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I’m an Independent. I find it harder and harder to stay in the middle because the views of everyone else - on both sides - are so extreme. It would be wonderf

I’m an Independent. I find it harder and harder to stay in the middle because the views of everyone else - on both sides - are so extreme. It would be wonderful to get rid of divisiveness and polarization. But in the imperfect world in which we live, it seems that the only way to even try to bring a little sanity back to things is to point out hypocrisy wherever I see it, and hope those that are practicing it feel ridiculous enough when they are exposed that they change their ways.

grzm 9y ago
Where you stand on the (multi-axis) political spectrum doesn't matter if the actions you're taking continue to divide people and work against your goals. Pointing out hypocrisy in others may feel good and righteous in the moment, but puts people on the defensive and they stop listening to you: it's a remarkably poor way to get someone to change their behavior. People don't respond well if you're intent is to make them feel ridiculous. It's just a part of typical human psychology, and one you're working against if your goal is to actually make a change. Does yelling at your computer make it work better? (Perhaps an increasingly poor example in the age where voice commands are becoming popular.) Or figuring out what's wrong and doing what needs to be done to fix it? Gotta work with the facts on the ground, not how you think it should be. And maybe by doing so, you can move what is towards what should be.
- Covzire 9y ago
  I find the idea that you shouldn't point out hypocrisy because it might trigger divisiveness, divisive. It stinks of a desire to shut down debate because it's not going the way you want.
  - grzm 9y ago
    What's your goal? What do you actually want to accomplish in the end? I'm asking in all seriousness. And following up, how do you plan to accomplish that goal? In the case of working for user data privacy, we're working against companies that are benefiting from the data they collect and their lobbyists, as well as people who aren't aware of the situation and often only see the benefits of the apps they're using. And those people cross many demographic and political lines. I don't think user privacy is a partisan issue. It's going to be an uphill battle. You think pointing out all of the differences and disagreements of those who don't agree with you, all of the inconsistencies you see in their positions is going to help? I sincerely don't think so. The point isn't that pointing out hypocrisy is wrong, it's that it gets in the way of your goals. If it's more important to you to point out those inconsistencies than improve the user privacy situation, I think you have your priorities wrong. If you think you can only remedy the user privacy situation by first correcting their inconsistencies, I think that's wrong-headed and doomed to failure on both counts. But you're certainly entitled to your opinion and free to disregard mine.

grzm 9y ago

Where you stand on the (multi-axis) political spectrum doesn't matter if the actions you're taking continue to divide people and work against your goals. Pointing out hypocrisy in others may feel good and righteous in the moment, but puts people on the defensive and they stop listening to you: it's a remarkably poor way to get someone to change their behavior. People don't respond well if you're intent is to make them feel ridiculous. It's just a part of typical human psychology, and one you're working against if your goal is to actually make a change. Does yelling at your computer make it work better? (Perhaps an increasingly poor example in the age where voice commands are becoming popular.) Or figuring out what's wrong and doing what needs to be done to fix it? Gotta work with the facts on the ground, not how you think it should be. And maybe by doing so, you can move what is towards what should be.

Covzire 9y ago
I find the idea that you shouldn't point out hypocrisy because it might trigger divisiveness, divisive. It stinks of a desire to shut down debate because it's not going the way you want.
- grzm 9y ago
  What's your goal? What do you actually want to accomplish in the end? I'm asking in all seriousness. And following up, how do you plan to accomplish that goal? In the case of working for user data privacy, we're working against companies that are benefiting from the data they collect and their lobbyists, as well as people who aren't aware of the situation and often only see the benefits of the apps they're using. And those people cross many demographic and political lines. I don't think user privacy is a partisan issue. It's going to be an uphill battle. You think pointing out all of the differences and disagreements of those who don't agree with you, all of the inconsistencies you see in their positions is going to help? I sincerely don't think so. The point isn't that pointing out hypocrisy is wrong, it's that it gets in the way of your goals. If it's more important to you to point out those inconsistencies than improve the user privacy situation, I think you have your priorities wrong. If you think you can only remedy the user privacy situation by first correcting their inconsistencies, I think that's wrong-headed and doomed to failure on both counts. But you're certainly entitled to your opinion and free to disregard mine.