It's pouring down rain this morning. The dog went to the door, looked out and said, "No way." And then demanded a treat, just for looking! The canine nerve.
Isn't this a crazy story about Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul? I read some statements to the press by a guy who used to employ Paul Pelosi's attacker, and he said the guy had been pretty reasonable until recently, when he became more and more obsessed with online message boards and Q-Anon type conspiracies. I have a theory about this, and I suppose it's not very revolutionary. I think the problem is isolation.
When humans live in social groups with real-world interaction, we moderate each other's behavior. Just by talking to each other and living side by side, we even out every individual's wilder tendencies. But when we spend more time by ourselves and go online, delving into more and more specific, self-selecting subgroups of like-minded people, that moderating tendency goes away. We develop the feeling that all people think like we do, even though we may in fact hold some crazy, extreme views.
In other words, if you spend all your time in online chat rooms devoted to hating Nancy Pelosi, you're going to think everyone hates Nancy Pelosi. Because that's all you're exposed to.
People need to rub elbows with other people of different viewpoints. It's what makes our society healthy and keeps us all in the center of the road, so to speak. There's not enough of that going on these days, and that's partly why extremism has taken hold so deeply among so many people. We've siloed ourselves into like-minded online communities where information isn't so much exchanged as reinforced, and the moderating influence of others who may think differently is absent.
Like I said, not a very revolutionary theory. In fact, pretty widely accepted, I think. But all of that was rolling through my mind yesterday as I read stories about Paul Pelosi's assault.
Of course, I'm sure mental illness plays a role in all this, too. But again, healthy socialization can also help keep mental illness in check, as we saw during the pandemic when people were deprived of contact and mental health issues soared.
Here's a little quiz I took yesterday while on a work break. A web site called Sporcle offers a variety of challenges including one to name all the world capitals. The quiz begins with an empty map and you simply type in the names of capital cities, which then appear in green. You have 20 minutes to name all of them.
As you can see, I wound up naming 151 of 197 world capitals. (I missed the ones in red.) My weak spots are Pacific island nations, Caribbean nations and the Balkans. I really think I would have come up with Minsk, Tirana, Singapore, Brazzaville and a few others if I could see the map better, but anyway, I didn't think it was a disastrous result. The timer adds an element of tension that I think interferes a bit with recall.
Also, spelling counts. It took me multiple tries to nail the spelling of Tbilisi. On the other hand, if you enter the old or colonial name for some cities -- like Colombo, Sri Lanka or Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -- the quiz changes it to an apparently more modern name that I didn't know.
Then I took the US state capitals quiz and could only name 43 of 50 on my first go-around, which shocked me. I definitely knew all of them when I was in school and for years thereafter! But it's knowledge I don't use much and it's amazing how it slips away. I couldn't even name the capital of New Jersey and I LIVED THERE FOR TWO YEARS! Anyway, I took it again later and got all of them, so hopefully that knowledge has been reawakened in my memory.
(Top: A very autumnal-looking bus shelter in West Hampstead.)
24 comments:
I once knew every US state capitol. Mostly forgotten now. I should do ok in the geographic test but I doubt as well as you did.
Yes, I agree with you about the isolation issue and people with mental health issues are susceptible to the power of suggestion. It is terrible that Mr Pelosi was attacked but imagine what the outcome would have been if Mrs Pelosi was at home. All this disagreement is simply a difference of opinion on social matters and political opinions. No need for violence and physical attacks.
The violent Russian war against Ukraine is more than a difference of opinion.
Congratulations on your knowledge of capitals. I would be lucky to get as many as your red ones!
I was amazed that Alexi chose to go out first thing when it was raining.....he must have been desperate for a wee! He has also been known to ask for a treat having merely looked out and refused.
As a young teenager I knew the names of every capital city in the world but that is no longer the case - what with all the changes - new countries, new names etc.. Also my memory has been filled with lots of other things in the intervening years. There isn't enough storage room for everything.
However, I did know that New Jersey's state capital was and is Trenton - named after the wealthy fur trader and land owner William Trent (1715-1787).
