Human Nature

[Ivan Denisovich]

Now here's the part where I get everybody mad at me again: 

Let's say that we are in the tribe of atheist/Democrat/"trust-the-science" types.

Here is your first mistake. There is no atheist tribe just like there is no tribe for people who don't like broccoli. Beyond lack of faith I have nothing to do with other atheists (and even then some atheists would say that they believe there is no god). People whose common denominator is that they aren't x can't really form a tribe (issue of there being tribe in the first place aside). Next - quite a few people here aren't Democrats and some might not be democrats at all. I certainly would name myself so - I'm left winger but living under democracy for my entire life I wouldn't rate it all that high when it can't even prevent right of the half of population to be taken away or when it gives fascists opportunity to gain power legally. Lastly each and everyone of us trust the science - unless you don't use modern technology, don't walk on the bridges and cure your ailments with the help of witch doctor.

I am not convinced that this is the very bestest number one tribe, superior to all the others. All the tribes have their good points and bad points, or else nobody would stay in them. From our point of view, given our preferences, ours will of course seem best, because we have chosen a tribe that aligns with our view, and then once we're in the tribe it reinforces and informs further views in line with tribal thinking.

I'm not convinced that there is tribe at all. This tribe crap reminds me of internet christian trolls who label atheists as tribalistic after they shockingly refuse to say "your shitty argument based on childhood indoctrination and feelz convinced us, there is a god". Obviously people here have some points of agreement but similarly there are disagreements and different perspectives.

The fact that our tribe seems so compatible with neoliberalism, which has serious drawbacks, makes me think we could do better.

I don't know who you include when you say "our tribe" but for me neoliberalism is barely better than fascism and maybe even more damaging as it spreads it's cancerous cells to this day. In fact austerity one of neoliberalism key policies seemed to help fascism appear as per The Capital Order: How Economists Invented Austerity and Paved the Way to Fascism by Clara Mattei.

But I think it is our duty to remain very wary of tribal thinking, and remain open to the qualities in people very unlike ourselves. I mean, it's easy to focus on Fox News, which is of course horrible. But I'm not convinced that people who believe what CNN or MSNBC are telling them are all that much smarter.

I don't really think that those of us who aren't under oath have duties but if were so then this duty would be to enlighten unenlightened. No need to be open for fascist idiocy, neoliberal pathological individuality, or racism absurdity (as those are qualities that some people unlike myself held). I certainly wouldn't like all people to be like myself but there are things that human of XXI century should unambiguously reject be it genocide (yes, even when commited by israel*), fascism or fairy tales about trickle down economics which only result in impoverished and desperate masses.

*Per Amnesty International israel is commiting genocide against Palestinians - https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2...s-in-gaza/