Talking Past Each Other

 At the time of this writing, my social media is blowing up, and that tells you nothing. Social media is constantly blowing up with the latest issue. If you post something unrelated, someone will try to twist it to their pet issue. 

I read Proverbs at least once a year, and it’s like Solomon had the internet in mind. 

“The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness.”

PROVERBS 12:23

Does this post count? Oh boy. 

“Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.” Proverbs 23:9

“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.” Proverbs 13:3

Or get you canceled. 

Where am I going with all this? 

Right now, in this relativistic society, reality is denied, and people are forcing their own meanings into words. So you can say the exact words but are speaking in a different language. 

People are coming from different worldviews, their map of reality. They may as well be from another country with the culture shock. 

Unpopular opinion, don’t cancel me, but Americans have gotten so individualistic and hard-headed that once we get set in our ways, we reject all reason. 

We’re very good at rationalizing, though. The Right and the Left. 

Another issue with the disunity of discourse is it is very easy to other people. Those people, not like us, are different, therefore less than. It’s rampant. 

Jesus said, “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” 

I’m not seeing much love, and honestly, I’m not feeling like giving much love. I want to turn loose online with both guns blazing like I used to. 

I don’t think it changed a single person’s mind. It only attracted like-minded individuals. Hence, creating the bandwagon effect, confirmation bias, and feeding presuppositions. 

Seriously, check out cognitive biases and honestly look at how many you’re affected by. 

I can see why the Essenes left society in ancient Judaism. 

Running into the arena slinging opinion and vitriol is easy and useless. Ain’t nobody got time for that. So stay skeptical, but not cynical, with a healthy dose of reasonableness.