Exploring the Lack of Empathy in Echo Chambers

Blame, rage, and shame are deeply and dangerously intertwined. When a human being feels rage, they need someone to blame. If someone gets blamed who does not deserve it in the first place, they may feel rageful and want to strike, Which may include harsh words, verbal threats, or physical violence.

Being in an echo chamber can foster a dehumanizing mindset towards those outside the group. For those wondering if I’m talking about left-wing or right-wing echo chambers, I’m talking about every echo chamber! I’m not here to talk about legislation; I’m here to talk about humanity. Echo chambers boost the thing that humans have to fight, and that is their ego. Having numerous comments agreeing with you can be incredibly uplifting. Wanting to be right and doing right are intertwined, but they are not the same thing. Another thing that rubs our egos the wrong way is holding ourselves accountable. Learning how to set one’s ego aside and choose to actively listen to someone with a different point of view takes courage and strength. Listening to somebody with a different point of view probably isn’t going to change your mind, but you might learn something that you didn’t know before. No one knows everything, and no one lives on this planet alone. It is our job to learn how to actively listen to one another. Now is not the time to be passive when it comes to listening to our neighbors. When we are divided, we fall, but when we stand together, even if we don’t agree on everything, we can rise.