The technology of our modern age reveals the magnificence of the universe around us. So why, amidst all of these wonders revealed, are we so mean to each other.
The decline in civility, common decency and common sense seems to have been going on for over a decade now. When I was once asked by an ISJ reporter what my biggest peeve was I replied “The current penchant of Americans to value emotionalism and self-righteous political partisanship over rationality, civility and common decency.” That was in 2009 so this process seems to have been going on for well over a decade now.
I think the COVID mass hysteria accelerated the decline in civility insofar as enforced personal isolation meant people’s natural hunger for social interaction meant we began increasing our time spent on social media to compensate for decline in face-to-face interaction. Of course social media is the Petri-dish growth medium for those creatures called trolls, who delight in stirring the pot. Too many people could ‘t resist reacting to their baiting and ended up responding in kind. I think this antagonistic behavior and outlook, in which people become hypersensitive to any perceived insult, spread and this may account for much of the increased incivility.
During the Trump years I became a target for a lot of incivility on campus. As a known Republiican I became shunned and ostracized and subject to a lot of petty insults. As a former journalist who lived in Iran 1980-1982 I developed a very thick skin and could shrug off a lot of this nastiness. But that experience further reduced my respect for our academic Brahmin caste who claim to be so much more enlightened, tolerant and well bred than the supposedly ignorant masses. Ironically I was never that much of a Trump enthusiast and I detested his coarseness and inability to keep a civil tongue which further fed partisan rancor. But I did what every Democratic faculty member did in 2016: I voted for the candidate of my own party. An unforgivable sin I gather.
One of the expanded effects of Covid were the mask mandates.
I believe that this is what allowed the riots to explode across the country night after night. The anonymity afforded by wearing the uniform of a mask and hoody, coupled with the medias false reporting, encouraged bad behavior and kept everyone from identifying one as a troublemaker. Police were instructed to stand down while these “mostly peaceful” riots destroyed the cores of our cities. The effects of these intentional actions will continue to be felt for decades. Witness the closure of giant retail outlets and the financial ruin of landmark real estate empires in any west coast city to see the beginnings.
The exodus of people from areas of this economic wasteland is already very apparent and will continue until only those unable to flee will remain and the social consequences will continue. Anger and minimization of social sectors will exacerbate the economic decline until the destruction is irreversible.
Sadly, I believe this is intentional and will not change. The “leaders” are bailing out and anyone qualified to step up and try and stop the decline will not subject themselves to the media’s flagellation during an election campaign.
The decline in civility, common decency and common sense seems to have been going on for over a decade now. When I was once asked by an ISJ reporter what my biggest peeve was I replied “The current penchant of Americans to value emotionalism and self-righteous political partisanship over rationality, civility and common decency.” That was in 2009 so this process seems to have been going on for well over a decade now.
I think the COVID mass hysteria accelerated the decline in civility insofar as enforced personal isolation meant people’s natural hunger for social interaction meant we began increasing our time spent on social media to compensate for decline in face-to-face interaction. Of course social media is the Petri-dish growth medium for those creatures called trolls, who delight in stirring the pot. Too many people could ‘t resist reacting to their baiting and ended up responding in kind. I think this antagonistic behavior and outlook, in which people become hypersensitive to any perceived insult, spread and this may account for much of the increased incivility.
During the Trump years I became a target for a lot of incivility on campus. As a known Republiican I became shunned and ostracized and subject to a lot of petty insults. As a former journalist who lived in Iran 1980-1982 I developed a very thick skin and could shrug off a lot of this nastiness. But that experience further reduced my respect for our academic Brahmin caste who claim to be so much more enlightened, tolerant and well bred than the supposedly ignorant masses. Ironically I was never that much of a Trump enthusiast and I detested his coarseness and inability to keep a civil tongue which further fed partisan rancor. But I did what every Democratic faculty member did in 2016: I voted for the candidate of my own party. An unforgivable sin I gather.
Good food for thought, Martin.
All salient points.
One of the expanded effects of Covid were the mask mandates.
I believe that this is what allowed the riots to explode across the country night after night. The anonymity afforded by wearing the uniform of a mask and hoody, coupled with the medias false reporting, encouraged bad behavior and kept everyone from identifying one as a troublemaker. Police were instructed to stand down while these “mostly peaceful” riots destroyed the cores of our cities. The effects of these intentional actions will continue to be felt for decades. Witness the closure of giant retail outlets and the financial ruin of landmark real estate empires in any west coast city to see the beginnings.
The exodus of people from areas of this economic wasteland is already very apparent and will continue until only those unable to flee will remain and the social consequences will continue. Anger and minimization of social sectors will exacerbate the economic decline until the destruction is irreversible.
Sadly, I believe this is intentional and will not change. The “leaders” are bailing out and anyone qualified to step up and try and stop the decline will not subject themselves to the media’s flagellation during an election campaign.
This leaves us with only poor choices.