I think I could die happy if the following aphorism were attributed to me:
Never attribute to stupidity that which can be properly explained by apathy.
We treat other very smart people as stupid when we just haven’t given them any reason at all to make them give a fuck about our pet peeves, or daily pain. Everybody has days when they are just trying to make it to 5:00. Sell me on your idea. Scolding is a weapon of last resort, and some people reach for it very early.
> Scolding is a weapon of last resort, and some people reach for it very early.
This single fact is responsible for so much polarization and conflict in the world. It also makes one's point less convincing, and makes people less likely to choose your side.
A lot of the times, especially online, the "scolding" is done not as an attempt to bring the other person over or make them see your side; rather, it's become a social signal to one's own in-group to say "see how committed I am to our side", and gain some cachet in the group that way. Even if it muddies the water for everyone and makes the world a little bit worse in the process.
Never attribute to stupidity that which can be properly explained by apathy.
We treat other very smart people as stupid when we just haven’t given them any reason at all to make them give a fuck about our pet peeves, or daily pain. Everybody has days when they are just trying to make it to 5:00. Sell me on your idea. Scolding is a weapon of last resort, and some people reach for it very early.