In my lifetime, can recall no time when the country was so fractious. Even in polite society, subjects that were once open for discussion, are now taboo. Not just politics, but everything from education, to health, to diet and even the interpretation of the constitution has put gentility into the background.
It used to be just politics and religion that fanned the fires, but media overkill has forced many to adopt a gold standard of factual philosophy... something to hold on to... when it seems that the norms we learned and believed in have been turned upside down.
I have lived in over-55 and senior communities since 1990, and, until the past several years, have truly enjoyed thoughtful discussions about a myriad of subjects. Discussions and interaction over everything from politics, to morals, and, yes, religion. Whether it's because the current community is much older, or more likely the people no longer feel obliged to have strong opinions, we no longer talk about the here and now, but more of the past... things we have done and places we've been.
That said, I am an intinerant reader and viewer of news. Initially lured by the spectacular and off-base, but now, spreading my time across the spectrum of TV and on-line "news" sources. It has become an "equal time" project. The spread from far left, to far right and beyond, is now quantified by sources in Google. After spending a few weeks sorting out the nonsense, the choices have been whittled down to about 15 or 20 sites that deal more with facts, and thoughtful analysis.
The next problem is to find someone with whom to have a meaningful discussion. The websites have become so polarized that few are to be found that don't attract fools and trolls.
And so it goes... I rationalize the situation by reminding myself that 50% of the population have/has an I.Q. of 100 or less, but long for those earlier days.
It used to be just politics and religion that fanned the fires, but media overkill has forced many to adopt a gold standard of factual philosophy... something to hold on to... when it seems that the norms we learned and believed in have been turned upside down.
I have lived in over-55 and senior communities since 1990, and, until the past several years, have truly enjoyed thoughtful discussions about a myriad of subjects. Discussions and interaction over everything from politics, to morals, and, yes, religion. Whether it's because the current community is much older, or more likely the people no longer feel obliged to have strong opinions, we no longer talk about the here and now, but more of the past... things we have done and places we've been.
That said, I am an intinerant reader and viewer of news. Initially lured by the spectacular and off-base, but now, spreading my time across the spectrum of TV and on-line "news" sources. It has become an "equal time" project. The spread from far left, to far right and beyond, is now quantified by sources in Google. After spending a few weeks sorting out the nonsense, the choices have been whittled down to about 15 or 20 sites that deal more with facts, and thoughtful analysis.
The next problem is to find someone with whom to have a meaningful discussion. The websites have become so polarized that few are to be found that don't attract fools and trolls.
And so it goes... I rationalize the situation by reminding myself that 50% of the population have/has an I.Q. of 100 or less, but long for those earlier days.
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