Becoming a Phoenix

Whenever something controversial happens, particularly something that spreads wildly on social media, there is a polarization that occurs between those who support that controversy and those that do not.  This is natural, the whole point of the definition of controversy is that it represents something that contradicts what is deemed to be normal or what the majority believe.  The trouble with the way people react in these situations is that inevitably there is the assertion that is made "if you don't agree with me you agree with them" which is a logical fallacy, there are very few topics of discussion in life that are black and white and can be reduced to simple binary choice.  Advocating a third, fourth, fifth, or whatever ordinal view point is something that is supposed to be a natural progression of discourse, this progression however has died.  There is no longer a tolerance for moderation or for view points that deviate from our own but do not agree with that of the opposing side.

Social media goes through waves of controversy where issues arise, those who are proponents make inflammatory statements, those who are opponents make equally inflammatory statements in response, and the whole discussion becomes so heated that anyone who takes up any position that doesn't conform to either extreme is therefore lead to be burned in the crossfire.

This extreme polarization creates a conflict which those in the centre do not support.  The conflict rages, each side going to further extremes in opposite directions, with the centre growing as those from each side bow out of the fray when their comrades pursue an extremism they are not willing to support.  The same issue of being caught in the crossfire pervades however and whilst the centre eventually becomes the majority once more, they are almost always silent due to the exhaustion they have with the conflict.  The result is that those of each opposing side become even more vocal and dominate the discussion.  Those in the centre stand back and watch both sides fight until there is nothing left.  Only when the conflict has run out of fuel for the fire do those in the centre step forward and take control once again.

This has happened throughout history and you can see the snap backs and the progression that resulted as a consequence of the restoration of civility and reason.  The trouble is this only happens when the conflict runs its course and when both sides have sufficient fuel to continue their fight that can lead to intensity, which looking at human history led to some of the darkest days that humanity has endured.  No-one wants to endure such darkness but in a world where moderation is actively opposed by people who deem any deviation from their point of view as betrayal, we're left living in an extremist society.

If this is not the world you want to live in then together we need to be vocal, we need to step forward and say "I don't agree with either of you" and let those on each side fight it out, and when they turn on you, refuse to "debate" the issue on the grounds that it is not a debate it is an argument and that neither side is willing to see any point of view than their own.  This will result in being hit in the crossfire, but that is the choice you have to make, or choose to remain silent and watch the world burn until the ashes remain and try and rebuild.  Like a Phoenix you have to accept that fire is fate and ultimately fire cleanses.  It is only from the ashes that you can be reborn.