Trite, simple, superficial statements delivered with snarky tones and eyerolls require very little effort. In the midst of a difficult, complicated conversation – it is definitely the lazy, easy way out.
While perhaps entertaining and possibly drawing a snicker or two, the smug retort meant to demean and derail does nothing to advance a thought or enrich the conversation. It does what it is intended to do, make the opposing view look stupid and “less than.”
And yet, this style of banter seen in popular opinion shows has become the model of success. From the bickering daily joust on The View to Hannity (the number one cable show), Carlson and Ingraham’s “everyone is evil but those who agree with me” shows – the underlying message is clear.
Humility, listening to learn something new, asking honest questions with an open heart, agreeing to disagree and any discourse which requires depth and intellectual honesty – will not bring you the highest ratings.
However, cut people off and tell them how they are wrong, laugh in their face and twist their words and make a snarky remark, roll your eyes repeatedly to show your disdain, constantly use the word “they” to describe anyone who doesn’t agree and you can have the number one show on cable television. Make your repeated use of the proverbial “those guys” the “bad guys” and win the nightly ratings, enflame and agitate being the name of the game.
So whose fault is this? It is 100% ours. The more we tune in the more dollars roll in. The more money a personality is able to generate, the more it reinforces the style he or she is proudly perfecting. It has always been about the mighty dollar.
The danger, as I see it, is the toxic fumes these shows are generating and we are all inhaling. While we may consider ourselves to be completely objective and our depth of character to be impenetrable – the damage is being done to our psyche, our collective soul. I witness the side effects every day when I read comments on my news feed on Facebook.
The constant undertone of tribal warfare is slowly eroding away at our civility and ability to engage in respectful differences of opinion. And the constant injection of hatred for whoever is on “the other side” is the destructive force which historically, inevitably leads to war.
We are the only ones who can change this. One by one, conversation by conversation, the responsibility for our future is up to each of us.
What are we as a society willing to tolerate? Will we hold anyone accountable for repeated exposed lies or for propagating explosive divisive conspiracy theories? Will our sheepish gullibility and insatiable appetite for churlish debate be the beginning of the end of civility?
I just can’t support it anymore. I listen for a moment to learn – when the negative tones and demeaning accusations begin to fly . . .so do I.
Thoughtfulness, love, kindness, humility, reasonability, compassion and all things lovely . . .may these things never go out of style.