I'm Right, You're Wrong

Is that really the best way to have a civil discussion on a changing world?

Yes, that is a middle finger you see in the GIF above - and you may be thinking this last election say a big middle finger went up across the United States.

There are many explanations as to why Donald Trump won the election and Vice President Kamala Harris lost. The economy was said to be a big factor, along with immigration, few knowing much about Harris, and many Americans dissatisfied with both candidates. But there may have been another factor that is being overlooked.

In 2016, when Trump was first elected, one of the reasons voters chose him was that they felt the government was telling them what to say and what to think. Usually, this meant in terms of cultural issues, such as race, gender, the LGBTQ+ community, and just political correctness in general. While many Americans were willing, and are still willing, to learn there are terms and labels that are not acceptable, there are many others who are not. So much so, they took their unwillingness to the polls. I recall CNN interviewed a couple who owned a restaurant in Michigan right after Trump was inaugurated in January 2017. The couple said one of the reasons why they voted for Trump was because they felt Washington was telling them how to think and what to believe, and they wanted to think for themselves.

The same thing apparently happened in 2024. Commentaries reflected on how some Americans were tired of “wokeness”. As British journalist, Sarah Baxter, wrote in an op-ed from across the pond: “Wokeness has been comprehensively defeated in this election. The era of Black Lives Matter, Latinx, critical race theory, pronouns and defunding the police is over... Not even young people want to be “woke” any more.”

This is echoed by filmmaker and former Family Ties star, Justine Bateman. As reported in The Free Press, Bateman tweeted that she felt a sense of relief of no longer walking on eggshells after four years. She then added, “Common sense was discarded, intellectual discussion was demonized. . . Complete intolerance became almost a religion and one’s professional and social life was threatened almost constantly. Those that spoke otherwise were ruined as a warning to others. Their destruction was displayed in the ‘town square’ of social media for all to see.”

Maybe “wokeness” played a big role in this election (though Harris almost never made any “woke” comments during her campaign) or it played a smaller role. But what these reports and commentaries bring to light is the tendency for so many to demonize others who do not see the world as they do. This can go for both sides of the aisle and not just the “woke left”.

The whole “I’m right and you’re wrong” phrase is a great way to put someone down - so great, it stirs up rage in the person that phrase is directed to. How more demeaning can you get?

By the way, an expanded version of this phrase can be found in the 1996 film, Matilda, where the titular character’s abusive father tells his young daughter, “I'm smart, you're dumb; I'm big, you're little; I'm right, you're wrong, and there's nothing you can do about it.”

Oof! Who wants that directed at them? Well, it seems like many Americans felt that phrase, the short or the long version, thought so and a backlash ensued. Maybe not because of Vice President Harris, but because of the political party she ran under. Looks like many Americans were tired of walking on eggshells.

But which eggshells? As mentioned above, both sides of the aisles have members who lash out whenever someone doesn’t agree with them 100% on so many issues. A previous newsletter edition here went over how freedom of speech is often supported by those who want it for themselves and people who share their beliefs than those who do not. Instead of meeting in the middle to discuss the cultural issues at hand, verbal attacks ensue. I recall that happening as more transgender people began coming out several years ago. When some people asked reasonable questions about the science and psychology of being a transgender person, they were quickly labeled as transphobes and idiots. That seemed unfair because some of those questions could easily be answered with a few simple words. Even when the term Latino was used instead of Latinx, fury ensued. How can change and peace come when attacks happen too swiftly?

And again, both sides have this problem. A 2022 study by the Pew Research Center found that Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, did not always have friendly discussions. When Elon Musk bought Twitter, now X, with the intent of having free speech, it turned out the free speech he wanted was what suited him, especially as he came to realize free speech of all kinds is not that possible in a public sphere. This despite saying in April 2022, “I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means”. That didn’t exactly happen though. In late 2023, several journalists critical of Musk had their accounts suspended.

I recall teaching a class during the 2016 election, and the students were mostly ardent supporters of Trump. So much so when one student volunteered to bring in an op-ed that praised Hillary Clinton for a critical review lesson one day, the rage against the op-ed and that one girl was intense. I honestly thought the poor girl’s face would be torn off.

Anyway, we all have that tendency to have the “I’m right, you’re wrong”, even though that is not the greatest way to have civil discussions on social issues that impact our daily lives, and those of our neighbors. Doing so can have a counterproductive effect.

But what if correcting someone or pointing out their errors means doing good or helping society in the long run? Whether it is misinformation, conspiracy theories, or trying to convince a group of people are mostly harmless, many Americans feel the need to do something about these errors. Problem is, these efforts can also be counterproductive.

Again, though. It’s for society’s good and some don’t want things to get worse. Should those people be allowed to believe what they want to believe? Should none of us tell anyone what to think?

Well, the whole human race has been exchanging ideas since our brains started to expand to process more complex thoughts and ideas. The great philosophers all over the world have shared their thoughts with others. Theologians discussed the existence and meaning of God and scientists have gone over everything under the scientific umbrella so they can further understand the world and even the human brain.

Even this newsletter is dedicated to telling people what is going on with the news and social media, and their relationship with both. Does that mean “The Media & Us” is telling its readers what to think? Or else?

I think we can all figure out when someone is pushing their beliefs on us and not giving us room to disagree or think for ourselves. Granted, there is always room for gullibility and lapse in judgment. But that is why it is so imperative to be alert and mindful about why you do what you do and why others do what they do. It’s not easy, but it is necessary.

Or, you can choose to ignore this, complain that I am talking down to you and calling you stupid in so many words. It’s your choice. But that is why I write this newsletter anyway. How can you make any choices if you are unaware of your exact reasons and the influences infiltrating them?

That includes everything in life. Whether it’s news and social media, or the “dumb” or “woke” comments going around, (it looks like the term woke is being thrown around far too much lately and it’s lost its original meaning, but I digress) why do you get upset over what you hear? Why do you lash out in either direction? Is it really worth it?

And wait until you hear you may not be able to think for yourself as much as you believe :-)

See you next time!