The Senseless Battle Amongst Ourselves Research Paper

Sean Blanda, an esteemed writer who currently works for In-Vision as the Editorial Director, ominously warns us throughout his essay, “The Other side is not Dumb”, about the dangers of resentment towards differing opinions and the insatiable need to feel superior, that he bears witness to festering in our society. He presents a solution to the roadblock of resentment by preaching open-mindedness, empathy, humility, and compassion over narrow-minded attitudes. 

Firstly, we must inspect the role our psyche plays in our actions. Blanda achieves this by sharing a rather amusing yet all too relatable story, in which he sits down with a group of close friends to discuss any controversial opinion they wish, and the response to such beliefs is usually a sense of betrayal and disgust. It’s frankly bewildering that such a tightly knitted community of friends can instantaneously break up over a couple of differing opinions, yet, sadly, it’s all too common. Blanda astutely informs us, “In psychology, the idea that everyone is like us is called the “false-consensus bias.” (Blanda, 212). Knowing that this bias can manifest in anyone means we must try even more earnestly to be cooperative and welcoming of varying opinions. We must not fall prey to such primitive psychological traps. 

Similarly to our psyche, the interconnected nature of the internet has amplified the divide among people. The dawn of the internet has bred websites, blogs, and social media sites for every viewpoint. While this well-intended idea might seem beneficial at first, in truth, its results are disastrous. Like bees who cling to their hive for support and survival, we have become dependent on our media to reassure our thoughts. Blanda cautions us, “What is emerging is the worst kind of echo chamber, one where those insides are increasingly convinced that everyone share their worldview, that their ranks are growing when they aren’t.” (Blanda 213). This delusion leads to fierce clashes when anyone disagrees with us. We are in a cocoon, protected and walled off from anything which might differ from us. Once we witness a contradicting opinion, we become startled. We lash out. We face denial. Unable to accept the possibility that the other side could be right. We isolate ourselves from a vast segment of the population, which ends up stunting our personal and professional growth. To help prevent us from falling into such a predicament, Blanda shares an exercise to help strengthen our ability to truly listen, “A dare for the next time you’re in discussion with someone you disagree with: Don’t try to “win.” Don’t try to “convince” anyone of your viewpoint. Don’t score points by mocking them to your peers. Instead, try to “lose.” Hear them out. Ask them to convince you and mean it.” (Blanda, 218). Blanda once again reinforces the notion of showing empathy and compassion towards other people. To enter a conversation with the intent not of winning but learning.

In addition to harming us individually, such bitterness towards the other side impairs society as well. The fundamental issue stems from people arrogantly treating their opinions as facts. This arrogance presents a dilemma. Knowing that facts are universally true, how can you argue against them? It prevents any nuanced debates from occurring. What’s the need to debate when you’re correct and the other side is just wrong? When both sides think this, “Debates” start to resemble a shouting match between two rival football teams. Without the willingness to listen intently to the other side, democracy itself risks endangerment. We revert to a tribal society with an “us” versus “them” mentality. Democracy gets usurped by continual conflict and chaos. No one has ever won a war showing affection for the other side. Traits like open-mindedness play second fiddle to bashing the other side for social media credit or straw-manning a viewpoint. To “win” an argument, people spew misinformation without a second thought about the consequences. Blanda elaborates on this shortcoming, “We share stuff that ignores wider realities, selectively shares information, or is just an outright falsehood” (Blanda 215). With the emergence of rampant misinformation and falsehoods, it becomes tiring to discern fact from fiction. People must determine which two pieces of contradicting information are genuine (known as cognitive dissonance). Controversy becomes more valuable than truth. Truth fades into the background, as both sides share more extreme disinformation on the other side, not realizing they are only deceiving themselves.

The alternative to such a dystopian reality outlined in the previous paragraphs is altering our way of thinking. Dana shares how we can accomplish this — “we won’t truly progress as individuals until we make an honest effort to understand those that are not like us. And you won’t convince anyone to feel the way you do if you don’t respect their position and opinions.” (Blanda 217). The solution is straightforward. Just follow the golden rule— treat people the way wish to be treated. Go into an argument with the possibility you could be wrong, and if you are, don’t lash out. Instead, be compassionate and considerate. Don't be stuck-up. Revising your beliefs isn't a sign of weakness but, conversely, an indication of personal development. If everyone adopted this open mindset, we could shape this planet into one that values inclusivity over the nasty resentment we observe towards those with differing perspectives.

To conclude, it’s evident that we are living through a divided period in history. You turn on the TV, visit a website or read a newspaper and constantly hear conflicting information, sensational headlines, and it might be tempting to join the fray and pick a team. Nevertheless, doing so would be a colossal mistake. It’s crucial to realize that much of this is just noise. Remember that every person has hopes, dreams, desires, and goals, just like yourself. They have a lifetime of experiences that shape their beliefs. Treat them like a person. When conversing, be empathic, open-minded, and show humility. These noble qualities will allow us to conquer the divisive hatred we see towards those with differing beliefs and transform this world into an ideal place for open conversation (a true democracy!).

MLA CITATIONS

1. Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2021). "They say / I say": The moves that matter in academic writing. W.W. Norton & Company.