The Pundit’s Trap
"They haven’t yet felt the consequences of unthinking allegiance. The process seems easy, and they question: ‘What’s the harm?’"
Those who pay attention often find themselves encumbered with a plethora of issues, compelling them to form opinions. But the underlying question looms — why? Why must they harbor opinions on matters that rarely impact them? How much of the current news, apart from serving as fodder for social discourse, holds genuine relevance in their lives? How often do they pause and question: “OK… So now what?” When a politician is accused of infidelity, they may not, but should, instinctively wonder: “So now what?” If no election is imminent and they reside outside of the politician’s jurisdiction, what consequence follows? None. The question hangs in the air unanswered, heavy and hollow.
Yet, the morbid curiosity persists, urging them to seek more. Turning to pundits becomes like a recreational addiction, a habit they are increasingly dependent on, promising no harm. The insatiable desire for knowledge and opinions on matters deemed inconsequential appears benign. But what lies downstream?
Time marches forward, beckoning them to an opinion that holds actual weight. Are they ready? Where will they turn? Listening to the pundits has been harmless thus far, and oh, how effortlessly they’ve been swayed! A trust has been established on matters that lacked real stakes, nurturing a dangerous complacency. They haven’t yet felt the consequences of unthinking allegiance. The process seems easy, and they question: “What’s the harm?”
The election season approaches. They feel secure in their choices, never having been let down. But what stakes have there been to lose? Minor squabbles with colleagues, perhaps. Slowly, they find themselves not radicalized but blind, ensnared by an addiction that now demands reckoning. They can only turn to where they have learned to turned to. They voted, their candidate won, but the aftermath is unexpected. Things are worse now than they were before. Confused, they turn to the pundits for explanation, and are met with perfect excuses. They still trust the pundits, who haven’t let them down — or so they believe. Congratulations! They’ve lost autonomy in thinking, falling prey to a game they never knew they were part of. They lose, but who wins?
The intrinsic need to form opinions on everything is a human trait. But the journey to satisfy that hunger can lead down a treacherous path, where truth becomes distorted and genuine understanding is lost. Lacking discernment, they find themselves helpless, blind, and ignorant.
Where, then, can the truth be found? It’s sought through practice on inconsequential matters, honed by trial and error. We learn to identify who to trust and to what extent, recognizing that absolute trust is rare. Verification through multiple sources, without making excuses for failed decisions, leads to enlightened free thinking. By following this path, we cultivate wisdom and remain true to ourselves.