The Info Silo – a new reality. Yet vote we must!

If you get your news from only selective sources and give no credence to others, your reality will be formed by those ‘feeds’ you choose to feed you.

“Back in the days” most of us got our news from a select limited number of very similar sources. The folks that opted out of mass media were considered cultist and fringe.

Today, as the news sources have multiplied exponentially, we have little choice but to choose where we get our news. And -whether willing or unwilling – consistent, persistent, exclusive exposure to those select sources we choose is a major determinant factor on how we view the world.

For example, my choice of news-feed is a combination of the following: Reuters, BBC, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, Politico, Fortune, Fox Business, and Steven Colbert. I do routinely try to visit other sources, though I find myself increasingly incredulous of their reporting – and increasingly favoring my limited source. That is, I too am guilty of this balkanization of realities.

Having said that, imagine if your sources of news were – by choice – limited to Breitbart, Fox News, the President’s Tweet, and the White House news site.

Take a fresh look at the Tweet postings below. Imagine this to be your only source of news. Imagine if this is what forms you, day in and day out.

It then becomes possible to understand why a segment of America remains supporting this President and blaming everything on everybody else – never him. It then becomes increasingly clear how difficult – if not impossible – it is to engage these Trumpistas in any semblance of a coherent, sensible, respectful conversation.

Running the risk of getting theological, if logos thinking is scientific, critical thinking relying on facts and mythos thinking is expansive, mythological exploratory thinking, then there must be a third way of thinking that we are seeing today… A thinking that is constrictive, seeks certitude over facts, and provides the assurance of group think. It is that third way of thinking that is going on with the Trumpistas… They are incapable of logos thinking. They dare not venture into mythos. They choose to stay small, in a clear box, unwilling (afraid?) to venture into certitude of critical inquire or the ambiguity of mythology… Thus communicating with them is challenging, to say the least…

Thus, the likelyhood of convincing these committed Trumpistas to “see the (our) light” is a fruitless exercise. Therefore: The fight is no longer about convincing these folks to change. The fight is all about getting out the vote.

Our energy can infinitively be better employed in talking with the 2/3 of America that are not Trumpistas:

There is still hope for the 1/3 of America that while they may align with Trump’s politically convenient policies, are becoming increasingly annoyed by his behavior.

And, probably more efficient, would be to focus on the Americans who oppose Trump but did not vote: The 1/2 of 1/3 of America who are opposed to Trump. This population is most apt to realize that their vote could have made a difference and will consider – with our prodding – to vote vote vote.

VERY IMPORTANT: Remember that you have friends, family, and acquaintences in other part of the US as well… Prod them. Call them. Text them. Starting NOW. If they are not registered: Get them to register. It’s easy!

https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote

Therefore: Please please please talk up voting in November starting now…

But, focus your efforts; be efficient. Let’s get to those amigos who we know might have not voted but would have voted with us if they had. Let’s find those willing voters who want to vote against this madness and nightmare.

And, if you need some encouragement, review these Tweets below from the Trumpistas world and ask yourself: If this was all I see day in and day out – this and nothing else – how would I view the world? (Note that these Tweets are not the worst. They are intended to show the manipulate half – and incomplete – truths (and lies) that the Trumpista media uses to brainwash their troops…  Again: Changing these folks mind may not be worth it… Just let them know: We’ll see you at the ballot box… And, make sure you work to get folks registered to vote, staring now! #RESIST

 

 

 

POSTSCRIPT: As I was finishing this post a friend send me a Facebook message about this article that has come out. Wow! Exact same subject matter – but obviously written much more professionally:

https://thedailybanter.com/2018/02/study-shows-trump-supporters-now-basically-unreachable/?platform=hootsuite

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