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Speaking less to the content and more to the crowd here. But Im always shocked how much climate change, science, politics, and news is so polarizing. I never se

Speaking less to the content and more to the crowd here. But Im always shocked how much climate change, science, politics, and news is so polarizing. I never see coherent arguments about why its not real but I see plenty of arguments about why it’s easy to defer. Usually the argument is an optimization around status quo. Why change our behavior, etc. What would it take for you to change your behaviour either way? If youre more into belief, how would you be pursuaded to do something, or to encourage others to do nothing. The stakes seem too high to be neutral.

AnimalMuppet 5y ago
I care about the issues I care about, not the issues people tell me I should care about. Anybody who has a problem with that should ask whether I should have a problem with them caring about their issues. People just assume that their issues are the right issues, and everybody else who doesn't care about them is evil, blind, or lazy. That's... pretty arrogant, actually. It's good to have people who care about some of the other issues, too.
- version_five 5y ago
  Thank you. So many people want to escalate their issue to the status of some existential cause that we all must pay attention to. It would be a lot more valuable to hear about an actual way forward, rather than just some rent seeking.
- paulryanrogers 5y ago
  My guess is some polarization comes from over identifying with an in group or an issue. So to disagree is threatening their sense of self. Could also involve stoking passions for political gain. Finally when someone is convinced the stakes are life or world (as we know it) ending then they're more inclined to be offended by dissent. Especially if they see collective action as the only solution. When I left a culty branch of Christianity it was hard to overcome the indoctrination and social pressures. "It's your eternal soul! Suffering forever!" And "what about your kids!?"

AnimalMuppet 5y ago

I care about the issues I care about, not the issues people tell me I should care about. Anybody who has a problem with that should ask whether I should have a problem with them caring about their issues. People just assume that their issues are the right issues, and everybody else who doesn't care about them is evil, blind, or lazy. That's... pretty arrogant, actually. It's good to have people who care about some of the other issues, too.

version_five 5y ago
Thank you. So many people want to escalate their issue to the status of some existential cause that we all must pay attention to. It would be a lot more valuable to hear about an actual way forward, rather than just some rent seeking.
paulryanrogers 5y ago
My guess is some polarization comes from over identifying with an in group or an issue. So to disagree is threatening their sense of self. Could also involve stoking passions for political gain. Finally when someone is convinced the stakes are life or world (as we know it) ending then they're more inclined to be offended by dissent. Especially if they see collective action as the only solution. When I left a culty branch of Christianity it was hard to overcome the indoctrination and social pressures. "It's your eternal soul! Suffering forever!" And "what about your kids!?"