I came across a great article the other day on Twitter. It was a self-help kind of read and it had this really interesting point I've been thinking about that's relevant to this conversation.
I think that's a good insight into one of the reasons political divisiveness is so rampant right now. And why it causes fatigue for those who are a bit more detached from their political leanings.
I was at a conference for defense contractors yesterday. I sat with a friend who hates Trump. Like one of his favorite things is talking about is how much he hates Trump. At the conference one of the speakers was a retired Air Force general. This man has had an incredibly accomplished career, joining as an enlisted airman turning wrenches on aircraft and retiring as a general officer. He's adored by everyone with whom he's worked. He spent about 30 seconds of his 15 minute speech speaking glowingly about the Trump administration and some of Hegseth's changes at the Pentagon, which were relevant to the subject of the conference. It's clear he's a fan. And as soon as he started speaking positively about the administration I sensed the tension from my friend and knew that's all I'd be hearing about the rest of the day. I was right. He may as well have not attended the rest of the event because that 30 seconds just ruined it for him.
It also ruined it a bit for me. Like snap out of it and have an ounce of humility. He's listening to someone with decades of experience and a unique perspective, all automatically discarded because he shared a different opinion. He didn't want to hear about specific policy changes that were positive nor could he have any respect for someone who supports Trump. I don't get it. I like hearing good things about Trump (or any political leader) from people who have experience and understanding I don't possess. Even if I disagree, I hope they're right if it would be better for America.
When your body feels threatened, you go into fight or flight.
When your identity feels threatened, the same thing happens.
If you are heavily identified with a political ideology (by the process we talked about just before), you will feel threatened when someone challenges your beliefs. You literally feel the stress. You feel, emotionally, like you were just slapped in the face. Since most people don’t analyze their emotions for truth, you tend to get stuck in echo chambers and double down on claims that harm yourself and others.
When your identity feels threatened, the same thing happens.
If you are heavily identified with a political ideology (by the process we talked about just before), you will feel threatened when someone challenges your beliefs. You literally feel the stress. You feel, emotionally, like you were just slapped in the face. Since most people don’t analyze their emotions for truth, you tend to get stuck in echo chambers and double down on claims that harm yourself and others.
I was at a conference for defense contractors yesterday. I sat with a friend who hates Trump. Like one of his favorite things is talking about is how much he hates Trump. At the conference one of the speakers was a retired Air Force general. This man has had an incredibly accomplished career, joining as an enlisted airman turning wrenches on aircraft and retiring as a general officer. He's adored by everyone with whom he's worked. He spent about 30 seconds of his 15 minute speech speaking glowingly about the Trump administration and some of Hegseth's changes at the Pentagon, which were relevant to the subject of the conference. It's clear he's a fan. And as soon as he started speaking positively about the administration I sensed the tension from my friend and knew that's all I'd be hearing about the rest of the day. I was right. He may as well have not attended the rest of the event because that 30 seconds just ruined it for him.
It also ruined it a bit for me. Like snap out of it and have an ounce of humility. He's listening to someone with decades of experience and a unique perspective, all automatically discarded because he shared a different opinion. He didn't want to hear about specific policy changes that were positive nor could he have any respect for someone who supports Trump. I don't get it. I like hearing good things about Trump (or any political leader) from people who have experience and understanding I don't possess. Even if I disagree, I hope they're right if it would be better for America.
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