In response to your comment on my post https://medium.com/an-injustice/a-tale-of-two-americas-d11454da76d see below:
Thank you for the book recommendation, Akarsh. It sounds fascinating and one I will read. You are precisely the type of writer and deep thinker I was hoping to encounter when I wrote my first post here. If you’ve read any of my other posts, you will see that I am aware of the concepts you’ve mentioned here: confirmation bias and the vile maxim (although I haven’t written about that one yet).
https://medium.com/the-innovation/in-case-you-didnt-know-it-we-re-at-war-d42c79fe4255
The books I’ve referred to in these posts touch on just a few that have been part of my self-education about crowd psychology, how emotion clouds rational thinking, and how confirmation bias contributes to polarization. They’ve helped me understand the world around me and why people can be easily manipulated by herd mentality. And in recent years, it’s helped me understand why I see things so differently from others in my primarily red state. Other than those closest to me, I know very few people who fall on the liberal end of the spectrum. And although I’m aware of confirmation bias, I’m certainly not immune to it. No one is.
Consequently, my writing is affected because I have one (and possibly four or more) family members who are followers of QAnon, so I’ve experienced this extreme polarization up close and personal. Do I know someone who is anti-vax? Yes. Do I know the flag-wavers? Yes, even those with flags on their trucks, participating in boat parades and cheering on Trumpers who rode the Biden bus out of town. Do I know someone who is capitalistic? Yes. “Let the market ride without any government regulation.” Just disregard those factories that will pollute the air and water. Do I know someone who is xenophobic? Yes. They say, “We are a Christian nation, founded on Christian principles. All others should get out. Especially if you’re Muslim.” When I point out that our nation’s founders believed in freedom of religion, they don’t want to hear it. Do I know someone who is anti-immigration? Yes, many. I even know a couple who employ illegals that are the lifeblood of their business. However, they still believe all illegals are criminals because their employees are somehow different from all the “others.” Do I know someone who is family first? Yes, several. When the pandemic erupted, they touted their doomsday prep efforts – “At least my family will be taken care of, and I’ve got guns to ward off anyone else.” Do I know climate change deniers? Yes, despite the overwhelming scientific evidence, they refuse to let go of this notion. Do I know someone who is warmongering? Yes, and they were praying for a civil war to rid the country of all the evil liberals. I’ll stop there.
It’s so easy to be critical of conservatives in the Age of Trump. Still, I have to remind myself that while all Trump followers are conservatives, not all conservatives are Trump followers, and they’re not as extreme as those within my orbit.
I don’t know why I’m wired so differently from the siblings that I grew up with. It still baffles me. But your article helps me understand them better.
Thank you for the feedback on my post, and you’re right; the parallels are uncanny. I look forward to reading the book and more of your articles.
