When did we lose nuance?

Maybe humans were never good at nuance. But we're not getting any better at it either.

A quick glance at any comments section (because who can stand more than a glance) will tell you all you need to know. Suddenly, it seems as though everyone is all or nothing. With everything.

Criticize anything the government is doing? You must hate America - you should leave. Vent about your job? Why don't you just get a new job then? Neighborhood isn't ideal? You could always move. 

As if any of these solutions were easy. 

And it's not just the big stuff. Any opinion or preference is met with "but this other thing is great too - why do you hate this other thing?" Well, either I did try that other thing and didn't enjoy it, or I do enjoy that thing and simply have a preference for something else. Does anyone have the patience to read long explanations like that though? Rarely.

Seems like every reaction has to be extreme. Marginalized people want to be treated with respect as human beings? "You can't say anything anymore without getting cancelled!" 

Do not get me started on "cancel culture," by the way. It's a myth that needs to be blasted into oblivion along with the concept of "alpha males." Neither are real, but those are topics for other blogs.

I think it's natural to go for those easy answers though. Especially after the past few years. After all, the problems have gotten pretty huge, and there's very little the average person can do to change any of it. It's easy to feel overwhelmed, ineffective, and powerless. So it's comforting to know that, just maybe, you can change one thing. We're all trying to control what we can in our own lives.

My problem is when those attempts turn into dichotomies and a need to control other people too.  I spent too many years with dichotomies. I have spent several years now working on seeing nuance, other people's perspectives, and gaining empathy. Is it too much to ask that everyone else make the same effort? 

I hope not.