Separate Realities-Bob Davis Podcast 820

Separate Realities-Bob Davis Podcast 820

My friend recently said these days he feels like he woke up in a separate reality. We’ll talk about why we all feel this way in Separate Realities-Bob Davis Podcast 820.

Triggers

In addition my friend said he feels like he doesn’t know his friends anymore. He has to be careful with everything he says. It’s all too easy to provoke or ‘trigger’ people into highly emotional reactions.

Media Machine

In Separate Realities-Bob Davis Podcast 820 I talk about why we feel this way. Especially relevant is a twenty-four seven media machine. Present on all different platforms, all the time.

People We Would Never Know On Social Media

Moreover we are confronted with the emotions of those we might not have thought about at all, were it not for social media.

Political Media Matrix

In contrast it isn’t the pictures of our neighbors car or kids that’s causing this experience of living in separate realities. It’s what the political and media sphere has done with digital media technology.

Confusion Reigns

As a result of this matrix of lies and half truths we are more confused and emotionally triggered than ever before.

Slaves To A Web Of Lies

Consequently we do not realize we have become slaves to politicians and their web of lies. The media is a willing servant to them.

Your Feelings Aren’t Wrong

In conclusion it’s not my role to tell people how to live or to talk about the same thing every day. If you feel like you’re living in a separate reality from say, four or five, or ten years ago, you are not wrong.

The question is what we’re going to do about it.

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Separate Realities-Bob Davis Podcast 820

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Podcast 602-Political Fighting Doesn't Make Civil Society

Podcast 602-Political Fighting Doesn’t Make Civil Society

Fighting and Arguing

A presidential press conference that had the look of a Dino De Laurentiis movie. Angry tweets. Arguments about whether the president is a narcissist or psychotic. These days the argument is the thing. Division. Confusion. Anger. Frustration with the fact that everything is political. A friend said recently, “When civil society breaks down everything becomes political”. The more we fight about politics the less we know. Argument and rhetoric have replaced substantive discourse. This idea forms the basis of Podcast 602-Political Fighting Doesn’t Make Civil Society.

What is Civil Society

People think Civil Society these days is political action groups. Angry protests. Social media rants. Angry calls to talk radio. Everyone wants the silver bullet argument. We want to be the guy on TV that ‘takes it to them’. This is not civil society.  In Podcast 602-Political Fighting Doesn’t Make Civil Society.

Stop Yelling and Start Building A Community

Civil Society is community. It is distinct from government and business. Civil Society is individuals working together to solve problems, build community and be good citizens. People who have learned from experience to build consensus to get things done. Civil Society is the core of your town, village, city, county and state.

Fighting and Arguing Does Not A Warrior Make

Do you show up to set the chairs up and make the coffee for the community meeting? Help your neighbors? Attend boring public meetings no one else cares about?  Are you one of those people who responds to calls for help in the community regardless of where they come from?. Are you willing to work with people you may not agree with politically? Show genuine concern for others through your actions? You’re the real warrior. Commentators and people who imitate them are not warriors and they are not leaders. We’ll talk about it in Podcast 602-Political Fighting Doesn’t Make Civil Society

Eroding Civil Society

There are times when political action is called for. When people who have different points of view try to gather people to their cause. These can be bitter contests. Bitter feelings linger after contests that inevitably produce winners and losers. These days people won’t convene with anyone they don’t agree with. Discussions descend into bitter screaming matches on Social Media, Talk Radio, and Cable TV News. The media cultivates and encourages anti social behavior. Friendships are ended. Familial relationships are strained.

Don’t Argue

A true warrior doesn’t yell and scream. A leader is a good citizen people trust. These are people who understand people of like mind have to work to see that their ideas gain support. Protests and rallies serve a purpose but they are just a starting point. You don’t win in the rally. You win because you can work behind the scenes to build support for a concept, idea, or a solution to a problem.

It May Not Be Working Anymore

Recent studies show the stress levels of Americans increasing since the election. Not just the left. People on political right show the same kinds of intensifying stress levels. This kind of stress can’t be sustained. We might be seeing the end of the efficacy of rhetorical argument to fuel a movement. People may have just about had it with all the shouting and arguing regardless of where it is coming from. Maybe rebuilding civil society is a good first step.

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