The Great Debate

I think we, who spend significant amounts of time in the realm of online platforms, are all painfully aware, and are regularly confronted with the poor state of online communication; while the web has closely connected all corners of the earth, thereby significantly increasing the ease and quantity of dialogue on one hand, it has simultaneously decreased the quality and depth of the thoughts and ideas being exchanged.

_{source: Wikipedia}

The above statement is a highly generalizing one and does not apply in every individual case, of course. But I think it's quite safe to assert that online anonymity, combined with the virtual echo-chambers created by the corporate entities that give form to our online landscape by providing us with search engines and other algorithms, the elevation of marginalized groups through identity politics (to the degree that they have even invaded modern pop culture), and the postmodern rejection of overarching meta-narratives and ideologies, which is but one of the side-effects of individualism gone haywire, have all conspired to create an online atmosphere increasingly defined by mutual hate, fear and misunderstanding. That is when the opposing parties have decided to step outside their respective echo-bubbles.

It's hard enough as it is, to keep an open mind and to remind yourself constantly that your beliefs and convictions might not conform to or align with reality: what was that saying... "it takes a big man to admit his mistakes" or something like that. And it takes an even bigger man to admit that one of the basic ideas upon which his world-view if founded, could be wrong. Or that the ideological enemy he's combated all his adult life, might have something meaningful and true to say. When we grow older, certain ideas literally become etched in our brains as connections between neurons that are used often become stronger, and unused ones become weaker; it is literally harder to un-learn than to learn. To be constantly aware of these preconceptions, these mental anchors, not only of your ideological opponent, but especially of yourself, is a daunting task indeed.

But it's not impossible. It is however becoming harder, for the reasons I stated earlier, among others. Online platforms have made it easier for us to meet like-minded spirits and shields us from the things that the algorithms have calculated to be outside our immediate field of interest, and therefore not profitable. Titles and headlines that are neutral and informative get drowned in the click-counting-algorithms, incentivizing the use of what we now call click-bait, and as a consequence painting an online landscape that is shaped by increasing polarities; click-bait-opinions quickly become extreme opinions. Online dialogue, as well as the so called politically correct political dialogue have become a shouting contest between the extremes found within the factions of socially marginalized sub-cultures, a free for all where name-calling and character defamation have become commonplace. Don't go looking for a great dialogue, a meaningful exchange of ideas about big subjects, within politics or on your average online social platform, because you'll most likely be sorely disappointed. These spaces are full of great monologues, but great dialogues are few and far apart...

Excuse this quite pessimist introduction of the opposite, the great debate I just finished watching. You might know that I'm quite critical of many of Jordan Peterson's ideas, not the least of which is his constant linking of what he calls postmodern nihilism and the fabricated idealism of neo-Marxism, the idea that it was modern Marxists who have replaced the classic struggle between the bourgeois and proletariat classes with a new multi-layered struggle between marginalized groups through leftist identity politics. But I also am of the opinion that the man is a great thinker and has very much sensible things to say, like his stance on taking personal responsibility for your lot in life to your best ability to do so, and not revel in victimhood. So, I was inspired to write all this because I've just listened to a truly beautiful debate, an exquisite exchange of ideas between two great thinkers, one of them being Jordan Peterson, and the other popular Marxist Slavoj Zizek.

This debate was announced as a true clash of opposites, the kind of clash that tends to fail miserably in political and online environments. And I must admit; I expected nothing less than such a clash, making me wonder about my own motivations to click on this video... These two gentlemen prove everybody, including myself, wrong; I've come to better understand both these men's world-views and have gained more respect for both of them, because they relentlessly listen to the other, try to understand the other and surprisingly find a lot of agreement hidden underneath the superficiality of daily, casual conversation. I was truly delighted with this example of productive dialogue, mutual respect and depth of mutual mental exploration. It's two and a half hours long, but if you're at all interested in this stuff, you'll agree with the moderator at the end: this conversation isn't finished and it's too bad they didn't have more time. Please, enjoy:

_{Slavoj Zizek vs Jordan Peterson debate}

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