Wisdom without Zealotry - Fragmentation and Isolation

 “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.” Bertrand Russell

How fortunate are we who have choice in our world. We can choose the food we eat, the entertainment we consume, ideals we follow, and the goals we wish to strive for. In the modern world many wonders have been created for the masses. The fortunate in this world are not starved for choice.

Or are we?

What tribe do you belong to? The left? The right? Capitalist? Socialist? Muslim? Christian? Rock? Country?

Do the words of your tribe define you? Do they make it convenient to put you in a convenient box for others to identify? To build a common structure with other like-minded boxes? Does this make it easier for others to attack those structures? What role does the internet play in this tribe mentality?

Computers can help you with the goal of defining you like no other tool before. Have you not noticed that you will have articles, products or other websites recommended to you? Did you notice that those recommendations become more specific over time? The web browser in your computer is helping to make it convenient to define you and put you in an easily identifiable box. The box of the tribes you belong to. It does this through your web browser history and the cookies that are saved for each site you visit that use them. These websites you visit and products you pick builds up that box just a little bit more. It also makes it easier to give you what you want. It makes it convenient.


Because eventually you will be seeing articles, products and websites that make it seem the world was built for you. It will allow you to have conversations with more like-minded people. Everything will be great.

It makes you feel safe.

And then that jerk wanders in. The one that does not share your views and does not have the same box that you have...they are not of the same tribe. They are the other.

Now you feel unsafe. Your world view is threatened. You want them to get them away from you and the place you have made. Your box is under siege.

Do you lash out? Do you convert? Do you unfriend them or block them? Do you isolate yourself? Do you then seek out only news and information that supports your tribe and world view? Do you seek it out even though it is fake or extreme? Do you claim the other is a lesser being than you thereby making it easier to demonize them? Dehumanize them? Commit acts of hate and violence against them?

Does this not make you more fanatical? More zealous?

Or do you learn? Do you grow? Do you step out of your box to look around? To examine your own box and tribe? Gain wisdom?

Take a breath and dwell on this: Is there anything wrong in going down a road that you know what to expect every single time? It will certainly get to where you want to go but you will never see other paths that will take you to the same place. Maybe it will take you to a worse place but then you will know not to take it in the future. Maybe it will take you to a better place.

If we stay in our boxes, that look like the box everyone else has around us, we will never grow. Never learn. You may hate others that think and act differently. You may never ask them why they like what they like and hate what they hate. You will never know the path that took them there. The reasons for taking that path. You will never start the conversation for mutual understanding. For living together in our society.

I'm not saying that we have to adopt other people's viewpoint but perhaps we can see the world from their position. Walk a mile in their shoes. They are the way they are for a reason and understanding the root of that reason may help them and help you move forward to improve things for all, or at least as many as possible. By doing that, we grow in wisdom a little bit each time because of the efforts we have made.

Is it hard to make the effort? Not really. We have to clear our browser history and cookies in our computer and do the same to our minds. Look at things not with blinders or filters but with open minds and ears. Remove the confirmation bias from the equation. If we do not, we will remain in our tribes...our boxes...and not understand others who are not the same. Dislike and hate those who are not us.

Don't be the fanatic or the zealot. For the fanatic is one who won't change their mind and won't change the subject. Be the wise one.

Inspiration
Wired: Echo Chamber
News Truthiness Graphic