WHAT SIDE ARE YOU ON?
We live in increasingly turbulent times, where polarisation has become the norm rather than the exception. Society seems to demand that we pick a side—immediately, publicly, and unwaveringly. And once that side is chosen, assumptions are made about all our other beliefs. If I express agreement with a particular stance on Issue X, it’s often presumed that I automatically subscribe to an entire bundle of views on Issue Y, Z, and beyond, regardless of whether that’s true.
This kind of binary thinking erodes the nuance that real life requires. I may support a politician's policy in one area and strongly disagree with their actions in another. That used to be accepted—even expected. Once, we could disagree with friends or colleagues and still talk, still respect each other, and still remain in the relationship. Disagreement didn’t mean disconnection.
Today, however, the middle ground is vanishing. Grey areas are dismissed as weakness or indecision. You're either with us or against us. There’s little room for complexity, for independent thought, or for the messy but honest truth that people and issues rarely fit into neat categories.
This all-or-nothing mindset breeds misunderstanding and deepens division. It clouds judgment and makes thoughtful conversation nearly impossible. Before taking a stand, breaking a tie, or ending a relationship, we must first seek clarity about the issue itself, about our own values, and about the motivations and humanity of the people involved. Without that clarity, we risk acting out of assumption rather than understanding, and trading connection for the illusion of certainty.
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