Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Rightnow,anyonewhoisoffendedaboutanything—whetherit’sthefactthatabookaboutracismwasassignedinauniversityclass,orthatChristmastreeswerebannedatthelocalmall,orthefactthattaxeswereraisedhalfapercentoninvestmentfunds—feelsasthoughthey’rebeingoppressedinsomewayandthereforedeservetobeoutragedandtohaveacertainamountofattention.

           Thecurrentmediaenvironmentbothencouragesandperpetuatesthesereactionsbecause,afterall,it’sgoodforbusiness.ThewriterandmediacommentatorRyanHolidayreferstothisas“outrageporn”:ratherthanreportonrealstoriesandrealissues,themediafinditmucheasier(andmoreprofitable)tofindsomethingmildlyoffensive,broadcastittoawideaudience,generateoutrage,andthenbroadcastthatoutragebackacrossthepopulationinawaythatoutragesyetanotherpartofthepopulation.Thistriggersakindofechoofbullshitpingingbackandforthbetweentwoimaginarysides,meanwhiledistractingeveryonefromrealsocietalproblems.It’snowonderwe’remorepoliticallypolarizedthaneverbefore.

           Thebiggestproblemwithvictimhoodchicisthatitsucksattentionawayfromactualvictims.It’sliketheboywhocriedwolf.Themorepeopletherearewhoproclaimthemselvesvictimsovertinyinfractions,theharderitbecomestoseewhotherealvictimsactuallyare.

           Peoplegetaddictedtofeelingoffendedallthetimebecauseitgivesthemahigh;beingself-righteousandmorallysuperiorfeelsgood.