I Used to Like You Until...: (How Binary Thinking Divides Us)

by Kat Timpf

As I mentioned in the last chapter, these types of interactions are less conversations than they are a perpetual volleying of “I know I am, but what are you.” It can go something like this: It is so messed up how Joe Biden said he was not involved in his son Hunter’s business dealings, and now it is coming out that Hunter called him twenty times during business meetings! Oh yeah? Well, Trump was convicted of thirty-four felony counts and is facing even more! Well, why hasn’t Joe Biden been charged, especially since it also came out that Biden sent thousands of emails using fake names, sometimes to discuss Hunter’s business dealings! Well, Trump used fake names too! Well, that was just to brag about himself to reporters! Biden was using his position of power to make money for his son! Oh yeah? Well, Trump used his position of power to try to overthrow the election! Jan. 6 almost dismantled our democracy! Oh yeah? If you hate riots so much, why aren’t you upset about the riots in the summer of 2020 that cost billions in damages! You would smear all black people as rioters, you racist! You hate the police! If someone tries to kill you, I’d better not see you calling the cops! And so on and so forth. Or rather, not forth. It doesn’t go forth; it doesn’t go anywhere. It’s a pathetic replacement for actual discourse, and it’s happening constantly between people on each side. People are not examining or even listening to what the other person is saying; they’re too busy thinking ...