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> People just don't trust authorities anymore, because authorities time and time again have misled them. Honestly, I don't think it's that. I think the cause i
by tablespoon 5y ago
> People just don't trust authorities anymore, because authorities time and time again have misled them.
Honestly, I don't think it's that. I think the cause is the perception that the "authorities" have a different set of values than "you" (and they're trying to impose them through orthogonal expertise-derived authority). Cataloging all the times the authorities have been misleading is a downstream activity to help justify pre-existing mistrust.
- rayiner 5y agoThat's two sides of the same coin. When authorities invoke their expertise or science for a position, but are really making a values-based argument, then people will feel misled.
- tablespoon 5y ago> That's two sides of the same coin. When authorities invoke their expertise or science for a position, but are really making a values-based argument, then people will feel misled. Yeah, but it's important to emphasize the values aspect, because I think that's where the emotional energy comes from. IMHO, that energy is fuzzy, resentment against one authority in one area transfers to a different authority in a different area, just as long as they're perceived being alike in some vague way. For instance, I don't think there'd be so much distrust over COVID response if there hadn't already been a bitter culture war where medical authorities sometimes take sides.