Someone clever coined the term, "Conspiracy Theorists versus Virtue Signalers" as an reductio ad absurdum fallacy, a way of describing what US politics are now like. I'm not sure if we can actually call it a "fallacy" on account of the fact that absurdity now seems to rule the day and is perhaps a more objective form of reality than we wish to admit.
With all our diversions and divisions it does indeed seem as if one could reduce the nature of the problem into two opposing teams gathering on the sidelines, the Virtue Signalers versus the Conspiracy Theorists. For the record I am cheering for the Conspiracy Theorists on account of the fact that they get it right far more often than the Virtue Signalers do.
Virtue is simply one of those things that if you have to tell people you have it, you don't. Humility is a good example. Let me make an exception for God throwing a wrench in things however, and stirring the pot. He did say in Numbers 12:3, "Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth." I like that, it makes me laugh. I delight in those times when God just shakes up all our preconceived notions and sends us down a rabbit hole that helps lead to greater understanding.
Nothing quite like an arrogant screaming match over who is most humble of all time....
I'm really not quite sure how we got here or when this idea that everything contradictory to the desired narrative was a conspiracy theory, but here we are. I'm usually pretty easy going, I like all kinds of people, but I notice even I have gotten more rigid and entrenched. A woman recently told me, "I really just think we should stop with the conspiracy theories and trust in our government more fully," and I was like, No. Not only do we now disagree politically on such a fundamental level, I no longer trust anything that comes out of your mouth. Not only can't we find any common ground, I now have no desire to even attempt it. In fact, for my own safety I'm just going to cross the street if I see you coming. You clearly ain't right in the head...
Harsh but true. Those are exactly the thoughts that went through my mind all lickety split.
I do not look at people wearing two masks outdoors with compassion and understanding. I'm not apologizing for my post traumatic stress, either. Less than two years ago people were wishing death upon me and demanding I get fired and/or arrested, preferably both. It's not my fault that I've developed some trust issues.
I consider it kind of a basic, fundamental, foundation of being an America, that we do not trust out government. I believe our founding fathers did not trust our government, hence all their checks and balances, the balance of powers, the 3 branches of government. I cannot think of anything less American than the notion that we should all just all unconditionally trust our government. Alas, these day anything expressing possible doubt or potential questions regarding their actions is simply labeled a "conspiracy theory" and promptly dismissed.
Alas, I cannot and will not change. I suspect that being an American is simply hardwired into my DNA. "Trust" and "government" do not even belong in the same sentence. The best you can hope for are moments of fleeting peace, surprising occurrences of public service, and occasional season of rare idealism when somebody suddenly remembers that we the people actually do exist.
It's always sketchy at best.
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