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knowltok's avatar

An unfortunate reminder that tribalism, motivated reasoning, rationalization, etc. are not confined to the right. They are very much human traits.

I wonder if you were to fully examine your left wing family member's anti-maga position if you would find the same reasoning and rationale you used to come to the same conclusion or something a bit more knee-jerk and tribal...

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KN in NC's avatar

FarLeft sees MagaAdjacent as wrong on many things but also agrees with MagaAdjacent that Obama/Clinton/Biden/Pelosi are all terrible, only for different reasons. MagaAdjacent consumes the worst far-right stuff (Fox now and then, in between being mad at them for being insufficiently right-wing); The Spectator, Epoch Times, Washington Times, Ben Shapiro, etc), and thus spouts far-right social positions (lately anti-trans, anti-gay, anti-worker, climate change not something we should address [at least doesn't say it's a hoax]) that FarLeft and I can agree are anathema. FarLeft reads Jacobin, is young but post-college and extremely online, so there is probably some tribalism there related to the X/Twitterverse they are involved in.

I totally agree that motivated reasoning and tribalism are human traits, and I am sure my positions are also influenced by them. Although, like all humans, I also would like to think I am just a reasonable thinker, motivated only by The Truth!

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knowltok's avatar

"I also would like to think I am just a reasonable thinker, motivated only by The Truth!"

You, me, and about 6-7 of our fellow bulwarkers (when they agree with me).

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Oct 13, 2023
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knowltok's avatar

When they agree with me!

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William's avatar

ThatтАЩs a small tribe.

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knowltok's avatar

We make up for our small numbers by always being right.

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