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founding

I think it comes down to storytelling too, because that is a large part how we learned about the weirder parts of the world up until about five minutes ago. Believing in Sasquatch because of the great stories is fun. Believing in Jesus and all the biblical calamities might not always be fun, but they are compelling. I learned earlier this spring, while listening to and reading with a number of earnest young environmental writers parading essay after essay related to climate change that, unless you personalize the story and make it relatable and emotional, they are just dull, regardless of the stakes. I don't know what the answer is. But I do know that a series of what seems like "elitist know-it-alls" (and yes, the Left, which is where the bulk of climate change information comes from, has an elitist-know-it-all problem) citing stats and demands isn't going to win over any of the, willfully or not, ignorant. Ignorant being another word that has an image problem, because I don't use it here in a negative way. I'd say the same can be said about COVID. People don't believe until it hits them right where it hurts, until they have a personal story that isn't about "the government taking something away from them for no reason."

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Heh. I couldn't immediately think of a less, erm, "toxic" term for "conspiracy theory," but "blame game" did come to mind as one equally loaded. What I think this way of thinking does is try to justify "us" v. "them" and make us feel better about who we are, unfortunately without improving anything else about the situation and perhaps making it worse.

As a side note, here's a family who seems to do well at teaching their kids to be curious and capable: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr9ib9quyHJkEchOck4PG2w

Thanks for the post, and may your land be at peace.

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