Naomi Alderman (@naomialderman): "God this is a brilliant description of conflicts become intractable. From family feuds to painful decades-long geopolitical situations, the sides end up imitating each other. Whatever you’ve done to me is now the example of what I’m justified in doing to you. And so the world bu…"

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God this is a brilliant description of conflicts become intractable. From family feuds to painful decades-long geopolitical situations, the sides end up imitating each other. Whatever you’ve done to me is now the example of what I’m justified in doing to you. And so the world burns.

Despite their espoused hatred, the two teams repeatedly imitate each other—in fact the hated enemy is also the main role model. Like warring Mafia gangs, they engage in tit-for-tat behavior. Hence, the exact same accusations are made, back and forth. Threats, excuses, reprisals are always identical; even promises for the future (after the victory) are eerily similar. These mirror-like reflections merely increase the polarization and escalate the conflict.

Ted Gioia

May 11

8:54 PM

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