detachment, we can clearly see that people are hermetically closed to the opposite side. Most people just want to express their opinion without any intention of understanding others who might view things differently.
The main problem is that everyone is convinced not only that they are right to think the way they do, but also justified to express themselves the way they do.
All of them have taken the moral high ground and believe that others’ opinions are not only wrong but also proof of their bad character.
And this is where it goes drastically wrong. When one is sure of the other’s failing…