I know absolutely no geography. I suppose I had to know some of it at some point in school but none of it stuck. I couldn't even label the states, much less any capitals. Or countries. No way. My brain never considered those things of any important to my life, I suppose. I am in awe of those who do know these things.
I wouldn't be able to name many capitals in the world, some but not nearly as many as you. And you're right about isolation, it's not good for anyone.
There is no way I could take that test and pass it ... I would pass out first! LOL
I failed to mention how beautiful I think your Thanksgiving/Christmas cactus is ... I love the color!
When countries started throwing off their colonial names in favor of their own names I lost the thread completely! I live in NJ so I ought to know the State capital, a few miles down the road from here. But how many people know that the capital of New York State is not New York City??
The Pelosi attacker may have seemed sane to his work colleagues, but he's been on hate sites and posting hate for years. It's not a pandemic related thing to him.
It does seem that being online seems to give people the feeling that they can say anything. I'm even having to moderate comments on my peaceful little blog from long-time fairly friendly people now being offensive, very weird.
I am woefully below average when it comes to world geography. It's just not something I've worked very hard to retain. Sad. Maybe I'll make that a project!
I agree about isolation. If I didn't have to go into an office which contains a variety of political/religious viewpoints I would probably be a lot more rabid in my beliefs.
You did very well on the capital quizzes! I would have no idea for most countries and have forgotten several of the state capitals.
My youngest son memorized the state capitals when he was in 3rd grade and now he is finishing up his PhD in International Business so my excuse is all my capital remembering smarts went to him! :)
I could never name as many world capitals as you did. I'm not sure I could name more than ten, and even that would make me feel pretty good. I could do a few more state capitals...maybe. On a rainy day, I think I'll give that a try.
Mental illness combined with the online chatter of hatred produces the kind of violence that leave an 82 year old man in the hospital with a fractured skull. I so wish it would just stop, and I truly fear what a Republican take over of Congress could produce here.
I think you are spot on with your theory. I see it happening everywhere, especially right now in America days before a major election. Everyone is huddling with their "kind" and afraid to have even the most basic of political discussions with someone who isn't solidly in their camp.
I'm glad this attack on Paul Pelosi garnered some attention. So many recent ones have struggled even to make a second mention on the evening news such as Susan Collins, Fred Upton and Bret Kavanaugh. Gabby Giffords was probably the last one to get this much attention... well besides Jan 6th anyway.
But I don't have much hope of a solution as long as we all continue to exclude everyone else not in our political camp from joining in discussions.
151 world capitals is a very impressive number in my opinion. I'm sure I wouldn't get nearly that many. I used to know all the US capitals but I fear that would stump me these days too.
My daughter got married in Tlibisi. I'm quite impressed with your 151. I used to do one over and over again, daily. Every day I got better at it, and I think that rote memorization is a good mental exercise.
I think your theory is superficial and ignores the fact that some of us are wired differently than others and may have experienced events which shape our world views differently.
As a vulnerable individual, I live differently to you and may well do so for whatever remains of my life. No-one talks about that or considers life from a different perspective. It is almost as if I and others like me do not really exist to the rest of you who who are madly rushing around trying "to get back to normal" when "normal" has changed. I am daily disheartened by the world at large but continue to do positive things for myself and others and I have yet to send a piece of hate mail to anyone or succumb to conspiracy theories. I can only hope that our country's lackluster approach to mental health screenings and services, which may have helped prevent tragedies such as Parkland, will improve, though after repeated events and no useful response, I am skeptical.
Happy belated birthday and enjoy your grasp on geography.
I do several geography puzzles as part of my morning (coffee) routine but I could not do as well as you did on world or state capitals. I think you're right on isolation feeding these conspiracy theories. They seem crazy to me but then I'm a highly socialized person.
One of my brothers use to drill me on geography, so I'm going to have to share that site with him. I'm really impressed with your results! I'm almost afraid to try it since I know I'm not as up on world geography as I use to be. I'm pretty sure I'd ace the state capitals, but if it's timed, that can cause me to fail under pressure!
