Cause of Polarized Society

They say a house divided cannot stand. Yet in our modern era, we've allowed our society to be driven by polarization. It's like we're all little kids on the playground, convinced that our way is the only right way. We can't even have a normal conversation without it turning into whole battle.

Because let's be real - we're addicted to that sweet, sweet feeling of being 100% totally correct it. Well, news flash - maybe, just maybe, we're all a little bit wrong sometimes. Crazy concept, I know! But thinking your view is the only flawless one is a huge reason why everything has become so polarized and divided these days.

History of Persecuting "Difference"

The idea of perceiving "difference" as a threat isn't something new. We can better understand such behavior by looking at history of human development.

In prehistoric times, different tribes often competed for resources such as food, water, and territory. Encountering members of another tribe could be seen as a threat to the survival of one's own group, leading to conflicts and violence. Early human societies were characterized by strong in-group loyalty and a distrust of outsiders. This "us vs. them" mentality helped cooperation and unity within the group but also led to the rejection and marginalization of those who were perceived as different.

Another reason for such behaviors could be the absence of scientific understanding. The early humans often attributed negative events or misfortunes to the influence of outsiders or those who were different as there were no way to explain them. In prehistoric times, evidence of this is limited due to the lack of written records. However, researchers have found indications of such beliefs and practices in ancient societies. For example, some suggest that Neanderthals, a species of archaic humans who lived in Europe and parts of Asia, may have practiced cannibalism not just for survival but also for ritual purposes. They may have believed that consuming the flesh of their enemies or outsiders would give them strength or ward off evil spirits, without understanding the scientific reasons behind their misfortunes.

The Salem Witch Trials, which took place in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693, are a more recent example. During this period, several people, mostly women, were accused of practicing witchcraft and consorting with the devil. The accusations were often based on superstition, fear, and the belief that these individuals posed a threat to the community's moral and religious well-being, without any scientific evidence to support these claims.

The tendency to view difference as a threat has deep roots in human history, from the earliest societies to more recent times. But how does this deeply rooted mentality continue to influence our world today?

My Side, The Right Side: Why Your Opinion is Flawed

Let's be honest - we've all thought "I'm so right and you're so wrong" about stuff before. That smug feeling of being 100% correct is nice sometimes. But being stuck in that mindset of "my way is the only way" is a huge reason why we're all divided these days. Think about it - when you get defensive and insist your views are perfect, what does that do? It stops any conversations right then and there. You're basically saying "My mind is made up, so stop trying to change it." Well, surprise, the people who disagree probably feel just as certain they're right too.

So now you've got two sides, plugging their ears, yelling "la la la can't hear you" at each other. Nobody is actually listening to understand the other side. All productive discussions goes out the window because it becomes an all-or-nothing battle over who is "right." And even if a tiny part of you starts thinking "huh, maybe I'm a little bit wrong here," most people quickly shut that down. Admitting you could be even slightly mistaken feels like losing the whole argument. You think "if I give them an inch, they'll take a mile and prove me totally wrong." Refusing to even think your opinion could possibly be imperfect or missing some facts? Boom - now your family/neighbor/coworker goes from being someone you disagree with to being labeled just plain "wrong" or even "the enemy."

At the end of the day, most of the stuff dividing us doesn't have one easy universal answer. They're complicated topics with multiple perspectives to think about. By choosing to be closed-minded, you're just slapping a giant "Keep Out" sign on the door for discussions.