Pick a Side

How we got here, I don’t know, but here we are. Our society makes you believe you must pick a side.
“So—which side are you on? Pick. Pick a side while I record a video of whatever you say that I plan to upload to social media. Pick! You are either one of us, or you are one of them!”

And the mainstream media thrives when groups of people get pissed off by the opinions of others. Journalism, where unbiassed information is presented for the benefit of everyone, is gone. The Cronkite era is over! These days, facts are omitted so political points can be made. Soundbites are taken out of context. Politicians are cheered by their side as they fight like children. The more outrageous their actions, the more viewers tune in. It’s about money. Who would you guess coined the phrase, “must see TV?” A producer at NBC!

When I refer to TV News and the Cronkite era, I’m dating myself. He was the anchor for the CBS Evening News for years as I was growing up. I had three choices, NBC, ABC, or CBS. That was it. There were no more channels. I could turn on the news on any of my three channels and find the same news. The story told on CBS was the same story I’d find on the other two channels. Facts were offered only when at least two sources would corroborate the details. If they “got it wrong,” they would acknowledge their error and apologize. Imagine that! When a newscaster would offer an opinion, it was clearly labeled as “an opinion piece.” You find opinions everywhere, but now those opinions are offered as indisputable facts. How can anyone expect to always know the difference?

Social Media began as free platforms without pop-ups. Now they rake in billions of dollars selling advertising. The more people subscribe, the more they can charge advertisers. Shocking comments and the sensational get attention and get clicks, and clicks are money. Social Media thrives on conflict—regular people don’t. Conflict online has created innumerable barriers—even inside family structures. I know a mom, one of the most selfless people I have ever known, who “unfriended” her son on Facebook because of their differing political views. We have all seen it—the damage caused by conflict!

There is another danger. As you use social media or when you are watching TV, you will find commentators you completely disagree with. You decide the entire platform is filled with views from the opposing side, so you choose never to tune into that channel or log into that platform again. You seek information that confirms what you believe. You watch and think, “Yes!” when your views are shared and verbalized by the commentator. You feel good when they agree with you. The more you expose yourself to only that side of the controversy, the more you believe your viewpoint is the only right way to look at things. You are slowly indoctrinated—radicalized.

Society is changing, and we continue to grow more divided. We need solutions. The key to escaping the conflict that consumes so much of our conscious thought is enhancing our communication skills. Questions are the answer. The right question at the right time can offer insight into what people are thinking. Knowing their thoughts, you can always go in the right direction. Never stop cultivating your communication skills!