Social media on Web2 seems to incentivise the superficial as a knee-jerk response. Sex, skin color, or perceived political position. After all, if you disagree with me, you must be a stereotype of that other party, since there is only a binary choice.
I seem to get this most from the "progressives" who insist everything outside politics is a diverse spectrum, and they like to dismiss criticism because I'm a "straight white male" who can be disregarded due to my immutable characteristics. I find it strange that the people who espouse the ideas of equality I support use racism and sexism in their ad hominem responses instead of even acknowledging any other valid arguments could exist. Ideological diversity cannot be tolerated by people who claim to endorse every other kind.
The MAGA crowd is far from blameless, though, often leaping to the conclusion I'm some kind of degenerate communist who wants to see a crime wave sweep across the nation for suggesting laws could be bad and law enforcement can be unjust. I find this especially shocking because many of these same people would cheer when I opposed political overreach during COVID.
And then there's the conspiracy world. The earth is flat. The moon is a hologram. The moon landing was faked. Everything that happens across the world is part of an intricate choreographed plan by THEM. You know, THEY run the world. Who? Jews/Jesuits/Masons/Illumunati/SOMEBODY!
It's a perverse tribalism seeking excuses to other other people if they don't fit. There has to be a scapegoat. Difference is dangerous. Tribalism is perverting community. Closed-mindedness masquerades as principle.
But what the fuck do I know. I'm a privileged white male
The irony, eh?
Difference is dangerous, yet the entire premise of identity today is based on differentiation based on useless surface and irrelevant traits.
Pride is a sin, but let's find ever finer slices of labels to be proud about.
I am a disadvantaged brown male. We're both fucked.