is it any wonder though

look at those at the top (Trump in the US, Putin in Russia, the "grown ups" during the Brexit campaigns and negotiations, how quickly various regimes across the world have latched onto 'fake news' to dismiss criticism). When the leadership condones and normalises such bipartisanship and polarisation, it's going to play out in wider society too.

I think we're at an interesting point in society. The "you wouldn't say this in real life" is possibly one cause of it all. Society 'is' kinder, many once normal opinions 'are' thankfully now marginalised, we're generally less violent, more 'PC'. And yet we're still human. So the emotions and feelings that used to be channelled in those directions are still there. Social media (especially the relative anonymity some of it provides) just provides a new outlet for it.

And I think we're in a very politically tumultuous period. Not that long ago in this country's history, some of the venom and infighting around the BRexit debate, for instance, would have been played out in riots and violent protests. Not many hundreds of years ago, the various factions would have been settling the matter through push of pike. I think the divisions in society at the moment are that deep. But thankfully we have different ways of venting our frustration and arguments now, but that's what we are seeing played out across social media and dinner table discussions.

Posted By: CWC, Oct 7, 10:42:01