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MalevolentAbyss's avatar

In my experience, you are right about people preferring loyalty to truth. When I ask intelligent, thoughtful people for facts to back up their statements, they often become offended, perhaps because I'm being disloyal by not believing them. Likewise, when arguing over gender politics, I have been told by people I know, "All women have had X experience." When I say, "I'm a woman, and I haven't." I am often told that my experience as a woman is inauthentic or that I am mistaken.

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Sean R's avatar

It's pure tribalism. People (and societies) are more likely to survive when they are loyal to the tribe than if they are right.

Twitter shaming is cheap value-signaling. It takes almost zero effort to join the bandwagon. Disagreeing leads to problems.

In my life, it's also why some friends must choose sides after a divorce. If a person isn't loyal, they become an enemy.

Thank you Robin, for not bowing down to the lowest common denominator.

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