On politics, fake news, and being a decent person

Almost nobody wakes up thinking "I will go screw over other people today". Most people have an inherent urge to act for the better as they see fit with the knowledge they have at the time. It's the differences in points of view that make it seem like somebody's action is a direct aggression against someone. That said, we'd all be better off being more considerate of other people. 

As a society, we're not better off without the internet and fast media, but we may not have adjusted to it as quickly as it has emerged. Be mindful of how your social media and dopamine scrolling habits impact you, and take action if you don't like what you see.

Most people are not savvy on the details, or even the dependencies of political decision-making. Most people are just rooting for their team. Laying out "the facts" rarely make people change their minds about anything they believe in. Don't hate on political views, but don't accept bad behavior regardless what it's based on. 

Beware of anyone who says something is caused by everybody in a political party, an ethnic group, or other broad demographic. It's an intellectual shortcut to point blame and try to find out a common denominator in skin color, where you live, what you eat for breakfast, etc. Be smarter than to fall in that trap. 

Don't let yourself get pulled into fighting, or turned against other people. Discuss, mitigate, and defuse volatile behaviour. Or walk away. 

Be critical of all news and information, and avoid using a single source. Examine your sources of information, and double-check particularly emotion-laden news stories. Understand that humans are wired to focus our attention to negative news, and that news outlets' livelihood depends on dramatic coverage. Zoom out and look at the big picture. 

There is no absolute truth. Understand that things look different when seen from other points of view. Everybody is always operating with their best current understanding based on the information, experiences, and values at that point in time. 

Understand that everybody is fighting a battle you can't see. Always be kind.