Our country is becoming increasingly poisoned by free speech anger and incentivized by digital clicks, artificial intelligence and good old-fashioned ignorance. Our world’s communications systems have never been so accessible to humans from every crevice of the planet, yet so susceptible to hatred. It taps into our natural tendencies toward judgment, bigotry, tribalism and hostility.
We see it in public opinion polls and online chats. We see it in the eyes of young males searching for a purpose. We see it in the violent actions of nationalist politics.
We see it masked by religion and rationalized by self-righteousness. Woke culture. Cancel culture.
Outrage culture. Our pop cultures are eating each other alive. It typically boils down to “us” versus “them,” just as it does with most hate-filled conflicts.
What was once a cottage industry for basement-dwelling radicals and agenda-minded extremists has become mainstreamed and normalized. It’s so common that we don’t realize how pervasive it is in our daily lives. For example, an older relative of mine who was once sweet as apple pie is now filled with hatred and bitterness, soured by partisan politics.
She constantly watches the same cable news network to justify her anger. Day after day. Issue after issue.
She rages on like a wildfire that can’t be contained. This is now who she has become. I’m not sure if she even realizes it.
Fabricated hate makes forever enemies from friends and family members. Manufacture.