The debate, the respect and the conspiracies
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In recent years, the debate has become increasingly polarized. Respect for the opinions of others is steadily declining. We see this especially in the US at the moment. Either you’re with us, or you’re an idiot. There’s no respect for that. I’d like to take a look at the reasons for this polarization of the debate and offer my own observations.
Debate is a prerequisite for progress
In every society, there will always be different challenges. Solving these challenges often requires a set of tools. It’s easy to fall for a simple solution to a problem that is so poorly thought out that it creates another problem. By having a debate, the risk of creating new challenges can be reduced. The prerequisite is that the debate is based on mutual respect for the opinions of others.
A debate characterized by suspicion of others’ motives and negativity towards them is not constructive. Today, we see such strong contradictions in debates on immigration, peace and environmental issues, to name but a few. In the US, we see a clearly polarized debate regarding the presidential election. A debate that is characterized by suspicion and hatred.
Choosing what we want, listening to those we agree with
In principle, social media and a wide range of news channels should be positive for a diverse debate climate. The problem is that many of us seem to choose to listen to those with the same opinion as ourselves. A form of confirmation. In the US, for example, most Trump supporters choose to watch FOX News. A Trump friendly news channel. On the other hand, Kamala Harris’s loyal core chooses not to watch this channel. Why? Is it a desire to have your own opinions confirmed? Or is it the fear of encountering someone else’s thoughts?
The same thing happens in social media. Channels, groups or people with the same opinion as ourselves are chosen. The other party’s thoughts and solutions do not emerge. We are not receptive to other thoughts. This does not create debate. It creates fear, hatred and suspicion.
Thoughts and statements are often defended through labels. Racist, communist, misogynist. These are examples that I constantly hear repeated in debates where someone questions certain accepted norms. This is a form of domination technique used to marginalize those who express them. Such a technique does not take the debate seriously. It tries to stop the speech.
Conspiracy theories and the debate
A conspiracy theory is a theory that a group has come together to achieve something or to create something. In other words, a conspiracy theory assumes that several people are working together on a plan. There are various reasons why such theories arise. If an event does not fit into a preconceived idea, some people look for alternative explanations. Some people create conspiracy theories to make money and publicize themselves.
The motives behind Alex Jones’ conspiracy theories have yet to be revealed. However, he is behind a number of completely wild theories. Perhaps best known is his claim that the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 was staged. He claimed that actors were playing dead children and that the school shooting never took place. He was later ordered to pay compensation to some of the survivors of the shooting that claimed 26 lives, 20 of which were children.
A good rule of thumb is to check your sources for fantastic stories or claims. These abound on social media. If something sounds too improbable to be true, it’s probably a conspiracy theory.
A difference between Europe and the US
In the US, there are in practice two parties vying for power. Europe has a tradition of multiple political parties. In the US, either the Republicans or the Democrats win. It is rare for a political party to win a majority on its own in Europe. The norm in Europe is for several parties to join forces to form a basis for a government or to elect a president. This happens with negotiations and compacts.
It is possible that negotiations to form a majority mean that the debate is less polarizing than in the US. Through such negotiations, we have to understand another person’s way of thinking and respect them. Respect in a debate is something everyone can learn from. Watching the news and being in social groups on the internet that have a different view than ourselves can be enriching. It will at least form a basis for respect in the debate.
Sources:
Polarized Speech: A Function of Self-Persuasion – Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences – Carnegie Mellon University (cmu.edu)
Democratic debate could rebuild trust and reduce polarization | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)