Going to the Extremes
We want to embrace a position on things, everywhere we are being asked for our opinion. We want to look as though we are confident.We want to share why we feel the way we do, and in the end it puts us at odds with each other.
An example: People may say… you cannot like Green and like Orange at the same time- you are commanded to pick one. After all anyone who likes green surely cannot be an advocate of orange that the same time! Or at least that is simply what people tend to want you to think.
Choose! This is the world of choice- so why are you in the middle? That makes you seem weak, makes you look stupid or something.
The internet is based around this communication, the media demands it, social networks want to know,… inquiring minds wan to understand and they want an instant response. What do the polls indicate? Websites want your rating on everything, they measure the clicks to decide “interest” so they can continue to feed you more of what they believe you “like”
So in the end we look for the decision, winners and losers, haves and have-not’s, right vs wrong, “the time has come to stand up!”
And once we huddle around the decision, others “pile on”. They want to be acknowledged in being on the same side. Damn the facts, the hack with how people feel about the opposite things. They are stupid, ignorant, in the wrong “club” or the inferior political party. There is no middle ground, compromising would be a sign of weakness after all. Trust no one who contradicts your position in the choosing! They just don’t understand.
That is the extreme of my frustration I guess. There are not that many absolutes in this world when it comes to opinion. Some people even take the absolutes of the physical world and deny them. Like there is a place for “maybe” – but only when it means picking an answer with conviction.
ALL that energy. All that anger or resentment. All of the time spent. Debate is healthy, but arguing “opinion” is like saying “my opinion is better than your opinion” … it has some sort of laugh-ability about it really. And sadness
I know I have posted about this before- but I still believe: Life is short. Focus on positives, make the most of the passage of time.
Tracks In The Dust 