Lack of Who, What, Why, Where, and When Epidemic: Are memes creating chronic desensitization?

I am sick of Trump. I am sick of the NRA. I am sick of news headlines. I am sick of memes.

I am Canadian, and I am sick of American things.

I am worn out. Bombarded with images and new stories. Every. Single. Day.

I am a liberal, snowflake Canadian. Wanting peace with everyone and to just have a day of peace from a Trump meme. I do not support Trump, but my vote does not matter in the U.S.A.

Most of the issues that have come up I deeply care about. Children. Trade. Economy. Women’s Rights. I genuinely care. 

I have cared diligently for 2 years about the big hitting issues started to inundate my newsfeed and leak into not just Canada, but global conversation.

I want to keep caring. 

I wasn’t aware of the ongoings of my own political environment, much less the world before the Trump/ Hilary showdown. I want to go back to the days when Obama wasn’t inundating my personal social media; I have to admit the circus did open up a global conversation and make a lot of people who didn’t really care, care. 

I had the thought this morning as I was wishing for smoother waters (or a bigger boat), “Are they winning?” I do not know who they are, but, I was talking about the global news stories. I have inadvertently spread liberal propaganda, too. Feeling like it is all too much and that I do not really matter in the big scheme, I asked if I should care less? That is what winning looks like for them.

The global population completely inundated with memes, news, generic falsehoods, and blame gaming is making me numb- Is making us numb! What can I do about it? I am just one person!

If I feel this way, I know I can not be alone. These thoughts coming from one of the most passionate, empathic, and inquisitive person I have ever known. Me! This perception can not be mine alone- The lack of ethical who, what, why, where, and when. I am close to being a casualty of the chronic desensitization. What can be done?

What I can do about it is constantly question the people around me who speak opinion as truth. It is not my duty to change, educate, or enlighten. What I can do is ask questions.

Who said this?
What is the backstory?
Why do you believe this?
Where did it come from?
When did the conversation start and when did the issue start?
Can you be sure, with absolute certainty, this is true?
Are you comfortable attaching this belief/ idea to your reputation?
Is this belief yours, or is a contagion from other minds?

None of these questions are to make anyone right or wrong. Maybe, I will learn more. Maybe, the point is not to be right or wrong, left or right, for or against. Maybe, the point is to open up conversation so we can share information and punch holes in the well organized implementation of assumptions.
assumption

əˈsʌm(p)ʃ(ə)n/

noun

1.

a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.
“they made certain assumptions about the market”

synonyms:
supposition, presupposition, presumption, premise, belief, expectation, conjecture, speculation, surmise, guess, theory, hypothesis, postulation, conclusion, deduction, inference, thought, suspicion, notion, impression, fancy; More

Maybe, the way out of the epidemic, and to become less overwhelmed is just to simply ask questions.

Jennifer Quinlan

Definition taken from Dictionary.com

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