This is MY side! That’s YOUR side!
This is my side, you stay on your side!
My side, your side! My side, your side!

Stark (Farscape S01E19)

It's interesting viewing that scene from Farscape, it essentially sums up the way the world works. Things have probably always been like that but we just lacked the means to spread information as far and as quickly as we can now. Now we get an instant response, instant outrage regarding any event.

Over the years we'd look at other countries and see a clear divide between the vying factions, eventually arriving at a conclusion as to which group is the good guys. In the local scope, however, the lines haven't been as clearly defined in the public eye as they have been today.

The internet was the next big thing. It promised instant access to unlimited information you could use to learn new things and better yourself. What was once a symbol of progress, a step in the right direction for improving ourselves has since been relegated to the likes of cat videos, social media and wasting time.

The marvel that grants users access to libraries of information has somehow fostered a culture where people don't seem interested in learning new things or more importantly, venturing beyond their comfort zones.

People like to describe themselves as being "open minded," but in practice, in reality, they are not. It appears their minds are only open to things they innately approve of, possibly reaching their approved conclusion in an effort to be part of a tribe, to have a team. They would rather live inside their echo chamber, their comfort zone, instead of being curious of what's beyond their self-imposed boundaries.

The idea of researching a topic and arriving to an opinion independent of influence and approval from the social group is looked down upon. Doing so makes you an outsider, the other, the enemy.

This belittlement or dehumanization of "the other" creates an atmosphere where it is easy to lob accusations of all stripes at those they consider an enemy. This mindset of occupying the moral high ground combined with the support and validation from their peers gives a sense of empowerment to launch their attacks with little opposition. In their eyes these actions are more than justified.

As they hurl allegations toward the "others" with the hope of defaming, destroying but ultimately silencing their foes, these perpetually outraged warriors seem to lose all semblance of self-awareness. They themselves have become the embodiment of the very things they claim to despise.

They have become the fascists, the racists, the sexists. The actual fonts of hateful speech. They have become the unruly mob, organizing and plotting, stalking their prey for targeted harassment and actual physical violence. Leveraging their numbers to destroy the livelihoods of their target. In the end they revel in their successes as actual oppressors, all the while claiming victimhood status.

Reality is dead. Long live hypocrisy.