for and against

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It seems to me that the longer I am "for" something or the longer I am "against" something else, the more exhausting it becomes. My suspicion is that the exhaustion evolves naturally from the fact that pro comes hand in glove with con and vice versa.

At first, when taking a stand, the hand-in-gloveness is not apparent. It takes time to gather the particulars and rev up the engines when being supportive or opposed.

Someone espousing a spiritual persuasion, for example, may know enough to cast a supportive or critical vote. And having cast that vote -- having decided that this persuasion is a good thing or a bad thing -- there is additional information to gather in support of the position. More and more and more information is tacked on until ... until ...

Until enough is enough, already!

Bit by bit, it may become apparent that what is "good" is good largely or solely according to what is "bad," and that by positing the "good," there is an absolute need for the "bad" ... which means that in positing a particular "good," a person is depending on the "bad" ... and thus positing that too. And from there it is a short step to recognize that by positing the "good," a person is insisting on positing the very "bad" s/he hoped to sidestep in the first place.

Don't think of a purple cow.

Be an atheist ... and posit the very god you wish to discredit.

It's probably true that many, if not most, people do not go the distance with what is credited or discredited. A limited amount of information is gathered and, voila, a bias (or, more politely, an inclination) is born. To gather enough information to see the argument turn back on itself requires energy ... and nobody wants to miss a favorite TV show or feel like an outsider in the very group to which s/he wants to belong.

None of this makes a whole lot of difference, I suppose, but it is exhausting being exhausted by constantly trying to fend off attackers or buttress and increasingly suspect fortress of inclination. Socially, it may bind and warm the congregation, but personally ....?

Personally, I think it gives new and important impetus to the simple statement, "I like it" or "I dislike it." Do things really need to be good or bad? Is there something wrong with liking or disliking something? Isn't that enough?

Of course in matters such as love or war, there may be some desire to find others who likewise like/dislike it ... but still, doesn't it boil down to, "I like/dislike it?"

Spooky in a social sense, I guess, but way less exhausting and much closer to the facts.
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