It is really difficult to keep an open mind on things and it’s all too easy to find yourself in an echo chamber because you have surrounded yourself with like minded people. I’m always mentally trying to pull myself away from a closed position towards an open one. It’s something I do every day, several times a day. I know I don’t always succeed, but I do constantly try. I sometimes don’t realize I’ve failed until someone says something or I hear another view point or whatever, but it does bring it home to me that I’ve made assumptions when perhaps I shouldn’t.
I’d like to think other people do the same. I know some people do – I see it in their communication all the time. Maybe this is because I have surrounded myself with people of a similar viewpoint. A quick look on social media under any politically charged hashtag and you will quickly see that lots of people don’t work this way. They don’t seem to be able to consider or admit another point of view into their thinking. They don’t even seem willing to try. How can they be sure their viewpoint is correct, if they don’t expose it to criticism or reevaluation though?
What I’d like to know though (and I don’t know how you could really find out) is how widespread these people are? Are they the majority? Are they just a vocal minority? Does social media just make them more visible? They are people that make me feel unsettled and uneasy. I think that I wouldn’t like to encounter them. Maybe they are complete pussy cats in really life though and the buff attitude on social media is all just an act. I kind of hope it is to be honest – it would certainly make me feel more comfortable. What do you think? Maybe they just let it all out on social media and then regret it later offline, maybe they just have such strong self belief in their opinions they can’t understand why anyone would think differently. I’d really like to know.