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Debate Score:15
Arguments:11
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 Why do people subscribe to polarized thinking? (7)

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Rotbart(101) pic



Why do people subscribe to polarized thinking?

Why do people subscribe to polarized, partisan thinking when they know that neither party in the US is 100% right all the time, nor do they stick to a specific ethos?

Why do people believe what pundits tell them when they know that they don't tell the objective truth?

Why do people choose their news based on poltical bias when they know that bias does not get you closer to the truth, and overt bias is an indication of poor, yellow journalism?

These things bother me. The people do these things are allowing a political party to think for them rather than do their own research. It is as if they are deliberately letting themselves believe things knowing they are untrue.

We should be concerned with what works, what has been tried before and failed, along with lessons from history and what is pragmatic. If something works, or fixes a problem, we should consider it. Polarized thinking does not consider what would work. 

Can anyone provide any insight to this?

Please do not turn this into a name-calling match.

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8 points

Those who actually subscribe to polarized thinking would actively deny the very fallibility you indicate. These people are largely incapable of thinking for themselves and find it easier to adopt the mantras of people who assert their truth. I actually consider these people to be in the relative minority. I think most people do not actively subscribe to partisan polarization, but see little alternative within a bipartisan system.

People subscribe to polarized thinking because it is in their own interest to do so. What is for the greater good is not relative when the greater good is I. Of course this wrong, but it is the world we live in and I don't see it changing anytime soon.

Rotbart(101) Clarified
1 point

But then how come so many people vote against their interests or jump on a partisan bandwagon that runs counter to their interests? For example, we know people are causing global warming, and there is a ton of scientific evidence that literally proves that, but many people (mostly in the US, which is embarrassing to me as an American), vote for candidates that overtly deny science, which perpetuates the damage to the planet that is harming them (the voter). So, if people voted in their interests, why would they vote for people who are okay with destroying their planet, or vote for people whose policies are known to not work? Know what I mean? People (particularly polarized right wingers) literally go against their own interests.

Thewayitis(4071) Disputed
1 point

But then how come so many people vote against their interests or jump on a partisan bandwagon that runs counter to their interests?

This happens because a party or candidate represents more than one interest such as global warming and the economy for example. It is extremely hard to boost the economy while mandating new environmental rules. It takes money to make a cleaner world. What one has to do is decide what is more important, short range or long range objectives. If one cannot buy groceries, one does care much how the world will be in ten years.

1 point

How do you know that they are aware of what they're doing?

Rotbart(101) Clarified
1 point

I assume they know because basic facts are out there, and most people have all of mankind's knowledge in their pockets, so I assume that people fact-check what pundits say. To not realize that partisan thinking is fallacious is to ignore facts that are easily available. Know what I mean? There really is no excuse for ignorance in today's world.

ProLogos(2793) Clarified
2 points

I blame schools. Teachers, Principals etc, inadvertently teach kids to believe what is being said, without questioning the validity .

I blame Church too.

"Don't think! Just believe!"

1 point

With this, I agree, and for this reason I do not vote. I feel the same about every issue, and would not put one to the back burner to see another one succeed.

Are we talking about anyone who is not an independent or are we talking about people who blindly follow one party?

Rotbart(101) Clarified
1 point

I posted this with the "blindly following" people in mind. It absolutely boggles my mind that someone would believe that their party is 100% objectively right, and believes exactly what the pundits tell them without doing any research.