Give that girl a treat any time she asks for one!
Well, I'm impressed. I suppose I could guess at a few other country capitals like Mexico City, London, and Paris and I doubt I could name all 50 here. But seriously, unless your profession requires or reinforces that information, what's it good for? If I need to know, I can look it up.
And about Pelosi's attacker. It didn't help that covid kept us all isolated during the crucial year before an election and after somewhat giving Trump and MAGAts free reign to send people down the rabbit hole.
Your analysis of the Paul Pelosi attacker and others of his ilk is right on.
Andrew: What's really shocking are the security lapses that allowed that guy to get into the house and go undetected.
Frances: And what's really pathetic is, I gave her a treat! So now she knows she can ask whether she goes out or not! LOL
YP: I don't think I ever knew the source of the name Trenton, but having been there, let me just say it seems an unlikely capital city.
Ms Moon: I have always been fascinated by maps and I read them for fun as a kid, so I learned a lot of the countries, their positions and their cities. Of course, the map has changed since I learned it so some of my knowledge is now outdated! (Hence my struggles with the Balkans.)
Pixie: Isolation doesn't lead everyone to do crazy things, as commenter E mentioned, but there's no question that we all benefit from social interaction.
Marcia: I love the color too! I grew it from cuttings taken from a cactus in the library where I work. If you lived nearby I'd send you one!
Boud: I do know New York's capital, having lived in NYC for a decade. I don't think the pandemic is to blame for pushing Pelosi's attacker over the edge, but my point is that isolation of the type perpetuated by Covid is unhealthy for people.
Bug: We're like pebbles. Rubbing up against each other smooths off our own rough edges!
Ellen D: I'm wondering how many your son still remembers. All that PhD knowledge may have pushed the capitals right out of his brain!
Robin: Yeah, I dread that Republican takeover too. Hopefully the Dems will surprise us by turning out in large numbers!
Ed: Did Susan Collins get attacked?! I knew about the demonstrations outside Kavanaugh's house. I think this attack was especially egregious because it involved a break-in to someone's home -- someone who SHOULD have had top-notch security. But yes, any attack on anyone is unacceptable.
Sharon: You should try the quiz! Maybe those memories are still lurking in there somewhere. :)
Debby: It probably is good to flex those memory muscles. I bet your daughter can spell Tbilisi! :)
E: I'm not saying EVERY isolated person devolves into lunacy or extremism. As I wrote, mental illness (that "wiring") is a factor. But I think all medical professionals would say that isolating because of infection risk must be balanced by the benefits of social contact. In other words, any of us, vulnerable or not, can harm ourselves by isolating too extremely.
Margaret: They seem crazy to me too, but I think that's partly because you and I can talk to our friends and relatives and say, "Aren't these crazy theories?!"
Kelly: The timer DOES add to the challenge. It's a bit stressful to know the clock is always ticking! (Especially when you're wrestling with how to spell Tbilisi!)
Ellen: Yeah, I'm not sure it's practical knowledge, exactly -- but it's good for trivia quizzes! It would be very interesting for someone to study how the pandemic fed the growth of extremism. I'm sure people are working on that.
Catalyst: Well, and as I said, it's not a particularly original thought! But the idea that we all help smooth each other's rough edges when we live life socially I find intriguing.
I think you're Jeopardy ready -- at least in the World Capitals category! The Pelosi thing is so scary but then the whole Q movement and conspiracy movement is looney tunes -- but too many people (and people with guns, no less) are into it. We're bracing ourselves for the midterm aftermath.
Sorry, I forgot to check for a response this morning (my time). Collins I believe had a brick thrown through her living room window. Kavanaugh had a guy arrested outside of his house carrying a gun and a knife. There are a few others that have had death threats if I recall as well, on both sides of the aisle. What a shame it is for those people to have to worry about family as well as trying to do their best to represent us. I do agree this was a bit more egregious since Mr. Pelosi was seriously injured.
I'm going to do those quizzes! I was an English and Geography double major in college, so let's see how I do. Interesting theory about social isolation. I think you're on to something, people sorely want to belong.
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