Discussion Why is everything political now?

[vexi]

Why is everything perceived and altered to be political?

And I'm not talking about politics in general. What I mean is topics and opinions that are not political in themselves, but are often presented as one in media.

Or how people expect you to have an opinion on politics.

 

[epic]

What I mean is topics and opinions that are not political in themselves, but are often presented as one in media.

Can you give an example so we can better understand where you are coming from ?

 

[AsAboveSoBelow]

because everything is indeed political; from the interpersonal to the relational (between groups of people, nations & states, and international).
Politics is not just something who we vote for during the election. It is the state of things in the place where we're living in, the systems that are affecting people's lives.

As such, some topics/groups (especially minority groups) would be highly politicised to the point when're reduced to merely talking points/soundbites by politicians (discounting the fact that when they debate about a certain issue, that they're actually real issues currently impacting real people's lives).

Some of us can have the luxury of being apathetic - especially if we belong to the status quo -, hence questions like this exist. But for some individuals and people who belong to minority group(s), it's not really nice to be political pawns, and also these "politics" and the systems that came out of it (policies, legislations etc.) will literally have an impact on how well they can live their lives and participate in the society.

With the media, they have their own interests depending on whose side they're on. The common tactic and strategy is framing an issue so that there's a boogeyman to be blamed for everything (according to what's trending at the moment). It's a typical feature of divide and conquer pal.

 

[oneeyed]

Just like what asabovesovelow stated, it's a divide and conquer strategy. Make everything look either "far right" or "far left" and the common people will fight amongst themselves being distracted to what's going on behind the scenes. Like the saying goes "follow the money", if you want to know why something is the way it is or a particular decision/policy made that doesn't make sense, look who will benifet the most financially and you got your answer.

 

[novem]

Politicians know your fears. When someone appeals to your fears you know/think it is political.
Insurances used to do the same thing. Now it evolved.

 

[NoLoveNoHope]

I only have my own politic takes that are important to me.

I'll list a few examples;
- Voluntary Euthanasia (right to die, no pro-life prevention)
- Trans healthcare (HRT, surgery etc) is a RIGHT

Personally I like libertarian ideas so I support things like not controlling as many drugs. I think that way of thinking would be quite popular here.

Although I do dislike politics in general - feels like you always get insulted and heated arguments over which puppet figure is better. I generally don't talk about politics except when I see a law or idea that interests me. There's a law in Germany which prevents prisoners from getting charged with extra time for escaping, it is considered human nature to want freedom and escape thus it will not be punished.

Another reason I don't like politics or having it shoved in my face is because I hate 99% of politicians.

 

[JealousOfTheElderly]

What everyone has said above ^^

 

[Pluto]

Others have said it well.

I will add that the situation has gotten far worse in the social media era for a number of reasons.

'Trolls' have become a powerful political force by easily disseminating divisive and incendiary content that would have been denied exposure under traditional media models. On average, the far right-wing has fewer moral inhibitions to relentlessly pursue power at any cost (e.g. blatant disinformation, conspiracy theories, 'alternative facts', etc.).

Social media algorithms actually promote phony or aggressive content, as its captivating nature keeps users online consuming advertisements. As more people have become desensitised to fringe content or radicalised into rabbit holes, the stances of mainstream media outlets have shifted towards the extremes of the Overton window.

People are in this modus operandi are reduced to tribalism, which represents the most primitive tendency of the human (and chimpanzee) species with a vast, if bloody, evolutionary history behind it. Our cultured and polite societies are a thin skin of civility over a primitive animal species which is easily penetrated by real or imagined existential crises.

The best advice is to try and engage with other people as humans rather than as members of a tribe. It is made challenging when everything, often including basic facts, will be a trigger for one group or another. And many people's very sense of identity is entangled into one tribe or another. Perhaps the key is developing immunity to triggers, yet sensitivity to the triggers of others.

 

[RoundaboutResolved]

Why is everything perceived and altered to be political?

Idk, but it's f@cking annoying

 

[Valky]

Idk, but it's f@cking annoying

I know right. Let alone the euroversion song contest. All about politics. Incredibly sad to see talent being overshadowed by political conflicts.