Sometimes I feel like we're living in 1984. That is, the Orwellian version, not the real life version that happened 36 years ago. I say this because increasingly I see people silenced because of their opinions, bullied for their thoughts, and a general sense that if you do not say that you love Big Brother, and that Eurasia has always been at war with Oceania, you must be some kind of horrible bigot that must be erased from whichever online platform you are using.
The fact is there is never going to be a consensus about any issue, especially those that cause controversy. Where there may be people with polarising opinions on either side, but also people trying to navigate a middle way. It's often these trying to navigate a middle way that get caught in the cross-fire and before you know it, the cancel-culture idiots are down on them like a tonne of bricks.
I have for a long time thought that the best way to persuade others that yours is the best path is by reasoned debate. That when concepts which perhaps are quite a leap from the status quo maybe time needs to be taken to gently, and reasonably, persuade people that actually this is the right way, rather than hitting people round the head with a metaphorical sledge hammer.
Your message may be right, but the way how you deliver it is also very important and can be the difference between people suddenly realising "oh, yes, I see what you mean" or thinking you're an obnoxious shit who's best ignored.
I see people on places like Twitter who are clearly on the right side of the argument, but the tactics they use end up antagonising many people, and rather than drawing people in to their cause they drive them away. And that's very sad indeed. Similarly, the willingness to insult, and abuse, those who hold rationally thought opinions that don't chime with your own.
There are always people who will disagree with you. People who do not share your opinion. The question is, how do you react?
Personally, I don't care if you love Big Brother or not...
