This 'cycle' has happened many times in human history. It's nothing 'new'. Most people can name a few of the really violent highlights from history. But these types of things occur even amongst a handful of people.
Do they get out of hand? Of course.
Are we there now in the US? Compared to things like the French Revolution or the English Civil Wars; oh heck no. Compared to a gossipy Mennonite sewing circle; it's getting there.
Obviously we all want the crazy to go away and to get back to the business of living. How to do that though?
Don't feed the cycle.
Let the falling bobbin roll, do not try to catch the string and pull it out further.
Calm down.
I know that's hard. I know that the 'wrong' people keep on saying 'wrong' things. Easy for you to say 'calm down', Mr. Comfortable, your life wasn't just ruined. They destroy livelihoods and lives with their words. They deserve what they have coming for them, damnit! Justice!
There may be time for that in the future, but for now, we need to not inflame things. Shouting back is a whole lot better than shooting back, of course. But shouting tends to turn the cortex off and turn the brainstem on, so to speak.
If you want to be 'right', that's fine. But if you want to fix things and try to make things better, I would suggest listening more than writing screeds on people's FB walls. We know by now that does not work.
I do not believe the ends justify the means. Full stop. I do not like being told to idly stand aside while we watch outrage mobs use oppressive rhetoric and illogical tactics to effect change, even if we all agree the cause is just. That's the actual problem people have and what fundamentally irks me about the entire thing. I'm not interested in calmly standing down so as not to inflame their sensitive temper. (And I have tried ignoring it, nothing changed.) Why should I condone behavior that is literally harming other people's livelihood and destroying a society where people are truly safe and free to express themselves? I've waited long enough for the pendulum to swing back. I'm not convinced the end is just around the corner and it will all be over soon. Do you know what the end looks like? I can never seem to get an answer.
Do they get out of hand? Of course.
Are we there now in the US? Compared to things like the French Revolution or the English Civil Wars; oh heck no. Compared to a gossipy Mennonite sewing circle; it's getting there.
Obviously we all want the crazy to go away and to get back to the business of living. How to do that though?
Don't feed the cycle.
Let the falling bobbin roll, do not try to catch the string and pull it out further.
Calm down.
I know that's hard. I know that the 'wrong' people keep on saying 'wrong' things. Easy for you to say 'calm down', Mr. Comfortable, your life wasn't just ruined. They destroy livelihoods and lives with their words. They deserve what they have coming for them, damnit! Justice!
There may be time for that in the future, but for now, we need to not inflame things. Shouting back is a whole lot better than shooting back, of course. But shouting tends to turn the cortex off and turn the brainstem on, so to speak.
If you want to be 'right', that's fine. But if you want to fix things and try to make things better, I would suggest listening more than writing screeds on people's FB walls. We know by now that does not work.